As Far As ESPN Is Concerned, Not A Single Hockey Player Died This Year

SportsCenter's annual Year In Review show enters heavy rotation on the WWL this week, and as is tradition, it includes an "In Memoriam" segment recognizing the athletes and sports figures lost in 2011. Puck Daddy has the complete list of those honored:

• Al Davis • Bubba Smith • Dan Wheldon • John Mackey • Lee Roy Selmon • Hideki Irabu • Dave Duerson • Duke Snider • Walt Hazzard • Harmon Killebrew • Joe Frazier

Not a single hockey player or builder. Not Hall of Famers Harley Hotchkiss or Sven Tumba. Not French Connection winger Rick Martin. Not tough guys Wade Belak, Rick Rypien or Derek Boogaard, whose deaths have spurred a world-altering discussion on the future of the game. Not any of the 36 members of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl who died in a tragic plane crash that touched the sport.

This is what happens when your league has a TV deal with the competition. Broad Street Hockey has an extensive list of the hockey figures lost in 2011.