Willie Huber, former Detroit Red Wings defenseman who played for a decade in NHL, dies at 52

Willie Huber, ex-Red Wings defenseman, dies at 52

DETROIT — Willie Huber, a former Detroit Red Wings defenseman who played for a decade in the NHL in the 1970s and 1980s, has died. He was 52.

Family friend Mark Lawrence says Huber died Monday of an apparent heart attack at his home in Hamilton, Ontario.

Huber was born in Strasskirchen, Germany, and selected by Detroit in the first round (ninth overall) of the 1978 NHL amateur draft. He played for the Wings from 1978-83, and later for the Rangers, Canucks and Flyers.

In 655 NHL games, the 6-foot-5 Huber scored 104 goals and had 217 assists, with his best season coming in 1981 when he had 49 points (15 goals, 34 assists). He finished his career with 950 penalty minutes.