Baz Bastien

Joseph Aldège Albert "Baz" Bastien (August 29, 1919 – March 15, 1983) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender, head coach, and general manager. He played five games for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League in 1945 but spent most of his playing career with the Pittsburgh Hornets of the American Hockey League. He later became the Hornets' head coach and general manager and served in several front-office positions with National Hockey League clubs, most notably as general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins from 1976 until he died in a car crash in 1983.

Playing career
Bastien began his playing career in 1939 with the Port Colborne Sailors of the Ontario Hockey Association Senior A League. He was sponsored by the Maple Leafs and in 1940 began playing for their team in the Senior A League: the Toronto Marlboros. He led the Marlboros to the league championship in his first season with the club. After two years with the Marlboros, he joined the Cornwall Flyers of the Quebec Senior Hockey League.

His playing career was interrupted by a two-year stint of military service with the Canadian Army. He resumed his career in 1945, beginning the season with the Maple Leafs. He was unable to secure a permanent spot on the Leafs' roster after Turk Broda returned from his military service.

Bastien was sent by the Maple Leafs to the Pittsburgh Hornets, their top professional affiliate, where he spent the better part of four seasons. He was named to the league's First All-Star team in 1947, 1948, and 1949 and also won the Hap Holmes Memorial Award for fewest goals against in 1948 and 1949.

Personal tragedy befell Bastien on September 19, 1949, at the Hornets' training camp in Welland, Ontario. On the third or fourth shot he faced that day the puck struck his right eye. The damage was so severe that it needed to be removed. Bastien's playing career was over, and he wore a glass eye for the rest of his life.

Front office
Bastien remained with the Hornets in an administrative capacity and was named their new head coach during the 1949–50 season. The following season, he was named general manager, lasting one season before being replaced. He returned to the Hornets as head coach in 1953, again for a single season. When the Hornets returned to Pittsburgh after a five-year absence, due to the destruction of Duquesne Gardens and construction of the Pittsburgh Civic Arena, Bastien returned with them, again as head coach. He moved to the general manager's position again in 1962 and remained in that capacity until the Hornets folded in 1967. He returned behind the bench in 1966, coaching them to a Calder Cup win in their final season.

He joined the Detroit Red Wings as assistant general manager to former Hornet Sid Abel, and followed Abel to the Kansas City Scouts, in the same capacity, in 1974.

Bastien returned to Pittsburgh in 1976, replacing Wren Blair as general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins. His first trade for the Penguins, on September 20, 1977, brought Brian Spencer from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Ron Schock. On several occasions, he traded some of the Penguins' stars to maintain the team's payroll. In November 1977, Bastien traded All-Star MVP Syl Apps, Jr. to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Dave Schultz. Later in that month, he sent superstar Pierre Larouche to the Montreal Canadiens for Pete Mahovlich and Peter Lee. He also faced criticism for trading Pittsburgh's first-round draft picks in 1977, 1978 and 1979.

Death
Bastien attended a dinner by the Professional Hockey Writer's Association (PHWA) on March 14, 1983. Later that night while driving home, he collided with a motorcycle on Interstate 376 in suburban Green Tree, Pennsylvania at 12:15 AM, March 15, 1983. He was pronounced dead at Mercy Hospital from a fractured skull in the collision and a heart attack sustained afterward. He was 63. Penguins coach Eddie Johnston was named his replacement on May 27, 1983.

Two awards were created the following season to honor Bastien. The American Hockey League began awarding the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award annually to the best goaltender in the league, and the Pittsburgh chapter of the PHWA awarded the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Good Guy Award to the Penguin judged to be most cooperative with the media.