Bryan Lefley

Bryan Lefley had an interesting life cut short due to an automobile accident

The native of Grosse Isle, Manitoba and former New York Islander, Kansas City Scout and Colorado Rockie was driving his Mercedes Oct.29 1997 in Italy when it crashed into an oncoming truck.

He was just 49 years old.

Lefley was in Italy serving as the Italian national hockey team's head coach. Hockey in Italy? Its true, although many of their players are transplanted Canadians with Italian citizenship. Lefley guided the Italian hockey program in two different tenures, as well as coaching Italian League championship teams. In all Lefley coached the Italian national team in the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics and at 6 World Championships.

The younger brother of Chuck Lefley (a former 40 goal scorer with the St. Louis Blues), Bryan was not as gifted a hockey player. He played in 228 games in the NHL, playing both as a defenseman and left winger. His role was primarily a defensive one, although he did manage to chip in 7 goals and 36 points.

He extended his playing career by heading overseas and playing in both Germany and Switzerland. He would later coach in both of those countries, but was best known as a coach in Italy.