Background
He was born in Fort William, Ontario.
He was born in Fort William, Ontario.
Stephenson graduated from the University of Winnipeg with an economics degree and worked as an accountants
After he retired from professional hockey, he worked in the banking industry. His National Hockey League career would begin in 1971 when he was signed as a free agent by the Saint Louis Blues. After three seasons with the Blues, he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers.
While in Philadelphia, Wayne toiled as a backup to Bernie Parent for the 1974-1975 season.
When Parent suffered a pinched nerve in his neck during the 1975-1976 pre season that required surgery, Stephenson became the Flyers starting goaltender and retained the job when Parent returned late in the season but couldn"t regain his previous All Star form. Stephenson sought a salary increase to reflect his new responsibilities and value to the team in 1976 but management held firm and he returned to the Philadelphia lineup after a two month holdout.
The friction generated by the dispute fueled his exit from Philadelphia. Stephenson was traded to the Washington Capitals prior to the 1979-1980 National Hockey League season and played there for two seasons before retiring.
Stephenson died from brain cancer.