Quick Facts
Biography
Max Mestinsek (born September 6, 1943) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player.
Mestinsek played hockey with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the senior amateur Central Alberta Hockey League, winning the 1963 Memorial Cup as a member of the Oil Kings. In September 1963, Mestinsek was invited to join the Detroit Red Wings training camp, turning professional to play with the Red Wings minor league affiliate in the Central Professional Hockey League.
Mestinsek started the 1966-67 season playing with the New York Rangers' CPHL affiliate, the Omaha Knights. In 1967, the St. Louis Blues selected him from the New York Rangers in the NHL Expansion Draft.
Following a car accident in August 1967 in which he almost lost his arm, the player who was once described by Punch Imlach as “the best National League material in Western Canada” saw only limited action over the next two seasons spent mostly with the Kansas City Blues of the CPHL. His playing career was cut short by a car accident, but he remained close to the game, and was later an off-ice official at Vancouver Canucks games.
In 2011, Mestinsek was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the 1963 Memorial Cup champion Edmonton Oil Kings.