By Nick Howard
Local Sports Journal
Muskegon area hockey fans are mourning the loss of the legendary Joe Kastelic. The Kirkland Lake, Ontario native passed away July 16 at the age of 81.
Kastelic is remembered by area hockey fans for wearing number 6. He was elected into the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 and his number was retired by Muskegon’s hockey franchise.
Joe Kastelic
Many records were held by Kastelic but one that might hold the longest is the six goals he scored in a single game against Indianapolis on March 1, 1962.
Perhaps Kastelic’s most successful season came during the 1961-62 season when he racked up 63 goals and 41 assists for 104 total points. His Zephyrs also went on to win the Turner Cup during that season.
He won the Turner Cup with the Zephyrs and again with the Mohawks in 1967-68.
Kastelic was a first team IHL All-star during the 1964-65 season with Muskegon and is seventh on the IHL’s list for most career points with 1,134.
When he retired in 1968, Kastelic was the IHL’s all-time goal leader with 551 goals. That record would stand for 24 years. He also had 583 career assists.
Kastelic played a total of seven of his 15 seasons in Muskegon. Other IHL teams he suited up for included the Fort Wayne Komets, Troy Bruins and the Louisville Rebels. He also played in the CPHL under the Houston Apollos.
