The former NHL forward with the Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues, and coach with Seneca College's Men's Hockey team from 1977-1986 was a rare breed in his day. An NHL player with a college degree. The Toronto native was known as one of the league's hardest checking defensive forwards during his playing days and that competitive spirit continued when he returned to collegiate-life and took over behind-the-bench at Seneca in 1980. In Harbaruk's first season as head coach of the, then, Seneca Braves, his team went 16-0 in the regular campaign. Under his guidance, Seneca earned 220 wins and just 69 losses. Harbaruk's Braves teams would go on to win an OCAA Championship (Seneca's first in more than a decade) and three CCAA National Collegiate Championship medals.
Coach Harbaruk was inducted into the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2005.
Beyond his accomplishments as a player and coach, Harbaruk was also known as a teacher, leader and someone who contributed to his local community with passion and dedication.
On Thursday, March 10, 2011, Nick Harbaruk passed away in a Toronto hospital.
Seneca College, the entire Athletics and Recreation team and The Seneca Sting send our condolences to Nick's family and friends.
Find out more about Nick Harbaruk here: http://bit.ly/gYF3CK
