Hockey pioneer dies

One of the few remaining links to the beginnings of Spokane’s rise to hockey prominence, Ralph Luke, died Wednesday in Spokane. Luke was 83.

Born on Dec. 22, 1924, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Luke played his minor hockey in that city. He joined the Canadian Navy in 1943 and served until 1945 when he resumed his hockey career.

Luke played at Trail, British Columbia, and Lethbridge, Alberta, before arriving in Spokane in 1948. While a member of the Lethbridge Native Sons, Luke’s roommate was Stan Maxwell, the father of former Chiefs coach Bryan Maxwell.

As one of a large group of recruits brought to town by former Flyer coach Roy McBride, Luke played an integral part in helping turn around the fortunes of Spokane hockey.

The 1948-49 Flyers won the first of back-to-back U.S. Amateur Hockey Association Senior Hockey championships and Luke had a hand in the victory over the Windsor Spitfires.

After watching a 7-4 third-period lead slip away in the second game at Toledo, Ohio, Luke, a rare goal scorer, got the game-winner 4:51 into overtime in an 8-7 Flyers win.

“I was the defenseman’s defenseman,” Luke said in a 2000 interview.

Luke was a selection a number of times to the Western International Hockey League All-Star team. He was also selected to the starting six in the first game in the Spokane Coliseum.

At that game in December 1954, one of Luke’s shots was deflected into the packed stands and hit his son, Russell.

Luke was named team captain of the 1956-57 Flyers. That team went on to be the first U.S.-based team to play for the Allan Cup, the national senior championship of Canada.

Playing the series in the fabled Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Luke scored a goal in the first game as Spokane lost to the Whidby, Ontario Dunlops in four straight games.

At 5-foot-10, 195 pounds, Luke was a good size for a defenseman at the time. Despite being the target of a lot of shots, Luke played relatively injury-free throughout his Spokane career.

“I lost a couple of teeth,” he said. “I wouldn’t stay hurt for long.”

Luke’s Spokane playing career ended in 1958 when the team joined the pro Western Hockey League.

Following retirement from hockey, Luke did a variety of jobs, but was best known as a long-time bartender at places like the Senate and Hi Neighbor taverns.

Luke was preceded in death by his wife, Doreen, on March 6, 2007. Luke first met his wife in high school. The Lukes raised sons Russell, David and Kevan.

At Luke’s request, no services will be held.