Bobby Orr's father, Douglas, dies

Last Updated: Saturday, February 10, 2007 | 10:12 PM ET

CBC Sports

Douglas Orr, the father of hockey great Bobby Orr, has died. He was 82.

His daughter Patricia confirmed his death to the Canadian Press on Saturday, but would not offer any further details.

Doug Orr, seen last month during Hockey Day in Canada celebrations at the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame in Parry Sound, was 82 years old.
(Cody Storm Cooper/Parry Sound North Star/ Canadian Press)

"He had a great hockey career at one time but he gave it up to go in the Second World War as a sailor," an emotional Don Cherry, who coached Bobby Orr, said on Coach's Corner.

"He was a great guy."

Douglas Orr excelled in track at Parry Sound High School and also in hockey, earning a long look from the Boston Bruins.

He declined an offer from the Bruins to play minor league hockey in the U.S., however, and enlisted in the Canadian navy.

Orr and wife Arva welcomed their third of five children, Robert Gordon Orr, on March 20, 1948, in Parry Sound, Ont.
 
Orr, who worked in a munitions factory after the war, encouraged sons Ron, Douglas Jr. and Bobby as they each played several sports.

Barely a teenager, Bobby Orr's hockey prowess attracted interest from NHL clubs Toronto, Detroit and Boston, with the Bruins signing the young defenceman.

The Orrs allowed their 14-year-old son to begin playing with Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League in 1963.

Four years later, he was the Calder Trophy winner with the Bruins, the beginning of one of hockey's most sensational careers.

Orr revolutionized the position with his end-to-end rushes into the offensive zone and passing ability, while utilizing his tremendous speed to get back to his own end.

He won the Norris Trophy as the league's best defenceman seven times and became the first at the position to lead the league in scoring, in 1970.

He helped guide the Bruins to two Stanley Cups but was forced to retire at the age of 31 during the 1978-79 season. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame immediately.

In 2000, Arva Orr died at the age of 78 after a lengthy battle with cancer. The couple had been married 53 years at the time of her death.

Three years later, the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame opened in Parry Sound.

"It's exciting," Doug Orr said of the new facility.

"I'm sure Bobby will be very proud of this. I sure am."