Red Kurz, ex-Brighton Tiger and one of the outstanding defenders of the post-war era, has died in his native Canada.

Ernest Kurz, known to everyone as Red, arrived in this country in 1946 to join Wembley Monarchs, where he played for four seasons.

He was suspended for the 1950-51 season after an incident at Wembley.

Following his suspension, he joined Dundee Tigers in the Scottish League, where he stayed for the next three seasons.

In 1955, he joined the Tigers under coach Johnny Oxley and, for the next five years, became a permanent fixture on the blue-line and the backbone of the Tigers' rearguard.

In the 1959-60 season, Red was appointed player-coach. This was to be the last season of senior ice hockey in this country, with the clubs staffed mainly by Canadian players.

In his five seasons with the Tigers, he was with teams that won two Autumn cups, a British League and, in 1960, a newly formed British championship.

He returned to Canada at the end of that season, later becoming a sales manager in the motor trade. He died in his home city of Winnipeg on October 26, age 74.

-John Denyer, Wilson Avenue, Brighton