Wally Olds

Who is Wally Olds?

Walter Raymond Olds was an ice hockey player who played three seasons in the World Hockey Association for the New York Raiders, the Chicago Cougars, and Calgary Cowboys between 1973 and 1976. He was born in Warroad, Minnesota. As an amateur, he played for the University of Minnesota men's hockey team where he was an all-american defenseman, followed by the United States Olympic team at the 1972 Winter Olympics where he earned a silver medal. He was drafted 69th overall by the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL in the 1969 NHL Amateur Draft but never played in the National Hockey League due to his strong opposition to fighting, choosing instead to sign with the Raiders of the rival WHA.

Olds left North American professional hockey following the 1975-76 season and moved to Europe, where he continued playing for eight years in Austria, Germany,Switzerland,Sweden,and Norway. He was recalled by the US national team for the 1977, 1979 and 1981 Ice Hockey World Championships tournaments.

Olds lost his short battle with colon cancer on January 11, 2009.