John Schella
| John Schella | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1947 |
| Died | 2018 |
| Years in Thunder Bay | by 1950–1966 |
John Edward Schella (May 9, 1947 – August 3, 2018) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 385 games in the World Hockey Association and 115 games in the National Hockey League. After three seasons in the minor leagues, Schella made his NHL debut in 1970 with the Vancouver Canucks, spending parts of two seasons with the team before moving to the Houston Aeros of the WHA, where he spent six seasons. Schella played one final year in the minor leagues before retiring in 1979.[1]
Thunder Bay connections
John Edward Schella (May 9, 1947 – August 3, 2018) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player born in Port Arthur, Ontario. He played junior hockey for the Fort William Canadiens of the Thunder Bay Junior Hockey League from 1963 to 1966, and also appeared with the Fort William Beavers of the Thunder Bay Senior Hockey League in 1964–65.
Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame
John Schella was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2025 as an athlete (ceremony date given as 27 September 2025), for hockey, football, baseball and fastball.[2]
Raised in Port Arthur during the 1950s and 1960s, Schella was a versatile athlete. He played Football at Hillcrest High School and excelled in Fastball, competing for teams such as the Brayshaws Steelers, Videon Vees, and Big Eds. In the Port Arthur Senior Fastball league, he frequently led the standings in batting average, home runs, and runs batted in.[2]
His Hockey career began in the minor leagues with the Port Arthur West End Bearcats. In 1963, he joined the Fort William Junior Canadiens for the 1963-64 season. A physical defender standing six feet tall, he helped the team secure league championships during his first year and again in his final season of 1965-66. He then moved to the Ontario Hockey Association to play for the Peterborough TPT Petes during the 1966-67 campaign.[2]
After turning professional, Schella played for the Houston Apollos and the Denver Spurs before reaching the National Hockey League with the Vancouver Canucks in January 1971. Over parts of two seasons in the NHL, he appeared in 115 games, recording 20 points and 224 penalty minutes. Although selected by the New York Islanders in the 1972 expansion draft, he chose to join the Houston Aeros of the new World Hockey Association.[2]
During his tenure with the Houston Aeros from 1972 to 1978, the team finished first in the league four times. He won consecutive AVCO Cups in 1974 and 1975 and was named a WHA All-Star in both championship years. Known for a powerful slapshot and an aggressive approach, he established a franchise record with 844 penalty minutes. He also ranked third among the team's defenders in total points and fifth in franchise history for games played with 385 appearances. He concluded his career in the Pacific Hockey League with the San Diego Hawks during the 1978-79 season.[2]
Residence in the Thunder Bay area (by 1950–1966) rests on the following dated evidence. Grew up in Port Arthur in the 1950s and 1960s, attending high school and playing for the Fort William Junior Canadiens until 1966.[2]
Achievements listed in the profile:
- Won two league championships with the Fort William Junior Canadiens in 1963-64 and 1965-66
- Captured back-to-back AVCO Cup championships with the Houston Aeros in 1974 and 1975
- Selected as a World Hockey Association All-Star in 1974 and 1975
- Set the Houston Aeros franchise record for career penalty minutes with 844
- Ranked third in points among defencemen and fifth in games played in Houston Aeros history
- Led the Port Arthur Senior Fastball league in batting, home runs, and RBIs[2]
References
- ↑ This article incorporates text from the Wikipedia article on John Schella, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "John Schella", athlete profile, Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, https://www.nwosportshalloffame.com/athlete-profile/882f97af-7d12-4409-8ca7-ba2d3076eadb (accessed 31 October 2026). Archived copy on datum.locker.
Fort William Canadiens
John Schella was a member of the Fort William Canadiens. The Fort William Canadiens pose for a team photograph after winning Game 7 of the 1963-64 Thunder Bay Junior Hockey League Final against the Port Arthur North Stars.[1]
- ↑ Posted to the Facebook group Thunder Bay Memories. Source post: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ThunderBayMemories/permalink/4307840119431008/.