Baz Bastien

Aldege "Baz" Bastien
Born	Joseph Aldège Albert Bastien (1919-08-29) 29 August 1919 Timmins, Ontario, Canada
Died	15 March 1983(1983-03-15) (aged 63) Green Tree, Pennsylvania, United States
Other names	Baz Bastien
Occupation(s)	Ice hockey goaltender, coach, general manager
Years active	1939–1983
Known for	NHL goaltender for Toronto Maple Leafs; GM of Pittsburgh Penguins

Joseph Aldège Albert "Baz" Bastien (August 29, 1919 – March 15, 1983) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender, as well as a head coach and general manager. His NHL playing career consisted of five games with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1945, though the majority of his time on the ice was spent with the Pittsburgh Hornets in the American Hockey League. Bastien later transitioned into coaching and management roles with the Hornets before taking on various executive positions within the NHL, most notably serving as the general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins from 1976 until his untimely death in a car accident in 1983.

Playing career

Bastien's hockey journey started in 1939 when he joined the Port Colborne Sailors competing in the Ontario Hockey Association Senior A League. Affiliated with the Maple Leafs organization, he advanced to their Senior A squad, the Toronto Marlboros, in 1940, guiding them to a league title during his debut season. After two seasons there, he transferred to the Cornwall Flyers of the Quebec Senior Hockey League.

His playing tenure was interrupted by a two-year commitment to military service with the Canadian Army. Upon returning in 1945, Bastien rejoined the Maple Leafs but was unable to secure a permanent position once Turk Broda resumed play.

Subsequently, Bastien was assigned to Toronto’s primary affiliate, the Pittsburgh Hornets, where he remained for nearly four seasons. During this period, he earned First All-Star team recognition for three consecutive years—1947, 1948, and 1949—and captured the Hap Holmes Memorial Award twice (1948 and 1949) for allowing the fewest goals against.

Tragedy struck on September 19, 1949, at Hornets’ training camp held in Welland, Ontario, when Bastien sustained a serious eye injury after being hit by a puck. The injury necessitated removal of his right eye and prematurely ended his playing career; he wore an artificial eye thereafter.

Front office

Following his playing days, Bastien remained involved with the Hornets organization in an administrative capacity. He took over as head coach during the 1949–50 season and was appointed general manager for one year afterward before being succeeded. He returned to coaching duties in 1953 for a single campaign. When the Hornets resumed operations in Pittsburgh after a five-year hiatus caused by arena renovations, Bastien rejoined as head coach and later transitioned back to general manager in 1962, maintaining that position until the team folded in 1967. Under his leadership, the Hornets secured a Calder Cup championship during their final season (1966).

Bastien subsequently moved to the Detroit Red Wings franchise as assistant general manager working alongside former Hornets player Sid Abel. In 1974, he followed Abel to serve in an identical role with the Kansas City Scouts.

In 1976, Bastien returned to Pittsburgh to assume general manager duties for the Penguins, succeeding Wren Blair. One of his earliest significant transactions was acquiring Brian Spencer from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Ron Schock in 1977. To address salary constraints, Bastien traded several key players: All-Star MVP Syl Apps, Jr. was sent to the Los Angeles Kings for Dave Schultz, while star Pierre Larouche was dealt to Montreal Canadiens for Pete Mahovlich and Peter Lee. His tenure also drew criticism due to trading away Pittsburgh’s first-round draft selections in three consecutive years—1977, 1978, and 1979.

Death

Bastien was present at a Professional Hockey Writers Association banquet on March 14, 1983. Shortly after midnight on March 15, he was involved in a motorcycle accident on Interstate 376 near Green Tree, Pennsylvania, which proved fatal. He was declared dead at Mercy Hospital, having suffered a fractured skull and a heart attack following the incident. He was 63 years old at the time of his passing. On May 27, 1983, Penguins coach Eddie Johnston took over the role of general manager.

In tribute to Bastien's contributions, two awards were introduced in the subsequent season: the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award by the American Hockey League, recognizing the league's top goaltender, and the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Good Guy Award presented by the Pittsburgh PHWA to the Penguin player who demonstrated the greatest cooperation with the media.

Regular season and playoffs

1947–48 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 68 38 18 12 4080 170 5 2.50 2 0 2 130 6 0 2.77 1948–49 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 68 39 19 10 4080 175 6 2.57 — — — — — — —

				Regular season									Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T	Min	GA	SO	GAA		GP	W	L	Min	GA	SO	GAA
1938–39	North Bay Trappers	NOHA		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1938–39	North Bay Trappers	M-Cup		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		2	0	2	140	12	0	5.14
1939–40	Port Colborne Sailors	OHA Sr		17	—	—	—	1020	47	2	2.76		4	1	3	240	23	0	5.75
1939–40	Atlantic City Seagulls	EHL		2	—	—	—	90	4	0	2.67		2	1	1	120	9	0	4.50
1940–41	Toronto Marlboros	OHA Sr		15	—	—	—	880	35	1	2.39		16	11	7	1090	36	2	1.98
1940–41	Toronto Marlboros	Al-Cup		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		9	3	4	370	17	1	2.76
1941–42	Toronto Marlboros	OHA Sr		30	14	12	4	1800	75	1	2.50		6	2	4	360	18	0	3.00
1942–43	Cornwall Flyers	QSHL		30	—	—	—	1760	97	4	3.31		6	2	4	360	22	0	3.61
1945–46	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		5	0	4	1	300	20	0	4.00		—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1945–46	Pittsburgh Hornets	AHL		38	16	15	7	2280	144	1	3.79		6	3	3	385	20	0	3.12
1946–47	Pittsburgh Hornets	AHL		40	23	22	5	2400	104	7	2.60		12	7	5	720	29	1	2.42
1946–47	Hollywood Wolves	PCHL		22	—	—	1320	33	5	1.50
AHL totals				214	116	74	34	12,840	593	19	2.77		20	10	10	1235	55	1	2.67
NHL totals				5	0	4	1	300	20	0	4.00		—	—	—	—	—	—	—