Found after 14 years - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Mill · 07-23-2003, 08:31 AM

The body of a Canadian hockey player, whose family searched for him for months after his sudden disappearance in Austria almost 14 years ago, has been found frozen in the Alps.

Duncan MacPherson, a National Hockey League first-round draft pick in 1984, was last seen on Aug. 9, 1989, while snowboarding on the Stubaier Glacier in the south Tyrol.

The body was discovered late last week by an employee operating a snow-grooming machine at a summer ski resort in Neustift, which is about 40 kilometres southwest of Innsbruck.

"At 3,000 metres, the body would be pretty well frozen the whole time. His identification was in his pocket," Lynda MacPherson said. MacPherson, from Saskatoon, was 23 when he disappeared while on his way to take a job as a coach with a hockey team in Dundee, Scotland.

He was a young defenceman playing junior hockey with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League when he was drafted 20th overall by the New York Islanders in 1984. He finished up with the Blades in 1986 and played three pro seasons with the American Hockey League, but never made a career in the NHL.

After his contract with the Islanders expired in 1989, he accepted an offer to become a player-coach for the Scottish Dundee Tigers.

For 14 years, the MacPhersons suspected their son had fallen into a crevasse, but search crews yielded nothing.

Cynthetiq · 07-23-2003, 08:38 AM

that's pretty wicked... 14 years...frozen... like encino man

DON · 07-23-2003, 08:41 AM

I read that article, reminds me of that mountain climbing movie where the guy finds his wife after years frozen in the ice.

gov135 · 07-23-2003, 09:27 AM

They found those guys on Everest just a few years ago. They were missing for like six decades. Funny how the ice swallows you, only to spit you back out again years later.

The_Dude · 07-23-2003, 09:28 AM

at least the family gets sme kind of closing.

MacGnG · 07-23-2003, 09:47 AM

thats so sad. i cant imaging that happening.

cookiezzz · 07-23-2003, 10:13 AM

Wow, that's insane. I feel sorry for his parents.

Skettios · 07-23-2003, 10:59 AM

I'm a little creeped out. not sure why.

Buk · 07-23-2003, 11:35 AM

Well, at least the family can now rest in peace knowing his body is found and he wasn't a vicitim of some violent death at the hands of someone else.

It must be tough not knowing.

bigbad · 07-23-2003, 12:19 PM

What's worse is the ski resort told his parents that his equipment had been returned, so they were left thinking that he was alive, and organized huge campaign to find him

hascal21 · 07-23-2003, 09:42 PM

I snowboarded there in 2000. Scary! It was a cool place to ride. Makes me rethink some things... There but for the grace of god and what not...

GoldenOuroboros · 07-24-2003, 12:08 AM

I'd hate not to know.. waking up every morning wondering. Atleast they know now and can bury him properly...

maxero · 07-24-2003, 12:10 AM

thats a bad way to go

icansayurgay · 07-24-2003, 12:15 AM

wow, thats a long time

sbscout · 07-24-2003, 04:45 AM

closure for the family... at last

frankaroni · 07-24-2003, 05:47 AM

apparently freezing to death is one of the most painless ways to go...you just fall asleep and don't wake up.

Frowning Budah · 07-25-2003, 02:11 AM

One of the funnies lines I heard was: "hell of a penalty for icing"

happymaan · 07-25-2003, 10:58 AM

Did they even try thawing him out?

OrionNomad · 07-25-2003, 11:33 AM

I too have heard that freezing to death is one of the less painful ways of dieing. But it is still rather gruesome. But I guess they can ship him home now and have a burial.

KWSN · 07-25-2003, 11:54 AM

Heard about that. It was a cover story here on Long Island, as he was an Islanders draft pick.

That's a real damn shame... but like The_Dude said, at least there's some closure for the family.

07-23-2003, 08:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
Mill Psycho Location: Center of the Universe	Found after 14 years The body of a Canadian hockey player, whose family searched for him for months after his sudden disappearance in Austria almost 14 years ago, has been found frozen in the Alps. Duncan MacPherson, a National Hockey League first-round draft pick in 1984, was last seen on Aug. 9, 1989, while snowboarding on the Stubaier Glacier in the south Tyrol. The body was discovered late last week by an employee operating a snow-grooming machine at a summer ski resort in Neustift, which is about 40 kilometres southwest of Innsbruck. "At 3,000 metres, the body would be pretty well frozen the whole time. His identification was in his pocket," Lynda MacPherson said. MacPherson, from Saskatoon, was 23 when he disappeared while on his way to take a job as a coach with a hockey team in Dundee, Scotland. He was a young defenceman playing junior hockey with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League when he was drafted 20th overall by the New York Islanders in 1984. He finished up with the Blades in 1986 and played three pro seasons with the American Hockey League, but never made a career in the NHL. After his contract with the Islanders expired in 1989, he accepted an offer to become a player-coach for the Scottish Dundee Tigers. For 14 years, the MacPhersons suspected their son had fallen into a crevasse, but search crews yielded nothing.

07-23-2003, 08:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	that's pretty wicked... 14 years...frozen... like encino man __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

07-23-2003, 08:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
DON Upright Location: Saint Petersburg, FL	I read that article, reminds me of that mountain climbing movie where the guy finds his wife after years frozen in the ice. Last edited by spectre; 07-23-2003 at 02:47 PM..

07-23-2003, 09:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
The_Dude The GrandDaddy of them all! Location: Austin, TX	at least the family gets sme kind of closing. __________________ "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Darrel K Royal

07-23-2003, 10:59 AM	#8 (permalink)
Skettios Condition: Stable and Improving Location: Finger on the little red button.	I'm a little creeped out. not sure why. __________________ Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies. Frederich Nietzsche

07-23-2003, 09:27 AM	#4 (permalink)
gov135 Junkie Location: Midwest	They found those guys on Everest just a few years ago. They were missing for like six decades. Funny how the ice swallows you, only to spit you back out again years later.

07-23-2003, 09:47 AM	#6 (permalink)
MacGnG Know Where!	thats so sad. i cant imaging that happening.

07-23-2003, 10:13 AM	#7 (permalink)
cookiezzz Tilted	Wow, that's insane. I feel sorry for his parents.

07-23-2003, 11:35 AM	#9 (permalink)
Buk Addict Location: Seattle, WA	Well, at least the family can now rest in peace knowing his body is found and he wasn't a vicitim of some violent death at the hands of someone else. It must be tough not knowing.

07-23-2003, 12:19 PM	#10 (permalink)
bigbad Insane	What's worse is the ski resort told his parents that his equipment had been returned, so they were left thinking that he was alive, and organized huge campaign to find him

07-23-2003, 09:42 PM	#11 (permalink)
hascal21 Upright	I've snowboarded there.... I snowboarded there in 2000. Scary! It was a cool place to ride. Makes me rethink some things... There but for the grace of god and what not...

07-24-2003, 12:08 AM	#12 (permalink)
GoldenOuroboros The Cheshire Grin... Location: An Aussie Outback	I'd hate not to know.. waking up every morning wondering. Atleast they know now and can bury him properly... __________________ Can you see me grin grin grrriiiiinnnning?!

07-24-2003, 12:10 AM	#13 (permalink)
maxero Crazy	thats a bad way to go __________________ cough

07-24-2003, 12:15 AM	#14 (permalink)
icansayurgay Upright	wow, thats a long time

07-24-2003, 04:45 AM	#15 (permalink)
sbscout Disorganized Location: back home again...	closure for the family... at last __________________ Always question authority... it'll keep the bastards on their toes!

07-24-2003, 05:47 AM	#16 (permalink)
frankaroni Upright	apparently freezing to death is one of the most painless ways to go...you just fall asleep and don't wake up.

07-25-2003, 02:11 AM	#17 (permalink)
Frowning Budah Slave of Fear	One of the funnies lines I heard was: "hell of a penalty for icing"

07-25-2003, 10:58 AM	#18 (permalink)
happymaan Insane Location: los angeles	Did they even try thawing him out?

07-25-2003, 11:33 AM	#19 (permalink)
OrionNomad Upright	eh? I too have heard that freezing to death is one of the less painful ways of dieing. But it is still rather gruesome. But I guess they can ship him home now and have a burial. __________________ AA:O -=That May Be Your Way, But Its Not The Army Way=-

07-25-2003, 11:54 AM	#20 (permalink)
KWSN green	Heard about that. It was a cover story here on Long Island, as he was an Islanders draft pick. That's a real damn shame... but like The_Dude said, at least there's some closure for the family. __________________ Your arms are broken!