Duncan MacPherson

For the Canadian editorial cartoonist, see Duncan Macpherson.

Duncan MacPherson
A passport photograph of MacPherson, taken a few weeks before his death.
Born	February 3, 1966(1966-02-03) Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Died	August 9, 1989(1989-08-09) (aged 23) Stubai Glacier Resort, Austria
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight	195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position	Defenceman
Shot	Left
Played for	Springfield Indians Indianapolis Ice
NHL Draft	20th overall, 1984 New York Islanders
Playing career	1986–1989

Duncan MacPherson (February 3, 1966 – August 9, 1989) was a professional ice hockey player who died under mysterious circumstances. He was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. A standout defensive defenceman for the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League, MacPherson was drafted in the first round, 20th overall, of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders. He played minor league hockey for the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League and the Indianapolis Ice of the International Hockey League.

Disappearance

In the summer of 1989 he went to Europe. The New York Islanders had a couple of months earlier bought out and released the often injured MacPherson.^[1] He never made it to the big club.^[2] MacPherson had intentions of taking a job as a player-coach for a semi-pro hockey team in Dundee, Scotland, commencing in August 1989, though he did have a bad feeling in his gut about the entrepreneur Ron Dixon who was backing the Scottish team.^[2] He went to central Europe alone in early August 1989, the plan being to visit old friends and see the sights before going on to Scotland.

He was scheduled to arrive in Dundee on August 12. When he did not show up, his family went to look for him. A car he had borrowed from a friend was discovered six weeks later in the parking lot of the Stubaier Gletscher resort in the Stubai Alps in Austria, where he had rented a snowboard. His last known contact was with an employee of the ski resort on August 9, who reported that he spoke with MacPherson, and last saw MacPherson departing alone to perhaps squeeze in some final snowboarding and hiking before nightfall.^[2]

Adding drama to the mystery was the fact that MacPherson claimed he had been contacted by the CIA, and that they were interested in recruiting him as a spy. The story was never confirmed.^[1]

Almost 14 years after MacPherson disappeared, an employee of the Stubai Glacier Resort discovered a glove sticking out of the ice of a melting alpine glacier, right in the middle of the ski run, where MacPherson's body had lain frozen.^[3]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1982–83	Saskatoon Blades	WHL		5	2	4	6	16		2	0	0	0	0
1983–84	Saskatoon Blades	WHL		45	0	14	14	74		—	—	—	—	—
1984–85	Saskatoon Blades	WHL		69	9	26	35	116		3	0	0	0	4
1985–86	Saskatoon Blades	WHL		70	10	54	64	147		13	3	8	11	38
1986–87	Springfield Indians	AHL		26	1	0	1	86		—	—	—	—	—
1987–88	Springfield Indians	AHL		74	5	14	19	213		—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	Springfield Indians	AHL		24	1	5	6	69		—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	Indianapolis Ice	IHL		33	1	4	5	23		—	—	—	—	—
WHL totals				189	21	98	119	353		18	3	8	11	42
AHL totals				124	7	19	26	368		—	—	—	—	—

See also

• List of ice hockey players who died during their playing career

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Duncan MacPherson profile". Hockey Draft Central. http://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1984/84020.html. Retrieved 2010-09-02. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Jones, Chris (2004-12-31). "The man in the ice". Esquire. http://www.esquire.com/features/the-game/ESQ0104-JAN_GAME. Retrieved 2010-09-02. 
3. ^ "Iceman". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/iceman/. Retrieved 2010-09-02. 

External links

• Duncan MacPherson's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• Story of his disappearance
• Story written in German for an Austrian Magazine
• Find-a-Grave Entry
• A documentary produced for the fifth estate by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
• Article from Esquire magazine, published in 2004.
• Detailed chronology of events
• Detailed timeline with photos from Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

Preceded by Gerald Diduck

New York Islanders first round draft pick 1983

Succeeded by Brad Dalgarno

Persondata
Name	MacPherson, Duncan
Alternative names
Short description	Canadian ice hockey player
Date of birth	1966-2-3
Place of birth	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Date of death	1989-8-9
Place of death	Stubai Alps, Austria