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Home , 1960 Stanley Cup Finals, Allan Stanley, Al Rollins, Art Coulter, Art Ross, Babe Pratt

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• • • • • • • • PLAY SAVE PLAY SAVE PLAY SAVE PLAY SAVE PLAY SAVE PLAY SAVE PLAY SAVE PLAY SAVE SHOT SAVE SHOT SAVE SHOT SAVE SHOT SAVE SHOT SAVE SHOT SAVE SHOT SAVE SHOT SAVE SPEC SAVE SPEC SAVE SPEC SAVE SPEC SAVE SPEC SAVE SPEC SAVE SPEC SAVE SPEC SAVE

ST FIGHT INJ PEN ST FIGHT INJ PEN ST FIGHT INJ PEN ST FIGHT INJ PEN ST FIGHT INJ PEN ST FIGHT INJ PEN ST FIGHT INJ PEN ST FIGHT INJ PEN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 This Legacy All-Stars set for PLAAY's Hockey Blast contains players active in the 1930's, '40's and '50's, with a few who started in the 1920's and a handful who completed their careers in the 1960's. Many of the names will be unfamiliar to today's hockey fans. We've put together a set of capsule biographies of each player in the set. The bios are pretty much self-explanatory. You'll find the player's name, his position, a colourful nickname if the player had one [sometimes the nickname was used so universally that we've used it instead of the player's real name on his card; eg. ], and the years in which he played in the . Below that is a list of all NHL teams the player was with along with the of games played with that team, followed by the bio itself. No attempt has been made at all-inclusive detail in the biographies. We just want to give you an idea of who these men were (only one, , is still alive as of this writing) and why they merited inclusion in this set of NHL stars from an earlier era.

Several websites were used to compile most of the information found in the biographies ….....

1) Hockey-Reference.com - all the stats of all the players

2) greatesthockeylegends.com - lengthier bios of seemingly every player who ever lived …... well, lots of them anyway ….....

3) hhof.com/html/legends/legendsplayer.shtml - The 's website with good info on all members

4) hockeydb.com - more stats

5) legendsofhockey.net – similar and related to the Hockey Hall of Fame info but featuring all players even if they aren't in the Hall.

And of course good old Wikipedia came in handy too.

Reference is made in the bios to various NHL trophies:

- ….. presented to the champion of the National Hockey League

- ….. presented to the outstanding each

- Calder Trophy ….. presented to the outstanding rookie each season

- Lady Byng Trophy …. presented to the player who best combines sportmanship with a high standard of play

- Hart Trophy ….. presented to the player judged most valuable to his team; generally understood to be the player considered the best in the league for the given season

There are 52 Legacy players in total ….... 6 , 16 defensemen, 20 wingers and 10 centers. The Legacy set was designed to be compatible with the existing franchise collections for Hockey Blast. You can mix the Legacy players in with your ATFG1 and ATFG2 collections and with the upcoming ATFG3. You can take players like Rocket Richard and out of the ATFG collections and use them with the Legacy players to create squads of old-timers [actually there were eight teams in those days, with the Maroons and operating along with the more familiar teams, but why spoil a good slogan?] to do combat against each other or against their more modern counterparts! Or you can use the Legacy players on their own by splitting the set into two teams using any criteria that strikes your fancy. We hope you get many hours of enjoyment from the Legacy All-Stars and hope as well that the set helps to make you a little more familiar with a bygone age of professional hockey!

Many thanks to Keith Avallone and Michael Owens for their help and guidance in the preparation of this set. Any mistakes you might find are of course my own.

Brian Chipney , , March 2017 ______

Syl Apps C 1936-48

Toronto Maple Leafs (423)

Apps was considered by many to be “the All-Canadian boy”. A loyal team player, Apps neither smoked, drank or cursed. He played hard every night and was remarkably consistent over the course of his career. He won the Calder as Rookie of the Year and was in the top three in Hart Trophy voting for five consecutive seasons. At the height of his career following the 1943 season, Apps put hockey on hold to join the Army. After missing two seasons Apps resumed play for the Leafs and picked up exactly where he left off. His stats are amazingly consistent from the start of his career right to the end. That word “consistent” seems to be the one that sums up best …. especially when combined with “excellent”. As of the team, Apps led the Leafs to three Stanley Cups and was always near the top in voting for the Lady Byng. Apps scored a hat trick in his final game to give him a career total of 201goals, which some liken to 500 goals in today's NHL. Following his hockey days Apps became involved in politics, spending over a decade serving as a member of the legislature. Without question, Syl Apps was one of the most admirable people ever to grace the National Hockey League. ______

Larry Aurie W “Little Dempsey” 1927-39

Detroit Cougars Falcons (489 total; it was the same franchise going through name changes)

Larry Aurie was something of a forerunner to Theoren Fleury. He was a small man who had no fear. Aurie would set up in front of opposing nets and dare the opposition to move him out. Keep in mind that this was an era of hockey far rougher than the one we know today. But Aurie stood his ground and became known as “Little Dempsey” for his willingness to take on all comers. Aurie was also a fast skater and a good stickhandler who knew how to find the net. Unfortunately those early Detroit teams weren't very good. They did come together in the mid-1930's though, as Aurie, by that time the captain of the squad, teamed with coach to lead the club to the 1935- 36 Stanley Cup. It was the first for the Detroit franchise. The following year, Larry Aurie led the NHL in goals with 23 (in a 48 game season) but suffered a broken ankle late in the year that kept him out of the . He came back the following season but his effectiveness was greatly reduced. Aurie was through. But he did suit up for one more game as an emergency replacement two years after the ankle injury. As you might expect from this great competitor, Larry Aurie scored the winning . The Wings announced that no player would ever again wear Aurie's number six. But in an odd move, even when Aurie's family formally asked them in the 1990's to hang Aurie's number up with those of and other retired heroes, the Wings refused to do so, though still maintaining that no player would ever again wear that number in Detroit. Some of Aurie's teammates believed that it was only a lack of respect for the players and accomplishments of the past that prevented the Wings from fully honouring a player who gave his all for the franchise in an earlier age. ______

Bill Barilko D “Bashing Bill” 1946-51

Toronto Maple Leafs (252)

Bill Barilko played just four full seasons with Toronto plus a portion of another. A short career by any standard, but a highly successful one! Barilko played on four Stanley Cup winners and took part in three all-star games during his brief time in the NHL. Barilko was originally such a poor skater that it was thought he'd never play in the NHL. He worked diligently to correct that deficiency and after apprenticing with the Leafs' farm team in Hollywood, California (where his good looks and confident persona made him a favorite with a number of movie stars) Barilko was called up to Toronto. His skating was never much more than adequate, but he made up for it with an intensely physical brand of play. Barilko loved to make the big hit and would go after anyone and everyone. There were times when he was so intent on laying on the body that he took himself out of the play and cost his team, but that didn't slow “Bashing Bill” down. Barilko wasn't a big goal scorer, but he did like to lug the puck up ice and wasn't shy about shooting. His most famous goal was undoubtedly the marker that gave the Leafs the Stanley Cup in the 1950-51 season. Following that campaign Barilko, an avid outdoorsman, flew to the northern Ontario bush country on a fishing expedition. On the way home the small plane ran into rough weather and went down. Both Barilko and the pilot were killed. It was many years before the wreckage was found and Bill Barilko was laid to rest. The Rangers and Leafs in action, 1928 ______

Bobby Bauer W 1936-52

Boston Bruins (327)

A look at the dates above would lead one to think that enjoyed a long and productive career. It most certainly was productive, but it was anything but long! Bauer did indeed make his big-league debut in the 1936-37 season, playing a single game with the Bruins during which he scored his first NHL goal. Prior to that, while playing in the AHL, Bauer had teamed with and . In 1937-38 the graduated to the big club together and made an immediate impact. Led by the trio, the Bruins finished first in the standings for four consecutive years, capturing two Stanley Cups along the way. Bauer, Schmidt and Dumart were dubbed “The ” for their shared German heritage and quickly proved to be one of the best lines ever to appear in the NHL. Bauer was considered to be the brains of the line, a fine two-way player adept at setting up his mates and fully capable of scoring himself when the opportunity arose. He was also a very clean player, exceeding ten minutes in a season only once in his career …... he had eleven PIM in 1941-42! Bauer won two Lady Byng Trophies. He and the Bruins were at the top of the hockey world, but events outside the NHL were to take priority. The entire line enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Bauer would miss three full seasons during the prime of his career. His first year back from the conflict was only so-so, but in 1946-47 Bauer exploded for thirty goals in only fifty-eight games, winning his third Lady Byng in the process. Unfortunately this was Bauer's last season, as a check from Black Jack Stewart injured Bauer's shoulder and forced his retirement. With the wartime interruption, Bauer had played only seven full seasons in the NHL. On what must have been a remarkable night, March 18th of 1952, the night the Bruins retired each of their sweaters, the entire Kraut Line came out of retirement for a single game. won the contest 4-0 as Bauer contributed a goal and an assist. He went on to become a successful coach at the junior level and helped his brother, Father , establish the Canadian National Men's Hockey Program. ______Toe Blake W “ The Old Lamplighter” 1934-48

Montreal Maroons (8) (569)

Many people know as the legendary coach of the Montreal Canadiens during some of their most glorious seasons. Blake coached the team from 1955 to 1968, compiling a remarkable .634 winning percentage and capturing eight Stanley Cups, including five in a row in the late 1950's. Fewer are aware that Blake was an all-star player in his own right, even winning the Hart Trophy as league MVP with the Canadiens during the 1938-39 season! Blake had started his career in 1934-35 with the Habs' cross-town rivals, the . After just a single season there during which he barely played, the Maroons sent Blake to the Canadiens. Even before his sensational Hart season, Blake had established himself as a valuable member of the team and one of the best wingers in the game. He teamed with Rocket Richard and on the famous . The line was so dominant that in 1945 they finished 1-2-3 in league scoring and each was named to the 1st all-star team. Blake equalled his career high of twenty-nine goals in the 1945-46 season en route to winning the Lady Byng Trophy. Unfortunately Blake was injured two years later and was forced to retire as a player. Along the way Toe Blake had helped the Canadiens win three Stanley Cups. There were many more in store for him when he moved behind the bench. ______

Frank Boucher C “Gentleman Frank” 1921-44

Ottawa Senators (24) (533)

Frank Boucher was one of the classiest players of his era. He won the Lady Byng Trophy a remarkable seven times in his first eight seasons with the Rangers. He finished second in the voting the one year he didn't win it outright. His domination of the award was so complete that Boucher was given the original trophy and Lady Byng donated a new one to the NHL! But good sportsmanship will get you just so far in the world of professional sports. Boucher was also a brilliant playmaker, repeatedly setting up his linemates Bill and and leading the Rangers to two Stanley Cup victories. Some have compared Boucher to for his understanding of the game, great on-ice vision and ability to find his wingers in excellent scoring positions. With his production dropping as he entered his mid 30's, Boucher retired during the 1937 season. Following his playing days Boucher coached the Rangers and was behind their bench when the club captured the 1940 Stanley Cup. He remained coach of the team for ten seasons before stepping aside to focus on his other job as General Manager of the team. Boucher even made a brief comeback in 1943 when the Rangers' roster was depleted by players going off to war. He scored four times and added ten assists in 15 games ….. not bad for a 42 year old who hadn't played in five years! ______

Herb Cain W 1933-46

Montreal Maroons (211) Montreal Canadiens (45) (314)

Herb Cain began his career with the Montreal Maroons, considered by most to be the team that represented English-speaking Montreal. He was a solid if unspectacular player for most of his time in Montreal, though he did manage twenty goals in forty-four games during the 1934-35 season, helping the Maroons win the Stanley Cup. He was traded to Boston prior to the 1939-40 campaign and became a fan favorite with his new team. Cain scored twenty-one goals in his first year with the Bruins before turning in two lacklustre seasons. But in 1943-44 and again in 44-45 Cain put together astonishing back-to-back seasons. In the first of those years he recorded thirty-six goals and forty-six assists for an NHL record eighty-two points in a fifty game season. With only four minutes in penalties Cain was runner-up in voting for the Lady Byng. The following year he notched thirty-two more goals, though his assist total fell back to thirteen, more typical of his earlier performances. After these heroics Cain played just one more season in Boston, with moderate success (seventeen goals). In a surprising move Cain was then sent to the minors by Bruins owner . While other teams were interested in acquiring Cain, the Bruins made it clear that he was not available, essentially forcing an end to his NHL career. What did Cain do to merit that type of treatment? He had the temerity to hold out in search of a pay increase. It was a dangerous move in an era when management held all the power. Aside from losing his NHL career, the demotion to the AHL also meant that Cain didn't qualify for the new NHL pension plan. Many feel that he was also barred from admission to the Hockey Hall of Fame. He remains the only scoring champion of his era not to be enshrined in the Hall. ______

Lorne Carr W 1933-46

New York Rangers (14) New York Americans (330) Toronto Maple Leafs (236)

After starting his career with a few games for the Rangers, Carr was a solid journeyman in the employ of the New York Americans. He usually scored somewhere around the sixteen to nineteen goal mark in a forty-eight game season, certainly a respectable showing. Carr was traded to Toronto prior to the 1941 campaign. After one more season of numbers that were merely okay, Carr exploded with three oustanding years. In 1942-43 he picked up twenty-seven goals and thirty-three assists. This was followed by thirty-six goals and thirty-eight assists in 43-44 and a further twenty-one goals and twenty-five assists in 44-45. He played just one more season with the Leafs [recording only five goals!] before announcing his retirement from the game. Did suddenly “figure it out” after eight years in the NHL? It seems unlikely. There was a great increase in scoring around the time that Carr began lighting it up for the Leafs. There were two primary reasons for this. Many NHL stars were serving in the military. Enlistment for overseas service was voluntary up until late 1945, but many players chose to put their careers on hold in order to fight for Canada. This served to weaken the quality of play in the league. It's worth remembering too that while sports like in the U.S. weren't truly affected by the war until 1942, Canada had been involved in the conflict since 1939. Also, prior to the 1943-44 season players were not allowed to pass the puck from inside their own blueline into the center ice zone. In 43-44 the center ice red line was introduced to speed up the game and players no longer had to carry the puck over their own blueline before passing it forward. The ability to make good breakout passes did make the game much faster, and many NHL veterans coming back from wartime service found the game very different from the one they'd left behind. ______

Lorne Chabot G “Old Bulwarks” 1926-37

New York Rangers (80) Toronto Maple Leafs (215) Montreal Canadiens (47) Black Hawks (48) Montreal Maroons (16) New York Americans (6)

Chabot was originally signed by the Rangers because they thought he'd be a fine goalie, but they also recognized a marketing opportunity. They wanted to list him as “Chabotsky” in an effort to win fans among the city's large Jewish population. The goalie refused to go along with this scheme. In just his second year Chabot helped the Rangers get to the . He suffered an eye injury in the second game of the series. In those days teams didn't carry a back-up goaltender, so Rangers coach , then 44 years old, strapped on the pads and took over in net. The Rangers won the game in overtime and went on to capture the Stanley Cup. Chabot's injury was slow to heal and he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. It was in his five years with the Leafs that Chabot enjoyed some of his finest moments, including another Cup win in 1931-32. Chabot hadn't been a young man when he broke into the league, not making his debut until he was 26. With the 1933-34 season on the horizon, Chabot was moving into his mid-30's. The Leafs traded him to Montreal for another goaltending great, . He played well, but the Habs shipped him to Chicago after just one season. Chabot won the Vezina in Chicago, but then found himself on the move yet again, this time to the Maroons. He posted excellent numbers in limited duty for Montreal before finding himself traded one final time. finished his career with a handful of game for the New York Americans. He performed poorly, perhaps hampered by the severe arthritis that would leave him bedridden for the last few years of his life. Chabot died of kidney disease in 1946. ______King Clancy D 1921-37

Ottawa Senators (306) Toronto Maple Leafs (286)

King Clancy was one of the most colourful characters ever to come through the National Hockey League. He was an electrifying rushing defensman and a great stickhandler with a nose for the net. He scored 136 goals in 592 games, a pace that would see him net close to 20 goals a season in today's game. Despite his diminutive size (just 5' 7”) Clancy never shied away from the rough going and was willing to take on anyone. Legend has it that he almost never won a fight, but he was always game to try anyone who wanted to have a go. Clancy began his career with Ottawa and was quickly considered one of the best and most exciting players in the league. , the boss of the Leafs, felt that King would be the missing piece that would make the Leafs champs. He was right. With Toronto, Clancy played on three Stanley Cup winners and sparked the fans night after night. Though Clancy never won the Hart Trophy, he was in the top five in voting on five different occasions and was a four- time all-star. After his long playing career ended Clancy stayed in the NHL as a referee for eleven years. Clancy went into coaching and was behind the Leafs bench for three seasons. He then moved into a management position and became a favorite of when the latter took control of the franchise. Clancy even found himself back behind the Leafs bench in the 1971-72 season as a fill-in for their ailing head coach. spent over sixty years in the game and seemed to enjoy every day of them! He was one of the greatest goodwill ambassadors hockey has ever had. ______

Lionel Conacher D “The Big Train” 1925-37

Pittsburgh Pirates (42) New York Americans (149) Montreal Maroons (259) Chicago Black Hawks (48)

Lionel Conacher is considered to be arguably the greatest athlete in Canadian history. In addition to being a solid NHL defensman, Conacher is also a member of the Hall of Fame, the Canadian Hall of Fame and the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. He was a fine baseball player and competed as both an amateur and professional wrestler. Conacher was the captain of the Pittsburgh franchise and was also an important member of the New York Americans for several seasons, serving as their player-coach. Conacher is best know for his six years with the Montreal Maroons and for his single season with Chicago, during which he finished as runner-up in Hart Trophy voting. He wasn't a flashy player, but instead was known primarily for taking care of business in his own end. He provided a large measure of toughness to any team he was with and was always regarded as a respected team leader. Following his playing days Lionel Conacher went into politics, serving in the Ontario legislature for twelve years before becoming a Member of Parliament in Ottawa. It was there while competing in a charity softball game in 1954 that Conacher suffered a fatal heart-attack, an ironic end for a man who excelled in every sport he tried. ______

Roy Conacher W 1938-52

Boston Bruins (166) Detroit Red Wings (60) Chicago Black Hawks (264)

Roy Conacher was the brother of two other Hall of Fame players, Lionel and Charlie. Some felt that Roy was the best of the three. He was a very clean player, never reaching twenty penalty minutes in any season of his career. As a rookie with Boston in 1938-39 Conacher led the NHL in goals with 26. He turned in three more similarly fine campaigns before leaving the Bruins to serve in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Conacher missed three seasons while serving his country. The Bruins didn't believe that Conacher would be able to play effectively after such a long lay-off and traded him to the Detroit Red Wings. Roy didn't have any trouble adjusting to the post-war NHL and scored thirty goals in sixty games for the Wings. But as a result of a contract dispute with Detroit boss Jack Adams the Wings shipped him to the New York Americans. Roy refused to report to New York and the was voided. He was then sent to Chicago, where he played the finest hockey of his career. Though the Hawks were a poor team in those days, Conacher teamed with Billy Mosienko and to form one of the most effective lines in the NHL. In 1948-49 Roy led the NHL in scoring with sixty-eight points, including forty-two assists. He put together two more fine seasons before retiring early in 1951-52, still playing solid hockey right to the end. ______

Art Coulter D 1931-42

Chicago Black Hawks (178) New York Rangers (287)

Winnipeg native Art Coulter was a competitor. Never scoring more than five goals in a season [each season was 48 games in Art's day] he was a tough, hard-hitting defenseman, rock-solid in his own end; a player who inspired his teammates. Coulter won the Stanley Cup in Chicago and during the 1934-35 season finished third in Hart Trophy voting, quite an honour for a stay-at-home defenseman with just four goals and eight assists. Coulter was traded to the Rangers, where he became captain and helped steer the club to a Stanley Cup win in 1940. Coulter was still playing well in 1941-42 but left his hockey career behind permanently to serve his country during World War II. Unfortunately Coulter soured on hockey after his playing days. While living in the southern U.S. during the 1990's Coulter was asked by a reporter for his opinion of Wayne Gretzy. Coulter replied that he'd never heard of him. Be that as it may, Art Coulter was a tremendous team leader and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame. ______

Hap Day D/W 1924-38

Toronto St. Patricks Toronto Maple Leafs (538 total; same team, different names) New York Americans (43)

It's no coincidence that the early Toronto teams had oodles of great role players and leaders. Leafs boss Conn Smythe clearly believed that character was a most important factor in building a winner. One of the great Leaf leaders even pre-dated the familiar name of the franchise. Clarence Day joined the club in 1924 when it was still known as the St. Pats. It wasn't until 1926 that the team changed its name to the Maple Leafs. Day had name changes of his own! He was first called “Happy” Day and later had it shortened to , the moniker by which he was known to one and all. One story has Day going to a rink to visit with a former teammate who was on the ice. During the warm-up Day tried to attract his “friend's” attention, but the player showed no hint of recognition. Finally, as the player skated by, Day leaned over the boards and yelled out “Hey! Happy Day!!”. The player looked blankly at Day for a moment and replied “Good day to you too” before skating off. Day began his career as a forward before switching to defense. He was always able to contribute a goal now and then, but Day's main concern was looking after his own end. He was a tough body-checker and a smart, canny player who knew the rulebook as well as any referee. He played clutch-and-grab hockey, always on the edge of a penalty and never afraid to bend the rules if that was what was required. When Day finished his playing days he moved behind the Leafs bench and taught his men that same defensive-minded style. In ten years as Leafs coach the team won an amazing five Stanley Cups! Hap Day was never the flashiest player to appear in a Leaf jersey, but he was clearly one of the best hockey minds ever. ______

Gordie Drillon W 1936-43

Toronto Maple Leafs (262) Montreal Canadiens (49)

Gordie Drillon had a short but memorable National Hockey League career. But it wasn't always memorable for the right reasons! Drillon was the definition of a one-way player. His game was built around parking himself in the slot and cashing in loose pucks and rebounds, just as did decades later. As a big man for the time he was effective in this role. Drillon led the NHL in goals and points in just his second season, scoring twenty-six goals and fifty-two points in forty-eight games. His production every year in Toronto was similar. He was also a perennial Lady Byng candidate. But Drillon had no interest in the defensive aspects of the game. He was also a player who enjoyed the off-ice rewards of being a hockey star. In 1941-42 the Leafs were down 3-0 in games to Detroit in the Stanley cup finals. Drillon wasn't getting the job done in the series and Leafs boss Conn Smythe benched his star forward. The Leafs went on to win four in a row to capture the Stanley Cup, one of the greatest comebacks in hockey history. Drillon didn't dress for any of those wins. After the season he was traded to Montreal, where he played one season (with his typical great numbers ….. twenty-eight goals in forty-nine games!) before enlisting in the military. After the war Drillon opted to stay in the Maritimes where he had been based during the conflict, turning his back on the NHL. Drillon did continue to play hockey at the senior level though, and kept right on scoring goals and enjoying life. ______

Woody Dumart W 1935-54

Boston Bruins (772)

Dumart was a member of the famous “Kraut Line” with Milt Schmidt and Bobby Bauer. Bauer was looked at as the sniper on the line and Schmidt the playmaker. It was Dumart who supplied the defensive presence. He was considered to be one of the better defensive forwards of the time and also possessed a deft scoring touch. By today's standards he'd be the type of player who'd score thirty to thirty-five goals per season in his prime while also taking care of business in his own end. It's no wonder Dumart was considered such a valuable member of the Bruins! Dumart and his linemates enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force during WWII. He missed three full seasons, but picked up right where he'd left off after returning from the service. He did begin to wear down after several more good seasons and finished his tenure with the Bruins as more of a role-player. Each member of the Kraut Line is enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame. ______

Bill Durnan G 1943-50

Montreal Canadiens (383)

Bill Durnan had one of the shortest careers of any Hall of Fame player ….... and unquestionably the most spectacular! He played just seven seasons in the National Hockey League and was awarded the Vezina Trophy as top goaltender in six of those campaigns!! There are those who feel that Durnan might have been the best goaltender in NHL history. He was already twenty-eight when he broke in with the Habs in 1943-44. The team, with stars like The Rocket, Elmer Lach and Butch Bouchard, was just starting to come into its own. Durnan played all fifty games, as goalies did in those days, and turned in a remarkable record of thirty-eight wins, five losses and seven ties with two and a 2.18 Goals Against Average. Aside from natural talent, there was another reason for his success. Durnan was ambidextrous and wore two catching gloves rather than using a on one hand. He'd switch his stick from hand to hand depending which side of the ice the opponents were attacking from. Durnan worked hard to master this technique in his pre-NHL days, and it gave him quite an advantage. No matter what the angle, shooters always had to deal with Durnan's …... or at least, one of them! In 1948-49 Durnan recorded a career high ten shutouts along with a 2.10 GAA. Yet the next year would be his last. Bill Durnan was always one who keenly felt the pressure of being an NHL goalie. It was beginning to get to him. He was getting older; his reflexes were slowing down. And he'd suffered a broken hand that made it exceedingly painful for him to catch the puck. In the playoffs of 1950 the team was losing and Durnan felt that he wasn't playing as well as he needed to. He pulled himself from the series and never played again. For years the story went around that he'd suffered a nervous breakdown, but Durnan denied that. He simply said that he'd had enough. Many of the teammates he enjoyed were leaving and Durnan said that the fun was going out of the game for him. As well, he had a family to raise, and salaries in those days were nothing like what we're used to today. At the age of thirty-five, Bill Durnan walked away from the NHL, leaving behind one of the most glorious records in hockey history. Bill Durnan

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Charlie Gardiner G “The Wee Scot” 1927-34

Chicago Black Hawks (316)

Charlie Gardiner was born in Scotland. His family moved to Canada when Charlie was 7 and settled in Winnipeg. He began playing hockey in Manitoba, where his spectacular play caught the eye of Chicago scouts. Gardiner began his NHL career in 1927-28. Originally slated to be the backup netminder (which in those days meant you wouldn't play unless the #1 man got hurt), Gardiner won the starting job and never looked back. Unfortunately the Hawks were a terrible team. The following season he gave up more goals than any other netminder and led the league in losses with a 7-29-8 record, despite posting a 1.85 Goals Against Average. How can you lose that many games when your goaltender is letting in fewer than two a night? The Hawks scored only thirty-three goals in forty-four games! The club began to turn it around the following year, led by their captain, Charlie Gardiner. From 1930 on, Gardiner recorded consecutive seasons with 1.73, 1.85, 2.01 and 1.63 Goals Against Averages.1933-34 was his best season, winning the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender and leading the Hawks to the Stanley Cup despite playing in great pain. Gardiner had developed an undiagnosed tonsil infection that had spread to other parts of his body. Gardiner underwent an emergency operation after suffering a massive brain hemorrhage. He died on June 13, 1934, just weeks after winning the Stanley Cup. He remains the only goaltender to captain his team to the championship. ______Ebbie Goodfellow D/C 1929-43

Detroit Cougars Detroit Falcons Detroit Red Wings (557 total; same team, different names)

Goodfellow would appear to have played for several different teams, but it was all the same Detroit franchise in search of a permanent name. Goodfellow was used to change. He started his career as a top-scoring forward and was in fact a Hart Trophy contender during his second season, 1930-31. When Ebbie began to lose a step a few years later, coach Jack Adams shifted him to defense, and Goodfellow proved to be an all-star blue-liner who could still contribute offensively. He won the Hart Trophy as a defenseman in 1939-40, the first Detroit player ever to win this prize. Goodfellow was a member of two Stanley Cup winners as a player with the Wings and also coached the team for a very brief period. By 1943 injuries had severely limited his effectiveness and Goodfellow sat out the playoffs after appearing in only eleven regular season games. Wings coach Jack Adams was suspended for going out on the ice to attack a referee. He asked his former captain, , to go behind the bench. The Wings went all the way and captured the Stanley Cup, with Goodfellow's name being inscribed on the trophy for a third time even though he didn't see a minute of action on the ice during the post-season. Goodfellow coached in Chicago for two unsuccessful years before stepping away from the NHL.

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Johnny Gottselig W 1928-45

Chicago Black Hawks (589)

Though he often listed himself as being born in to save time when crossing the U.S./Canada border, Gottselig was actually a native of Russia who came to Canada as an infant. He was one of the first Russian-born players ever in the NHL. Gottselig was a quick skater who excelled at stickhandling and penalty-killing. He had a couple of good scoring years when he first joined the Hawks, but settled down into the role of a solid two-way forward. Gottselig served as captain of the Black Hawks for several seasons and was part of two Stanley Cup winners as a player in Chicago. With his career winding down he served as a part-time player for the 1940-41 and 1942-43 seasons, not playing at all in 1941-42. Gottselig was pressed back into full- time duty as a wartime replacement in 1943-44. He played one final game the next season to cap off his career. It was Chicago sports magnate Phil Wrigley who started the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during the war. Gottselig was involved in getting the league underway, using his contacts in western Canada to get many fine players to go down to the States to join the league. He even served as manager of several of the teams, winning the league championship with Racine in 1943. Gottselig coached the Black Hawks for three seasons and later became the team's Publicity Director. ______

Gorge Hainsworth G 1926-37

Montreal Canadiens (318) Toronto Maple Leafs (147)

George Hainsworth recorded the two lowest Goals Against Averages ever turned in by an NHL netminder in a single season: an incredible 0.92 in 1928-29 and 1.05 the previous year. Hainsworth won his third consecutive Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender in '28-29. In 1929-30 the NHL changed the rules to encourage more scoring. The changes were effective and even the great George Hainsworth saw his GAA soar to 2.42 …. still not a bad figure! The Canadiens won the Stanley Cup in both 1929-30 and 1930-31. Hainsworth was traded to Toronto in time for the 1933-34 season and continued to be one of the league's best. In his first two seasons with the Leafs Hainsworth led the NHL in wins with twenty-six and thirty. He had another good season in 1935-36, but the following year the Leafs decided to turn the net over to . Hainsworth was released and went back to Montreal, playing just four games there before retiring. George Hainsworth turned in a ten year stretch where he was one of the best goalies in the league …... not bad when you consider that he was already thirty-one when he made his rookie debut! ______Bryan Hextall W 1936-48

New York Rangers (449)

Prior to the arrival of Gordie Howe in the NHL, was the dominant right wing of the era. A left-handed shot, he was one of the first to play his off-wing. was another who found success using this technique. It was Hextall's overtime goal that gave the Rangers the 1940 Stanley Cup. Along with being a leading scorer, Hextall was also considered to be one of the best body-checkers of his day. He was the complete package, a tough, durable, clean player with a scoring touch, defensively responsible and considered one of the finest team leaders in the NHL. Hextall seldom missed a game. Ironically, his iron-man streak of 340 consecutive games came to an end when the Canadian government refused to give him permission to cross the U.S. Border in 1944. Hextall was forced to stay in Canada and spent the year playing senior hockey. He rejoined the Rangers in 1945 but was felled by a serious liver ailment that caused him to miss all but three game of the 1945-46 season. Hextall did return to action the next season and played a portion of one more year before retiring. His sons Dennis and Bryan Jr. both became NHL players, while grandson Ron was also a player and is currently General Manager of the Flyers. ______

Red Horner D 1928-40

Toronto Maple Leafs (490)

Look up tough in the dictionary and you may well find a picture of . He led the NHL in penalties seven times during his career. In fact, if Red were playing today his stats indicate that he'd record something in the area of 200 PIM per season, an impressive total! Horner wasn't particularly known for the rough stuff in his junior days, but when he got to Toronto he understood that a large part of his job was to give his smaller teammates the confidence to operate, knowing that anyone taking liberties would have to answer to Horner. It wasn't for nothing that Leaf boss Conn Smythe was known for the saying “If you can't beat 'em in the alley, you can't beat 'em on the ice”. Horner could do more than fight. He was known as a decent passer and even potted eleven goals during the 1933-34 season. For many years Horner was the oldest living former NHL'er before passing away at the age of 94. ______

Syd Howe W/C 1929-46

Ottawa Senators (102) Philadelphia Quakers (44) Toronto Maple Leafs (3) St, Louis Eagles (36) Detroit Red Wings (513)

Syd Howe (no relation to Gordie) was a solid all-around player. He certainly bounced from team to team at the beginning of his career before finding a permanent home with the Red Wings. Howe was a dependable forward who put up consistenly good numbers every season. He was a part of three Stanley Cup winners with the Wings, in 1936, 1937 and 1943. 1943-44 was his best offensive season, as Howe finished the year with thirty-two goals and sixty points in forty-six games. Included in that total was a game in February where Howe scored six goals! With the end of his career on the horizon, the Wings gave Syd Howe a special night of honours. He responded by scoring both goals in a 2-1 Wings victory. When Howe did retire at the end of the 1945-46 season he had scored 528 points, at the time the highest total in NHL history. He continued to play senior hockey for several seasons. Clearly Syd Howe loved the game, and, especially in Detroit, the fans clearly loved Syd Howe

______The Montreal Canadiens and the Montreal Maroons square off in 1938.

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Busher Jackson W 1929-44

Toronto Maple Leafs (432) New York Americans (89) Boston Bruins (112)

Harvey “Busher” Jackson was a charismatic on the famous Kid Line of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Teamed with and Charlie Conacher, this trio led the Leafs to the Stanley Cup in the 1931-32 season. It was Busher's greatest year as he scored twenty-eight goals in forty-eight games. Jackson was an exciting player, the kind who brought the fans out of their seats. He had tremendous speed [some felt he was as fast as anyone in the league!] and drove to the net at every opportunity. His backhand was lethal. Jackson was also a handsome, friendly sort of guy. He was a great favorite with the fans, but not so much a favorite of Leafs boss Conn Smythe. Jackson had two great weaknesses as far as Smythe was concerned ….... he couldn't be bothered playing any form of defense, and he enjoyed the nightlife. Busher was undisciplined, a heavy drinker who never met a party he didn't like. As long as he was producing, Smythe put up with him. But Jackson's production started to decline along with his penalty minutes. It would seem from the stats that Busher wasn't getting involved the way he had been in his best years. Smythe had had enough and sent Jackson to the New York Americans. His play there for two seasons was extremely uninspired and the Amerks passed Busher on to the Boston Bruins. He had a better season with Boston in 1942-43, scoring nineteen goals in forty-four games. His penalty total was up as well, perhaps a sign that Busher was more invested in the game. But after one more season in which he slipped back to just eleven goals in forty-two games, Jackson's time in the NHL was over. ______Tom Johnson D 1947-65

Montreal Canadiens (857) Boston Bruins (121)

Tom Johnson was a team player who sacrificed his personal stats for the good of the club. A teammate of the great on the powerful Montreal teams of the 1950's, Johnson was the type of player who always stayed back in his own zone, content to let others make flashy plays. As a result, there were some who felt that Johnson was an untalented hack who was being carried by his more skilled teammates. Johnson disproved that once and for all in 1958-59 when Harvey was injured and missed a good portion of the season. With the Habs needing someone to fill the gap, Johnson stepped up his game and had a career offensive season with ten goals and thirty-nine points. He won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman. When Harvey returned to the lineup, Johnson went back to his role as a conservative defender. When Johnson was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame it was a controversial move. He was known as one of the dirtiest players of his day. According to Black Hawks great , was the type of player who would never drop his stick in an altercation but would use it to inflict damage. He was also fond of attacking players from behind. Though he might not have been admirable, Johnson's style was undoubtedly effective. Montreal lost him to the Bruins when serious inuries threatened Johnson's career and the Habs left him unprotected in a waiver draft. Boston took a chance on Johnson and enjoyed two solid seasons before the veteran rearguard was finally stopped by yet another injury. Johnson joined the Bruins front-office and was the coach of the team when they won the Stanley Cup in 1972. ______

Aurele Joliat W “The Little Giant” 1922-38

Montreal Canadiens (655)

What a tremendous player Aurele Joliat was! Tough as nails. A great checker. A dynamic offensive presence who once scored thirty goals in a twenty-five game season (and finished only fifth in MVP voting!!). Joliat could do everything and do it at all-star caliber. A linemate of the great , Joliat helped the Habs to four Stanley Cups wins and finally did win the Hart Trophy in 1933-34. Joliat suffered from significant back pain and ulcers throughout his entire career, but he didn't let his ailments slow him down. But there was something that could stop him on the ice! Joliat always played with a black baseball cap on, using that to hide his bald spot. Whenever an opposing player would knock that cap off, Joliat would ignore the play and go retrieve it before rejoining the action. Naturally the opposition made a of trying to divest Aurele of his chapeau. Joliat would pick up his cap and would use his stick to exact revenge, either by scoring a goal or using it to “send a message” to whoever had the temerity to go after the headgear. Joliat never backed down from a physical confrontation, even though he played at 130-140 pounds and was small even for the time. Inevitably, Joliat's production did start to fade as he progressed into his mid-30's. Some say that he was also deeply affected by the death of his close friend Morenz. Whatever the case, Aurele Joliat's career ended after the 1937-38 season. Joliat said that he didn't retire, instead claiming that the Canadiens “fired” him when they had a chance to pick up younger player from the Montreal Maroons when that franchise folded. Whatever the case, nothing can diminish the accomplishments of “The Little Giant”, Aurele Joliat. ______

Ted Kennedy C “Teeder” 1942-57

Toronto Maple Leafs (696)

Ted Kennedy could do it all. He scored important goals for the Leafs, was a great faceoff man, a fierce checker, ruled the boards and the corners, and, most important of all, was one of the great inspirational leaders in hockey history. In short, Teeder Kennedy was a winner, a fact attested to by his five Stanley Cups, six all-star game appearances and a Hart Trophy as league MVP. A true “money player”, he often saved his best performances for the playoffs. How respected was Ted Kennedy? He won the Hart in his last full season in the NHL, despite scoring only 10 goals in 70 games. By that time age had slowed his already poor skating even further, and, though he managed 42 assists that season, he decided it was time to hang 'em up. Kennedy did attempt a brief comeback after sitting out a year, but the Leafs' great leader no longer had much left to contribute offensively and retired for good at the age of just 31. Few players in NHL history have illustrated the value of hard work more effectively than Teeder Kennedy ______

Edgar Laprade C “Beaver” 1945-55

New York Rangers (500)

Laprade is little remembered today, but he was a fine player for the Rangers during some difficult years for the Blueshirts. Thanks to his wartime service, Laprade was 26 when he made his NHL debut. He won the Rookie of the Year award and was in the top five in voting for the Lady Byng during each of his first five years in the league. He also played in four consecutive all-star games. Laprade was known as a playmaker, a great skater and a top-notch defensive forward and penalty killer. Despite his dilligence as a checker, Laprade also managed to stay out of the penalty box. Only once during his career did he have a season where he hit double figures in PIM, while twice going an entire season without a single penalty. Laprade was coming off his best goal scoring season when a serious ankle injury reduced his effectiveness dramatically. He struggled on for several seasons, but his offensive production had fallen to almost nothing and he finally retired. Until that injury though, Laprade was as fine a two-way player as you could find. ______

Howie Meeker W 1946-54

Toronto Maple Leafs (346)

Meeker was known to a generation of Canadian hockey fans for his work as a colour commentator on broadcasts. He always emphasized skill development and was a great teacher of the game. In addition to his broadcasting work, Meeker also ran his own hockey school and authored books aimed at improving the skill level of young players. What many don't know is that Meeker was also a fine player himself with the Leafs. He won the Rookie of the Year award in 1946-47, was a three time all-star and also played on three Stanley Cup winners. Included in that outstanding rookie season was a five goal outburst against the Chicago Black Hawks. Unfortunately that season proved to be the best of Meeker's career. In his third year Howie suffered a broken collarbone. It limited his effectiveness for the rest of his career, resulting in very modest totals of goals and points. But Meeker was a relentless skater who never stopped hustling. Even more impressive is the fact that Meeker served two years as a Member of Parliament during his playing days! He became coach of the Leafs for a brief spell before turning to broadcasting. Though his on-ice career was short, Howie Meeker was a true student of the game, and one of its great teachers! ______

Howie Morenz C “The Stratford Streak” 1923-37

Montreal Canadiens (460) Chicago Black Hawks (71) New York Rangers (19)

Howie Morenz was probably the greatest, and certainly the most charismatic, player of his era. He was hockey's first superstar, sometimes referred to as “the Babe Ruth of hockey”. In 1950 this four- time Stanley Cup winner was named by as the greatest player in the first half of the century. He scored 33 goals in 43 games during 1927-28, winning the first of his three Hart Trophies as NHL MVP. Two years later Morenz utilized his brilliant stick-handling and great speed to score a phenomenal 40 goals in 44 games (and finished 7th in Hart voting!). Howie Morenz was the kind of player who lifted the fans out of their seats with his rushes up the ice, and unlike some other stars he looked after his own end of the ice with every bit as much diligence as he applied to his scoring. Morenz could look after himself when things got rough too. He racked up 72 penalty minutes along with those 40 goals! That was the highest penalty total of his career, but Morenz usually recorded a relatively high number of penalty minutes as he responded to those trying to shut him down by laying on the body. Like in later years, Morenz had the complete package. But over time nagging injuries began to catch up to “The Stratford Streak” and Montreal fans turned on their former hero. He was traded to Chicago and then to the Rangers, but Morenz's best years were behind him and his production was less than mediocre in both cities. With his career undoubtedly winding down, Morenz was traded back to Montreal during what was regarded as his final campaign. Tragically, Morenz suffered a badly broken leg during a game when his skate stuck in the boards and another player fell over his leg. It was felt that he'd never play again. Though Morenz appeared to be recovering in hospital, he died suddenly, a tragic end to the life of this amazing player. While some felt that he died of “a broken heart” at the prospect of never playing again, it's far more likely that a blood clot was the cause of death. Howie Morenz crashes the net. ______

Gus Mortson D 1946-59

Toronto Maple Leafs (371) Chicago Black Hawks (390) Detroit Red Wings (36)

Gus Mortson was known as one of the toughest players in an era of rough and tumble hockey. He and Jim Thomson, his regular defense partner in Toronto [they were call the Gold Dust Twins because of their youth and high caliber of play], used borderline-legal clutch and grab tactics along with intense physical play to contain any opponents brave enough to challenge them in the Leafs end. Mortson led the league in penalties four times and was suspended twice for deliberately attempting to injure an opponent. But Mortson was no goon. He was a fine skater and could carry the puck well. Though his assist totals were relatively modest, Mortson was a good two-way player who could contribute at both ends of the ice. He was an all-star eight times and was part of four Stanley cup winners in Toronto. Mortson went to Chicago as part of a trade for Harry Lumley, one of the top goaltenders of the time. He continued to play well, but age finally caught up with him. Gus Mortson retired after playing half a season with Detroit. ______Billy Mosienko W 1941-55

Chicago Black Hawks (711)

Billy Mosienko is best known for scoring three goals in twenty-one seconds, a record that may never be broken. But he was also a fine player throughout his fourteen year career with the Hawks, making the all-star team on five occasions. Mosienko was one of the fastest skaters in the game as well as being a talented scorer. He recorded seasons of thirty-one and thirty-two goals and was a Lady Byng candidate several times, winning the award in 1943-44 as he contributed twenty-eight goals while not picking up a single penalty all season. Mosienko was a member of the famous Pony Line with the brothers Max and Doug Bentley. They were a dominant trio and are considered one of the best lines in NHL history. After his playing days in the NHL, Mosienko returned to his native Winnipeg and played senior hockey for several years. He was also involved in coaching and operated a bowling alley in North Winnipeg for many years. Even in old-timers games when he was in his sixties, Billy Mosienko could still out-skate most players half his age! ______

Buddy O'Connor C 1941-51

Montreal Canadiens (271) New York Rangers (238)

Buddy O'Connor was one of the lightest players ever to suit up in the NHL, standing 5' 8” with a playing weight of just 142 pounds. But he was also a highly effective player who captured the Hart and the Lady Byng in 1947-48, his first season with the Rangers after six fine years in Montreal. O'Connor was the first to win both trophies in the same season. He was also named Canada's Athlete of the Year for 1948. Perhaps most amazing about this phenomenal season is that O'Connor was only a 2nd team All-Star! Elmer Lach beat O'Connor to the scoring championship by a single point and was named the 1st team All-Star. O'Connor was a clean player, never reaching double figures in penalty minutes in any season. He was a great stick-handler and excelled as a set-up man, recording two consecutive seasons for the Habs with over 40 assists in a 50 game schedule. O'Connor missed significant time during 1948-49 due to an auto accident. His production declined over the next two seasons and O'Connor finished his pro career in the . But his final NHL season was true to form ….... 0 penalty minutes and 36 points in 66 games. ______

Bert Olmstead W 1948-62

Chicago Black Hawks (94) Montreal Canadiens (508) Toronto Maple Leafs (246)

Bert Olmstead was never the most talented player on the ice, though he might have been the toughest. He only scored as much as twenty goals once in his career, and that came in his first full season with Chicago. But Olmstead was one of the best corner-men of his day, someone who always seemed to come out of scrambles with the puck. He was a tremendous team leader, someone who insisted that his teammates perform at their best every night. Olmstead came into his own as a member of the Montreal Canadiens, teamed first with Elmer Lach and Maurice Richard and then lining up with Jean Beliveau and Boom Boom Geoffrion. The latter pair credited Olmstead as being the guy who made that line work. Olmstead knew that his role was to play good defense and get the puck to his more talented linemates. He did that successfully enough to record consecutive seasons of forty-eight and fifty-six assists, the latter a league record at the time. Olmstead had some knee problems and the Habs left him exposed in the waiver draft. The Leafs picked him up and Olmstead's leadership skills were a major part of Toronto's success. He had four good years with the Leafs, including a Cup victory in his final NHL campaign, 1961-62. It was the fifth Stanley Cup of Olmstead's career. He also served as 's assistant coach in Toronto, though he gave up that role to concentrate on playing. Olmstead had hurt his shoulder and the Leafs, as did the Habs before them, left Olmstead exposed in a waiver draft. He was claimed by the New York Rangers but refused to report. It was the end of his career. Olmstead coached the expansion Oaland Seals in their first season, but this was a bad hockey team. It was not an enjoyable experience and Olmstead didn't come back for a second season. ______Babe Pratt D 1935-47

New York Rangers (305) Toronto Maple Leafs (181) Boston Bruins (31)

Babe Pratt was 6' 3” and weighed 215 pounds, a giant for his time. Yet he was one of the most mobile rushing defensemen the game has ever seen. Pratt was a fun-loving guy who loved to head up ice and see what mayhem he could create in the offensive zone. Starting his career with the great Rangers teams of the late 1930's, Pratt played a more conventional defensive style. But when he was traded to Toronto in 1942, Pratt began to display the offensive flair that would make him a fan favorite around the league. He won the Hart Trophy as the league's top player in 1943-44 after scoring seventeen goals and forty assists in just fifty games. Unfortunately Babe liked to live it up off the ice and was known as a wild guy and a drinker. In 1946 he was involved in a gambling scandal. Pratt was accused of betting on non-Leafs games and was suspended. Originally it was a lifetime ban, but Pratt was reinstated after missing just nine games. Leafs owner Conn Smythe tired of dealing with Pratt's undisciplined ways and moved him to Boston. After just one season with the Bruins Pratt was sent to the minors. He continued to play well but never again appeared as a National Hockey League player. As with so many others, one wonders what might have accomplished had he looked after himself and taken the game more seriously. ______

Joe Primeau C “Gentleman Joe” 1927-36

Toronto Maple Leafs (310)

“Gentleman Joe” was an apt nickname for this smooth centerman, who finished in the top three in Lady Byng voting for five consecutive seasons out of the seven full campaigns he played. Interestingly, Primeau's only Byng win came during the season when he recorded his highest career total of PIM's, 25! In his first full year with the Leafs Primeau was teamed with two rookies, Busher Jackson and Charlie Conacher. The chemistry was immediate and the entire line went on to Hall of Fame careers and a Stanley Cup triumph. Primeau was the set-up man for his linemates, and was also considered to be one of the top defensive forwards and penalty killers of the era. He retired early as his construction business was booming and required more of his time than a hockey career allowed. But Primeau stayed in the game as a coach, leading the Leafs to the Cup in 1951 and also coaching winners of the (the junior hockey championship of Canada) and the , awarded to the top senior team in the country. Joe Primeau remains the only man ever to coach a winning squad in all three of Canada's major hockey championships. ______

Bill Quackenbush D “Quack” 1942-56

Detroit Red Wings (313) Boston Bruins (461)

Despite having a name that makes him sound like a Groucho Marx character, was no joke. This eight time all-star was considered to be one of the most consistently excellent defensemen of his era at both ends of the ice. At a time when defenseman were expected to lay on the body at every opportunity and leave their opponents lying in a heap, Quackenbush was a pure finesse player and one of the smartest of all time. He accumulated fewer than one hundred minutes in penalties during his career and never had more than seventeen minutes in any individual season. “Quack” picked up only one five minute major penalty in his career, and apparently observers felt that it was a very minor skirmish that deserved two for roughing at most. In 1948-49 Quackenbush became the first defenseman to win the Lady Byng Trophy. During that award-winning campaign he didn't pick up a single penalty all season!! It was part of a streak in which he went over 130 games without a penalty. After seven seasons with the Wings Quackenbush was traded to Boston, where he'd go on to play an additional seven years. The Bruins weren't a very good or very deep team during that time. A series of injuries to their defense corps left “Quack” as the only experienced blueliner, and he played 55 minutes during one contest! When his playing days ended, Quackenbush received a degree in civil engineering from . He later became involved in coaching at , where he ran the men's and women's hockey programs as well as coaching varsity golf. ______

Kenny Reardon D 1940-50

Montreal Canadiens (341)

Kenny Reardon was as tough a player as ever laced on the skates. Long acknowledged by hockey commentator and former Bruins coach as his favorite player, Reardon played through injuries that would have kept other men off the ice. By his own admission Reardon wasn't the best or smartest player around. He wasn't blessed with much in the way of natural talent, but his will to do whatever was necessary to win made him a valuable teammate. Reardon was an all-star for five consecutive seasons after returning from the war. As did a number of other players, Reardon lost prime years of his career to military service. He enlisted in the army after playing two seasons with the Habs. Reardon's take-no-prisoners style kept him constantly banged up. He finally had to retire before he was even thirty years old, unable to continue playing at the standard he'd set for himself and unwilling to modify his game to ease the wear and tear he'd subjected himself to over the years. only knew one way to play the game. He became a successful hockey executive and was a major factor in assembling the great Montreal teams of the 1950's and '60's. ______

Al Rollins G 1949-60

Toronto Maple Leafs (112) Chicago Black Hawks (308) New York Rangers (10)

Al Rollins got his NHL career off to quite a start. After appearing in just two games for the Leafs in 1949-50, Rollins appeared in the Toronto net forty times the following season. He posted a 1.77 Goals Against Average to lead the league. He also put together a record of twenty-seven wins against five losses and eight ties. And did I mention that he took over from veteran Turn Broda and backstopped the Leafs to the Stanley Cup? Rollins won the Vezina Trophy that season and finished second in voting for Rookie of the Year. This appeared to be a harbinger of great things for Rollins, and he played very well again the following season. But then the Leafs decided to make a change, trading Rollins and three others to Chicago for goalie Harry Lumley. Chicago was one of the worst teams in the league and Rollins' stats fell right through the floor. The first season was more than respectable, as Rollins posted a 27-28-15 record with a 2.50 GAA. He had to have played great, as he finished second in voting for league MVP despite giving up more goals than any other netminder in the NHL. In Rollins' second year with the Hawks, things got ugly. The team's record with Rollins in net slipped to 12-47-7, his GAA ballooned to 3.23 and he once again gave up more goals than any other NHL goaltender. And this time he won the Hart Trophy as the National Hockey League's Most Valuable Player. It was a remarkable tribute to Rollins' ability that he won the trophy despite playing for the last place team in the league. Over the next few seasons the Hawks posted similar records, as did Rollins. Despite his continued fine play in the face of adversity, Rollins was sent to the minors by coach in what appears to have been a personal dispute between the two men. In those days management held all the cards. It essentially marked the end of Al Rollins' NHL career, though he did play a handful of games for the Rangers a couple of seasons later. When Rollins had a good team in front of him in Toronto, he played great. When he had a terrible team in front of him in Chicago …..... he played even better. ______

Sweeney Schriner W 1934-46

New York Americans (240) Toronto Maple Leafs (244)

Sweeney Schriner was likely the best player the New York Americans ever had. Born is Russia but growing up in , Schriner was Rookie of the Year in 1934-35. He won the league scoring championship for the next two seasons, a remarkable feat considering the lack of talent surrounding Schriner. The Amerks traded Schriner to Toronto in exchange for five players, a deal designed to give the New Yorkers some badly needed depth. In Toronto Schriner enjoyed playing in a situation where he didn't have to carry the team single-handed. He continued to produce offensively and helped lead the Leafs to two Stanley Cup victories, including the memorable series in 1942 when the Leafs were down three game to none to the Detroit Red Wings in the finals. Schriner scored two goals to pace Toronto to the win in the deciding . Schriner left the NHL following the 1945-46 season and became a coach in western Canada. In 1948-49 he came out of retirement for one season to play senior hockey, leading the Regina team to the Allan Cup finals. No less an authority than hockey lifer and former Leafs boss Conn Smythe once rated Sweeney Schriner as the best left wing he'd ever seen. ______

Earl Seibert D 1931-46

New York Rangers (204) Chicago Black Hawks (398) Detroit Red Wings (43)

Earl Seibert had a head-start as a hockey great ….. his father Oliver was a Hall of Fame player himself. Earl was known as a no-nonsense type, both on the ice and off. In his day there were no such things as agents; players represented themselves in contract negotiations. Siebert was regarded as a tough man to bargain with, so much so that the Rangers traded him to Chicago even though Seibert was already an all-star and had placed highly in the voting for the Hart Trophy. It was in Chicago that his game went to another level. While his offensive production was never anything special, Seibert was a perennial all-star. Though he was as tough as they came, Seibert stayed within the rules more often that not and wasn't a highly penalized player. But while he was with the Hawks, Seibert was involved in one of hockey's most tragic accidents. Seibert was going after a loose puck with fading superstar Howie Morenz when Morenz lost his balance and fell awkwardly into the boards, breaking his leg in four places. Morenz would die six weeks later. When asked in later years if he'd played against Howie Morenz, Seibert replied “Yeah, I killed him”. It was especially ironic in that Seibert was known as a clean, tough player. And one with his own injury history ….. Seibert was the first NHL player to wear a helmet, as he'd suffered a serious concussion prior to his NHL days and wore the headgear throughout his career. As a reward for his great play in Chicago the Hawks owner reportedly gave Seibert a small piece of the team, but when said owner died the new boss refused to honour the agreement and Seibert found himself shipped to Detroit. He played parts of two seasons with the Wings before calling it a career. Earl Seibert and his father became the first father and son pair in the Hockey Hall of Fame. ______

Babe Siebert W/D 1925-39

Montreal Maroons (286) New York Rangers (56) Boston Bruins (125) Montreal Canadiens (125)

Babe Siebert was that rare hockey commodity, an all-star performer at both forward and defense. He began his career as a defenseman with the Montreal Maroons but was quickly shifted to left wing. He played on a great line with two other Hall of Famers, and . While Stewart was the trigger man and Smith the passer, it was Babe Siebert who did the back-checking, dug out loose pucks for his teammates and took care of any physical action required. Given Stewart's lack of interest in playing without the puck, Siebert had to work extremely hard. He wasn't a gifted scorer, but he was very effective in his assigned role. The Maroons won the Stanley Cup in Siebert's rookie season. Unfortunately, the club was never sound financially, and in 1932 they were forced to trade Siebert to the Rangers even though he was coming off his best season with twenty-one goals in forty-eight games. They simply couldn't afford him anymore. Siebert won another Cup in New York, but with his skills beginnging to fade was then traded to Boston. He had a dreadful time with the Bruins and it was thought that his career was over. But coach in Montreal felt Siebert still had something to contribute. The Habs picked Siebert up and Hart moved him to defense. Siebert had a rebirth, playing what some feel was the best hockey of his career. He was named captain of the Canadiens and was the league MVP in his first season with the club. Siebert was also one of the most popular players in the league. His wife was an invalid. Fans everywhere responded to the way Siebert took care of her without complaint. After three years on the Habs blueline, Siebert retired and was set to become coach of the Canadiens. Regrettably, while enjoying a day out with his family during the off-season, he dove into a lake to retrieve a toy his children had thrown into the water. Siebert drowned in the attempt. The NHL and its players organized a memorial game to raise funds for Siebert's family. Though he could be a fierce competitor, Babe Siebert was one of the most respected players of his day. ______Tod Sloan C/W “Slinker” 1947-61

Toronto Maple Leafs (549) Chicago Black Hawks (196)

Sloan established himself as an NHL player in a big way, scoring 31 goals in his first full season in Toronto. In that year's playoffs Sloan scored a late 3rd period goal that sent the deciding game of the finals into overtime, setting the stage for Bill Barilko's famous Cup-winning goal. His numbers declined over the next few seasons, but Sloan's creativity remained a large part of the Leafs success. He rebounded with a career year in 1955/56, scoring 37 goals. Sloan didn't mind the rough going either, as he recorded 100 PIM that season, a typical penalty total for him. Sloan followed that with two seasons of declining production and injuries. He had also become involved in efforts to create a players association, something that NHL management was dead set against. Detroit star was one of the leaders in this move towards unionizing the players. Both Lindsay and found themselves traded to Chicago as management attempted to send a message to players that organizing would not be tolerated no matter how big a star you were. Sloan's play picked up in Chicago and he helped the Hawks to a Cup victory in 1960. Following that season Tod Sloan asked for and received reinstatement of his amateur status and played for Canada in the 1962 World Championships. ______

Clint Smith C “Snuffy” 1936-47

New York Rangers (281) Chicago Black Hawks (202)

Clint Smith was one of the cleanest players around in an era of rough and tumble hockey, a perennial Lady Byng contender. He won the award twice and was runner-up on three occasions. Smith's highest total of PIM in any season was 6 in his final campaign, and he finished his career with just 24 penalty minutes in almost 500 games. He was durable too, rarely missing a game. Smith was a big part of the Rangers 1940 Stanley Cup team, but it was after his trade to Chicago that Smith's game went to another level. Playing on a line with and Doug Bentley, Smith became an exemplary set-up man. His 49 assists (in a 50 game season!) in 1943-44 was an NHL record at the time, and he sniped 23 goals that year as well. In 1945 Smith scored 4 goals in a single period, still an NHL record though since tied by others. He was also the first player ever to score into an empty net when the NHL changed its rules to allow teams to pull their goalie. After his playing and coaching days, Smith spent much of his time helping hockey players and their families who were down on their luck. Clint Smith proved that nice guys DON'T always finish last! ______

Hooley Smith W/C 1924-41

Ottawa Senators (101) Montreal Maroons (387) Boston Bruins (44) New York Americans (183)

Hooley Smith was a great all-around player. He was tough, he had good hands around the net, and was known especially for his slick passing, great skating and diligent defensive work. Hooley Smith began his career with the Ottawa Senators and was effective in creating space for his linemates, though he was often criticized for taking too many penalties. Though they won the Stanley Cup in 1926-27, the Sens felt that Smith was more trouble than he was worth and moved him to Montreal. Smith came into his own with the Maroons, working on a line with Nels Stewart and Babe Siebert. They were a tremendous unit, the best of their day, but by 1932 both Stewart and Siebert had departed. Hooley Smith, by now the team's captain, was moved to center and led the Maroons to the Stanley Cup in 1934-35. Two years later, the Maroons were in financial trouble and sold their captain to Boston. His time there was brief and unsuccessful and Smith was moved to the New York Americans a year later. Now in his late 30's, Smith became a role player for the Amerks, even moving back to play defense from time to time. His offensive producton had virtually disappeared. Finally in the 1941-42 season Smith had a disagreement with coach and was suspended for insubordination. It was the end of Hooley Smith's long and mostly successful NHL career. ______Bruins and Leafs.

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Allen Stanley D “Snowshoes” 1948-69

New York Rangers (307) Chicago Black Hawks (111) Boston Bruins (129) Toronto Maple Leafs (633) (64)

Allan Stanley's NHL career got off to a horrible start. When he was promoted to the woeful Rangers of the late '40's, he was hyped unrealistically as the team's saviour. Stanley was a good defensive defenseman, but it would have taken a superstar to even come close to living up to the press Stanley received. Though he played well, finishing as runner-up in the voting for Rookie of the Year, Ranger fans were disappointed that Stanley wasn't equipped to lead their team out of the wilderness and booed him every time he touched the puck. It got so bad that coach Frank Boucher tried to spare him and sat Stanley out for some home games. The fans booed anyway. Finally Allan was traded to Chicago and then on to Boston. He played well for both teams, but the Bruins felt that Stanley was getting on in years and sent him to Toronto. He'd go on to play another ten years for the Leafs and achieved his greatest fame with the club. Stanley was part of a blueline brigade that also featured , , and , surely one of the greatest units ever assembled. Stanley was a good passer and even saw time on the Leafs power-play. Though not overly physical, Stanley played the body effectively and did all the little things that contribute to a winning team. He finished up his career with one season in Philadelphia. Allan Stanley was a seven time all-star and was on four Cup winners. He was one of the greatest defensive defensemen of all time. ______Black Jack Stewart D 1938-52

Detroit Red Wings (502) Chicago Black Hawks (63)

Jack Stewart was known as one of the most punishing body-checkers of his time. The rougher the game, the better Black Jack played. He was also a great shot blocker and could move the puck intelligently. He was often paired with Bill Quackenbush and then with , both of whom received far more recognition than did Stewart. It was Black Jack who supplied the physical presence in his own end. It worked …... Stewart was a part of two Stanley Cup winners with the Wings and was a four-time all-star. The wear and tear of playing a non-stop physical game took its toll on Stewart and he was traded to Chicago. He played parts of two seasons with the Black Hawks before back problems and a fractured skull forced him out of the game. Black Jack Stewart was never one of the biggest stars on the ice, but he was a team player, the kind that no club can be successful without. ______

Nels Stewart C “Ol' Poison” 1925-40

Montreal Maroons (288) Boston Bruins (153) New York Americans (209)

Nels Stewart was one of the great goal scorers of his day, but he might not be the player you'd hope your kid grows up to emulate! His talents were obvious …... a two-time Hart Trophy winner as league MVP, Stewart spent 16 years as the top career goal producer in NHL history until the Rocket finally surpassed him in 1952. Stewart scored a remarkable 34 goals in 36 games during his rookie season and a few years later fired 39 in 44 games. He consistently produced at a pace that would have made him a 40 goal man in today's game. So what's not to like? Nels was a poor skater, called “lumbering” and “lazy” by some. He didn't backcheck. Instead, like a forerunner of Phil Esposito, he'd park himself in front of the opposing net and wait for the puck to come to him. When it did, he was deadly. Stewart also had a reputation as a vicious player, having no problem throwing elbows at all and sundry and using his stick as a weapon. Even in an era when hockey was far rougher than it is today, Stewart was considered to be exceptionally dirty. But when it came to scoring goals, Nels Stewart was one of the best ever. ______

Jimmy Thomson D 1945-58

Toronto Maple Leafs (717) Chicago Black Hawks (70)

Jimmy Thomson was paired for years on the Leafs blueline with Gus Mortson. They were known as the Gold Dust Twins, as both played a similar brand of hockey …... tough and hard-hitting. Mortson was better at rushing with the puck, but Thomson could make plays and often picked up a respectable number of assists. He wasn't much of a scorer though, picking up zero goals in six of his eleven years with the Leafs. It was in his own zone that Thomson excelled. He was rock-solid, using strong positioning and a fondness for playing the body. Thomson contributed to four Stanley Cup wins with the Leafs and was a seven time all-star. During his final season in Toronto Thomson became involved with early attempts to form an NHL players' association. He was the organizer of the Leaf players, all of whom bar Ted Kennedy signed up for the new union. The results were predictable. Conn Smythe kicked Thomson off the team during the season. In return Thomson announced that he'd never play for Smythe again. Like Tod Sloan and Ted Lindsay, he was banished to Chicago. Thomson played just one season with the Hawks before walking away from the game. ______Paul Thompson W 1926-39

New York Rangers (217) Chicago Black Hawks (365)

Paul Thompson offers proof that a change of scenery can alter the course of a player's career. Breaking into the NHL with the Rangers, Thompson's offensive contributions were modest. He supplied a physical element to the team and wasn't counted on to score. Only once in his five seasons on Broadway did Thompson reach double figures in goals with ten in the 1928-29 season. Three years later Thompson found himself traded to Chicago. His first year with the Hawks was nothing special, but then things changed. In 1932-33 Paul established career highs with thirteen goals, twenty assists and thirty-three points. Thompson was placed on Chicago's top line the following season and began to produce in a big way. He was the team's leading scorer in six of his eight years in Chicago, reaching the twenty goal mark for the first time in 1933-34. In 1937-38 Thompson had his career season, firing home twenty-two goals and also picking up twenty-two assists. He finished second in the voting for NHL MVP. The Hawks won the Stanley Cup in each of Thompson's two big years, adding to his one Cup win in New York. But Thompson wasn't getting any younger. Off to a slow start in 38-39, the Hawks offered Thompson a raise to hang up his skates and become coach of the team. He agreed, a move that he regretted in later years, saying that he did it just for the money. With Thompson behind the bench Chicago made the playoffs in four of his six seasons, losing in the finals in 1943-44 even though they'd finished the regular season with a record of just 22-23-5. The following season Thompson was fired after just one game. ______

Tiny Thompson G 1928-40

Boston Bruins (468) Detroit Red Wings (85)

It's hard to imagine any goaltender making a better NHL debut than 's ….. a 1-0 win. Shutouts were to become a Thompson specialty. Over the course of his career he led the league in that category on four occasions. He also led the league in wins five times, including four of his first five seasons. His best year for wins came in just his second campaign, when he recorded a brilliant 38-5-1 mark. Though Thompson had originally been brought in as an understudy to Bruins goalie Hal Winkler, it's easy to see why coach gave the reins to Thompson, who was the brother of forward Paul Thompson. Thompson also led the way in Goals Against Average four times, with marks of 2.19, 1.76, 1.68 and 1.80. Thompson's career numbers are staggering ….. 284 wins in 553 games, 81 shutouts, a 2.08 GAA and four Vezina Trophies as the NHL's outstanding goaltender. Thompson was also the first goalie in NHL history to pick up an assist. Not a bad thirteen years of work! Thompson tended the Bruins net for ten seasons and gave the B's some of the best goaltending in NHL history. But time marches on for every player. He sat out a couple of games at the start of the 1938-39 season with an eye irritation. His replacement played pretty well. With Tiny then in his mid-30's Boston decided to give an opportunity to that young man with promise. His name was and he'd go on to a Hall of Fame career himself. Thompson was traded to Detroit, where he helped lead the Wings into the playoffs and became the team's most popular player for two seasons before his retirement. Incidentally, there was nothing “tiny” about Thompson. He was 5' 10” and 170 pounds, large for a goalie of that era. Though he isn't large by today's standards, Tiny Thompson's accomplishments mark him as a giant among National Hockey League goaltenders. ______