2nd round predictions - Anaheim and Chicago, New York and Tampa Bay.— Joe Pelletier (@HockeyLegends) April 30, 2015
April 30, 2015
Stanley Cup Playoffs 2015: Round Two Predictions
Jack Price
In the 1951-52 season the Chicago Black Hawks gave four junior players one-game auditions with the big club. All four junior players were teammates in Galt of the Ontario Hockey Association.
Mike Buchanan and Tony Poeta played their one game and were never heard from again, at least not in NHL circles.
Kenny Wharram played his one game, returned to junior for some more seasoning, and returned to become one of the best players in Chicago hockey history.
Jack Price was the fourth player and he was somewhere in between those two extremes. The 5'9" 180lb left winger played for Chicago in 1953 and 1954, totaling 4 goals and 10 points in 47 career games. He also played in 4 Stanley Cup playoff games but picked up no points.
In the summer of 1954 Price was traded to Toronto in exchange for Ray Timgren. The Leafs never used him and Price disappeared to the minor leagues, playing most notably with the AHL Hershey Bears (winning 2 Calder Cup championships) and Pittsburgh Hornets (winning one more!). He did the vagabond tour that most minor league players do, too, playing briefly in many spots in Canada.
Price finally did make it back to NHL ice, but it was not as a player. After retiring as a player in 1964 he became an on ice official, eventually becoming a NHL linesman. He later continued as a NHL penalty time keeper.
Price was a natural athlete, also excelling in golf. He worked as a golf pro starting as early when he was still in junior hockey, and throughout his hockey career when opportunities arose. He was well known at several Pittsburgh courses.
Price later worked as a machinist.
Jack Price passed away on May 24th, 2011 in Boardman, Ohio.
Mike Buchanan and Tony Poeta played their one game and were never heard from again, at least not in NHL circles.
Kenny Wharram played his one game, returned to junior for some more seasoning, and returned to become one of the best players in Chicago hockey history.
Jack Price was the fourth player and he was somewhere in between those two extremes. The 5'9" 180lb left winger played for Chicago in 1953 and 1954, totaling 4 goals and 10 points in 47 career games. He also played in 4 Stanley Cup playoff games but picked up no points.In the summer of 1954 Price was traded to Toronto in exchange for Ray Timgren. The Leafs never used him and Price disappeared to the minor leagues, playing most notably with the AHL Hershey Bears (winning 2 Calder Cup championships) and Pittsburgh Hornets (winning one more!). He did the vagabond tour that most minor league players do, too, playing briefly in many spots in Canada.
Price finally did make it back to NHL ice, but it was not as a player. After retiring as a player in 1964 he became an on ice official, eventually becoming a NHL linesman. He later continued as a NHL penalty time keeper.
Price was a natural athlete, also excelling in golf. He worked as a golf pro starting as early when he was still in junior hockey, and throughout his hockey career when opportunities arose. He was well known at several Pittsburgh courses.
Price later worked as a machinist.
Jack Price passed away on May 24th, 2011 in Boardman, Ohio.
"Odie" Lowe
Lowe was hailed by the hockey world as "Odie," a nickname inherited from his father, a scoring star himself before becoming a legendary coach in Saskatchewan and later British Columbia. The younger Odie would follow in his father's footsteps.
But it didn't take the younger Odie long to make a name for himself. He was a brilliant offensive player - a great goal scorer but even better playmaker.
The Rangers brought him to New York directly out of junior, but he would play primarily with the minor league New York Rovers for two seasons. He was emerging as a particularly dominant scorer by year two, with 36 assists and 53 points in just 44 games. He would go on to lead all scorers in playoff scoring.
Lowe did get into four NHL games over two season, 1948-49 and 1949-50. He would score one goal and one assist, both coming in his second game.
It was also his second game that day. Lowe had played a matinee game across town with the Rovers and wowed with 5 points. He was summoned to Madison Square Gardens for the evening NHL tilt vs. the Boston Bruins. Lowe scored about a minute into the contest, and later assisted on the game winning goal.
Though he earned the praise of New York bosses Frank Boucher and Lynn Patrick, but he would never play in the NHL again. The Rangers had their three centers set with Buddy O'Connor, Edgar Laprade and Bones Raleigh. There was just no room for many players like Lowe in the three-line era of only six teams.
That, and as Odie Lowe himself explains, his inability to win a faceoff against Boston Bruins Hall of Famer Milt Schmidt.
"I killed my own chances with the Rangers. I was called up two or three weeks later and we were playing Milt Schmidt and the Bruins. He was a big, strong German type, strong as a bull. I don’t think I won a faceoff off him. Our goalie, Charlie Rayner, was yelling, ‘Get another centreman out there.’ I had my chance and if I hadn’t run into that one episode, I might have made it.”
From there Lowe was dispatched to St. Paul, Minnesota, scoring an unthinkable 33 goals and 78 points in just 39 games, before returning to the amateur ranks. He initially returned home to Winnipeg for a couple of seasons chasing the Allan Cup with the Maroons senior team.
Then, by the invitation of George "Corky" Agar, he relocated to British Columbia's hot and sunny Okanagan region and became a playing and coaching legend in Vernon. Lowe was a record breaking scorer for the Vernon Canadians for seven seasons through the 1950s. In 1956 Lowe led Vernon to the top of the heap, winning the Allan Cup as Canada's national amateur champions!
As the 1960s the Okanagan league collapsed, but Lowe stepped behind the bench. He formed Vernon's own junior hockey team and led them to several British Columbia championships over the next few years. Later he would guide the junior Vernon Essos to multiple championships. Future NHLers on those Vernon teams included Eddie Johnstone and Don Murdoch.
Lowe, who worked for the city of Vernon, continued to play hockey himself. He played for the Vernon Luckies, winning the Coy Cup as British Columbia Senior B champions in 1965. He remained on the ice all the way until he was 85 years old, serving as a referee!
April 29, 2015
Ross Lowe
Ross Lowe was a promising junior star with four seasons for the Oshawa Generals in the late 1940s. He played all positions, including defense and all forward spots, notably on left wing. He was described as "a speedy skater, a fine scorer, and an aggressive competitor."
The Boston Bruins tried bringing Lowe slowly, apprenticing him in the minor leagues for two seasons before giving him a limited role with the team in 1950-51. In 43 games he scored five goals and eight points.
The Montreal Canadiens had always had interest in Lowe's abilities, and moved Hal Laycoe to the Bruins for Lowe in 1951. But Lowe couldn't get untracked in Montreal, scoring just one goal and six points.
The Habs sent Lowe to the minor leagues. He almost disappeared for a couple of seasons, skating in Buffalo and then heading west to Victoria.
In 1954-55 with the AHL Springfield Indians returned with a vengeance when he scored 32 goals and 82 points and was named as the American Hockey League's most valuable player.
The New York Rangers spent $15,000 to acquire his contract for the 1955-56 season, yet Lowe's return to NHL never happened. In the summer of 1955 tragedy struck. While vacationing with his wife and two children, he drowned in Lake Haliburton, Ontario. He reportedly exhausted himself while trying to swim after a boat that had drifted away thanks to heavy gusts of wind.
Norm Corcoran
Corcoran was a junior star in his hometown of Toronto with the St. Mikes Majors. His final junior season in 1950 he moved down the road to St. Catherines. It was with the Teepees that he felt he really developed into an elite hockey player, thanks to the tutelage of coach Art Jackson.
It was Boston's scout, the former NHL star Baldy Cotton, who encouraged the Bruins sign him. They convinced him to turn pro for 1950-51, even though he still had two seasons of junior eligibility left. Corcoran later admitted that he regretted not staying with coach Jackson for at least one more season.
Corcoran reported to the Bruins farm team in Hershey and formed an effective combination with linemates Red Sullivan and Jack McIntyre. Aside from three random call-up games to the Bruins he spent five straight seasons with Hershey.
Corcoran's first real shot at the NHL came in the 1955 Stanley Cup playoffs. He was called up for the post-season and appeared in four games. He didn't score a point, but he held his own and did not look out of place.
Among the more impressed were the Detroit Red Wings. They were sure to included Corcoran when they made a blockbuster deal with the Bruins involving the goaltending great Terry Sawchuk and seven other players.
Corcoran's stay in Detroit was one of the more bizarre in NHL history. His first game in Detroit - after playing in only three NHL regular season games - was in the NHL All Star game. Back then the All Star Game opened the NHL schedule, with the defending Stanley Cup champions taking on the best from the other Original Six teams. Even though Corcoran was not part of Detroit's championship team several months earlier, he was able to participate in a NHL All Star Game.
Shortly after Corcoran was then traded to Chicago in exchange for Walt Blaisdell. However Blaisdell balked at the trade and refused to move to Detroit. He went so far as to say he would not play in Detroit for a month, as he was going to get married and go on his honeymoon! As a result the trade was overturned and Corcoran returned to the Wings.
Corcoran did appear in two games with Detroit but spent most of the first half of the season with their farm team in Edmonton. By January 1956 Corcoran finally did get to report to Chicago, as a new trade was arranged for cash and minor leaguer Gord Pennell. Cocoran played finished the season with 23 games played with the Hawks, scoring one goal and four points.
Despite the Hawks status as one of the weaker teams in the league at that point, Corcoran never returned to a NHL lineup. He would spend the next 10 seasons as a vagabond in the minor leagues.
Corcoran's penalty minute totals rarely suggested he was a true heavyweight by any stretch. Not that he couldn't have learned a few tricks about grappling and fisticuffs from his uncle Jack. He was a boxing and wrestling promoter!
Corcoran was also a notable field lacrosse star as a youth, as well. He also excelled at baseball, but fishing was a true love.
Joffre Desilets
With his name you may think he was a true Flying Frenchman, but he was actually from Capreol, Ontario (20 miles northeast of Sudbury) and played his junior hockey in Stratford, Ontario. He came from a large family and was always happy to point out he had one brother named Romeo and one sister named Juliette. Another brother named Rolland was an international hockey vagabond, settling in South Africa where he helped introduced the game on ice.
"Dizzy," as Joffre was affectionately known, was an inseparable friend of Montreal teammate Polly "Daffy" Drouin. The two were known as "fun-makers." Sometimes their tomfoolery would get them in trouble. Like the night in Chicago in 1938 when Montreal's train took off without them and goaltender Wilf Cude. Those three were still in the train station, hamming it up with locals. They had to run down the tracks chasing the train while one of the staff radioed to stop the train!
In 192 NHL games Desilets scored 37 goals, 45 assists, and 82 points. He added 1 goal in 7 playoff games.
April 28, 2015
Kenny Smith
With dominant numbers like that the Boston Bruins were willing to give Smith every chance to make the team and change their fortunes around.
The 5'7" 150lb left winger stepped directly into the NHL from junior in 1944-45, scoring a very respectable 20 goals and 34 points in 49 games. He added seven more points in the Stanley Cup playoffs, tying him with Herb Cain for the team lead.
For his efforts Smith was recognized as runner up (to Toronto goalie Ulcers McCool) for the Calder trophy as NHL rookie of the year in 1945.
As NHL players returned their respective teams from their various World War II commitments, Smith's role on the team was diminished in 1945-46. He split the year between the Bruins and their farm team in Hershey, but was back in the NHL for the Stanley Cup playoffs. He contributed four assists in eight games, but also gained applause for his checking of Montreal's Rocket Richard in the Stanley Cup final.
"Pound for pound, he is one of the best players in the NHL," said an impressed Dick Irvin, coach of the victorious Montrealers.
Over the next four seasons Smith was a regular with the Bruins, playing in 237 consecutive games. He returned to the 20 goal mark once and generally putting up solid numbers in the playoffs. Yet he remained one of the most anonymous players in the National Hockey League. He was overshadowed by his linemates Johnny Pierson and Paul Ronty. He may have been better known for his likeness to the entertainer Danny Kaye.
Smith's time in Boston came to an end in November 1950. Fourteen games into the season he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a big trade with Fern Flaman and Phil Maloney for Leo Boivin, Bill Ezinicki and Vic Lynn.
But it was no fresh start for Smith, at least not at the National Hockey League level. He never played for the Leafs. In fact he never played another game in the league.
For the next seven season Smith, whose brother Don also played in the NHL and other brother Bunny played in the minor leagues, continued to play well at the American Hockey League level, skating with the Pittsburgh Hornets, Providence Reds and Hershey Bears.
In 331 NHL games Ken Smith scored 78 goals, 93 assist and 171 points. He added another 8 goals and 21 points in 30 Stanley Cup playoff contests.
On September 26th, 2000 Smith passed away in his home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The 76 year old had suffered a heart attack.
He had moved from Boston to Pennsylvania in 1951, opening Smith's Distributors, which he and his wife operated until 1970. In 1972 he opened Kenny Smith's Sharp Edge, a sporting goods store he operated until 1997.
Smith also coached three championship seasons with the Franklin and Marshall College club hockey team. He then coached the "Boyds Bugs" hockey team of Lebanon, and also led them to three consecutive championship seasons. But Smith had to retire from coaching in 1982 due to another heart attack.
He tried to fill his time away from the rink by joining the local Kiwanis Club.
Bob Dawes
Bobby Dawes played with the two most storied franchises in National Hockey League history, winning a Stanley Cup with one of them.
Born on November 29, 1924, in Saskatoon, Dawes was raised in the Bridge City, playing junior hockey in 1942-43. It was then that his hockey career saw him on the move, joining the Oshawa Generals in 1943-44, where he won a Memorial Cup.
He served in the Canadian Armed Forces briefly before joining New Haven of the American Hockey League in 1945. He would bounce around the AHL a lot over the next five years, but also enjoyed successful call-ups to the big leagues with both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens.
It was said that Dawes more cherished his brief time in Montreal, but it was in Toronto that he won the Stanley Cup in the 1948-49 season, as the Leafs knocked off the Detroit Red Wings for their third-straight title. Dawes was a late season call up, playing in just five regular season games, before playing in all nine Stanley Cup contests and earning his name on the Stanley Cup.
All told Dawes flirted with NHL success. One Stanley Cup, yes, but only 42 games played in his career, with 2 goals and 9 points to show for it. He continued on until 1967, playing various levels of semi-pro and senior hockey in British Columbia and Pennsylvania before returning to Saskatoon.
Dawes took up a job with the Saskatchewan Abilities Council, helping place people with mental disabilities gain employment within the city. He was also an avid fisherman, hunter and golfer.
Bob Dawes passed away on May 26th, 2003. He was 78 years old.
John Arundel
And a well travelled one at that.
Born in Winnipeg on November 4th, 1927, Arundel caught the interests of the Toronto Maple Leafs at an early age. By 1944 they brought him back east to play junior hockey with the St. Mike's Majors. He helped them win the Memorial Cup in 1945.
Arundel joined the Oshawa Generals for a season before returning to Winnipeg in 1946. He enrolled in classes at the University of Manitoba while playing for the Monarchs. By 1948 he again enjoyed a Memorial Cup championship, one of the few players to win multiple Canadian junior national championships with two different teams.
Upon graduating from junior hockey Arundel moved to Sydney, Nova Scotia and became a Millionaire - a Sydney Millionaires player, that is. Success followed him, as the team captured the Allan Cup as Canada's national amateur senior champions in 1949.
The Leafs, meanwhile, had not forgotten about their Western find. They signed Arundel for the 1949-50 season, and assigned him to the minor leagues. He split the season with two of Toronto's farm teams - in Pittsburgh and in Los Angeles - but also called him up for three games right around New Year's. He never registered a point, but did pick up nine minutes in penalty time.
That was it for John Arundel's professional hockey career. He returned to Canada's senior and semi-pro circuit, playing in Toronto, Saint John, Sudbury and Ottawa. He would live in Ottawa for many years after hanging up his skates.
At the age of 75 John Arundel passed away in Kemptville, Ontario in 2002.
Former Goalie Don Edwards Fights To Keep Parents' Killer Behind Bars
That's how former NHL goaltending star Don Edwards understandably sums up his and his family's life the past number of years.
Chris Doucette of the Toronto Sun tells the incredible (and incredibly disturbing) story the Edwards family has had to deal with. A man was convicted of killing his parents and attempted murder of his sister, and yet somehow the criminal has been in a minimal security corrections center and is now getting day passes to participate in a work program.
It is a must read story that will leave any Canadian - hockey fan or not - shaking their head at our penal system.
Ron Buchanan
Ron Buchanan inherited at least two things from his father, Ralph.
The first was his nickname - Bucky. That is probably not a big surprise, as many people with the last name Buchanan enjoy that moniker.
The second was his profession. Both were long time professional hockey players including stints in the National Hockey League. Dad Ralph briefly played with the New York Rangers, while son Ron had cups of coffee with the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues.
Interestingly, the two hold the unofficial record for fewest games played by a father-son combo in NHL history!
Ron was better known for enjoying several years in the World Hockey Association, tallying 37 goals for the Cleveland Crusaders in 1972-73. Mounting injuries, including a debilitating knee injury, slowed him down and eventually forced him out of hockey altogether by 1976.
Ron was an imposing center, standing 6'3" and 180lbs. But he was a gentle giant, rarely visiting the penalty box.
Like his dad he, too, was a junior and amateur star. He scored nearly a goal a game in his last two years with the OHA Oshawa Generals.
In 1965 he turned pro with the Boston Bruins organization, playing down on the farm team in Oklahoma City for three years. He was called up for a three game cameo with the Bruins in 1967 but never came close to cracking the line up full time.
Expansion opened up a lot of jobs for minor leaguers, but Buchanan was not one of the lucky ones. He spent a season with the Philadelphia Flyers organization, but never played with the Flyers. He later joined the St. Louis Blues, playing two games in 1970.
Buchanan benefited from the World Hockey Association in 1972. As mentioned above, he joined the Cleveland Crusaders in 1972-73. He also played with the Edmonton Oilers and Indianapolis Racers, totalling 205 WHA games (83 goals, 102 assists and 185 points).
The first was his nickname - Bucky. That is probably not a big surprise, as many people with the last name Buchanan enjoy that moniker.
The second was his profession. Both were long time professional hockey players including stints in the National Hockey League. Dad Ralph briefly played with the New York Rangers, while son Ron had cups of coffee with the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues.
Interestingly, the two hold the unofficial record for fewest games played by a father-son combo in NHL history!
Ron was an imposing center, standing 6'3" and 180lbs. But he was a gentle giant, rarely visiting the penalty box.
Like his dad he, too, was a junior and amateur star. He scored nearly a goal a game in his last two years with the OHA Oshawa Generals.
In 1965 he turned pro with the Boston Bruins organization, playing down on the farm team in Oklahoma City for three years. He was called up for a three game cameo with the Bruins in 1967 but never came close to cracking the line up full time.
Expansion opened up a lot of jobs for minor leaguers, but Buchanan was not one of the lucky ones. He spent a season with the Philadelphia Flyers organization, but never played with the Flyers. He later joined the St. Louis Blues, playing two games in 1970.
Buchanan benefited from the World Hockey Association in 1972. As mentioned above, he joined the Cleveland Crusaders in 1972-73. He also played with the Edmonton Oilers and Indianapolis Racers, totalling 205 WHA games (83 goals, 102 assists and 185 points).
Bucky Buchanan
Buchanan was able to continue to play hockey during his naval service as he was based at ports in Canada, mostly Montreal. He led the league in scoring three times.
Upon his release from the war, Buchanan turned pro and headed for sunshine and adventure. He ended up signing with the San Francisco Shamrocks in the little known Pacific Coast Hockey League, A few future NHL players played in this California league, including the famous Bill Barilko who played a stretch for the Hollywood Wolves.
Buchanan was one of the first hockey stars in California. In his first season, he scored 50 goals in just 40 games. That was in 1945-46, one season after Rocket Richard set the NHL record with 50 goals in 50 games.
The following season Buchanan set a PCHL record with 66 goals scored (in 57 games).
Buchanan headed home to Quebec after his California adventure. He played several years in Shawinigan (where he was, at times, the playing coach) and a couple seasons each in Quebec City and Chicoutimi. Twice he was named the winner of the Byng of Vimy trophy as the Quebec league's most valuable player.
Frank Boucher of the New York Rangers secured Buchanan's rights. As an amateur player Buchanan was able to play up to three games for the Rangers without losing his amateur status. In February 1949, with the Rangers losing Edgar Laprade and Nick Mickoski to injury, Buchanan was brought in to play what proved to be his only two games of his NHL career.
Bucky Buchanan's career ended playing with the little known Pembroke Lumber Kings of the Eastern Ontario Hockey League. In 1958 he suffered a severe eye injury and had to spend weeks in a hospital in Boston for several weeks to recover. He was never able to return to the ice.
A benefit game in Pembroke was held to cover his expenses, raising nearly $1000. His 12 year old son Ron, who would one day play in the NHL himself, dropped the puck at that benefit game.
Al Buchanan
When the speedster headed east to try out with the Toronto Maple Leafs by 1947, a couple of local scribes were so impressed with his initial training camp, declaring him to be as good a prospect as the Leafs had.
The Leafs were in the middle of a Stanley Cup dynasty at that time, winning the championship in 1945, 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1951. It was not an easy time for a 5'8" and 160lb left winger to crack the Leafs roster that already included Joe Klukay, Harry Watson, Sid Smith and the Metz brothers Nick and Don.
As a result Al Buchanan would only get into a total of four NHL games over his career, collecting one lone assist. He played several years as a top performer with the senior league Toronto Marlboros and Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen, leading each to an Allan Cup championship (as Canada's amateur champion) in 1950 (Marlies) and 1953 (Dutchies).
Mike Buchanan
It turns out that one game turned out to be quite controversial, but not until a few years later.
Mike Buchanan was a physical defenseman from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, though he played midget and high school hockey in Ottawa. He played junior hockey in the Hawks system, playing in Galt and Guelph.
Buchanan's final season of junior was played with the Galt Black Hawks in 1951-52. He had an especially strong season on the blue line, scoring 15 and 40 points in just 46 games.
At the end of the season Chicago gave Buchanan a look-see at the pro level. At that time junior prospects could play up to three professional games in a season without being signed to a proper contract. It was not an uncommon occurrence.
Mike Buchanan suited up on the Chicago blue line, wearing sweater number 6. By all accounts it was a pretty uneventful game as far as Buchanan was concerned. He never registered on the score sheet that night.
Chicago also had Buchanan play 2 games with their AHL farm team in St. Louis. Again, Buchanan was quiet in both games.
The following two seasons Buchanan played some semi-pro hockey with the Fort Wayne Komets of the International Hockey League, playing briefly with twin brother Neil.
But by 1954 the Buchanan boys decided to make a major change in their life, and give up on any dreams or delusions of playing in the National Hockey League. The twins enrolled for classes at the University of Michigan while also playing for the Wolverines hockey team.
Having a former pro hockey players playing for a NCAA team seemed to be no controversy at all until 1956, during their second collegiate season.
The Wolverines were a top collegiate team and a serious threat in the Final Four tournament for NCAA hockey supremacy. Prior to that tournament both Buchanan boys and teammate Wally Maxwell - who similarly played 2 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1953 - (possibly Tommy Rendall as well) were declared ineligible because of their professional background.
Why this controversy was conveniently not brought up until just prior to the tournament remains a mystery, though it seems somebody waited specifically for this time to raise the issue. It is believed someone from rival Colorado College was behind the complaint. It ultimately didn't work out as Michigan still won the NCAA championship.
While Neil continued to play in following seasons, Mike Buchanan did not play anywhere the following season, though he did complete his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
By 1957-58 he re-appeared on the hockey scene in Great Britain of all places. He played a season for the Wembley Lions, though it was a painful experience. He fractured his jaw in two places and returned to Canada several weeks later.
Jeff Buchanan
The Swift Current native played his junior hockey with the Saskatoon Blades in the early 1990s. Like a lot of western Canadian kids at that time he dreamed of playing pro alongside Gretzky. Buchanan's dreams came true, but only sort of.
Undrafted after three years in junior, this frequent visitor to the penalty box signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992. He was immediately assigned to their IHL farm team in Atlanta. It was with the Knights that Buchanan got to play with Gretzky - only it Wayne Gretzky's kid brother Brent!
Another of his more famous teammates was female goaltender Manon Rheaume.
After two years (and nearly 600 penalty minutes) in the minor leagues Buchanan was included as part of trade to Chicago. He continued to toil in the minor leagues, never making it to the show.
In 1998 Buchanan signed with the Colorado Avalanche organization. He spent another season battling with Hershey in the minor leagues but Buchanan finally got rewarded with a chance in the NHL. The Avs played him in six games in November. He went scoreless and also, by his standards, really behaved himself with only 3 minor penalties.
Buchanan knew that cup of coffee would be the extent of his NHL story. Rather than return to the cramped buses and cheap motels of the minor leagues he decided to hang up the blades. He stayed in the Hershey area and became an account manager with a financial firm while staying active with the Hershey Bears alumni and local youth hockey scene.
April 27, 2015
Looking Back On The Life of Marcel Pronovost
Marcel Pronovost loved to play hockey. Want proof? He played an incredible 20 NHL seasons and over 1200 games despite being known as hockey's most injured man. He suffered nearly every injury in the medical dictionary - fractured vertebras, cracked cheekbones, broken noses and broken limbs - and yet somehow managed to perform at a level very few others have reached.
His kamikaze style of play was the only way he knew how to play, and all the bruises, stitches, breaks and separations in the world didn't stop him.
"Making a dangerous play on the ice didn't make me any more nervous than crossing the street might make someone else. He doesn't worry about getting hit by a car and I don't worry about getting hurt on the ice. If I did, I'd probably go crazy."
Marcel never went crazy, but there was probably a lot of people who thought he was when he repeatedly attempted his reckless abandon. He was a strong skater and puck carrier, often compared to Kenny Reardon before him or, for more modern audiences, a Ed Jovanovski after him. Often he would make a spectacular rush from one end to another. Sometimes these rushes would end up in an equally spectacular crash - into the boards, into another player, or into the goalie. But they were fun to witness.
Defensively Marcel was never considered to be a hard rock defenseman, though he sure tried to be. He would attempt to hit anything in sight with reckless abandon. He was one of the best stick and poke checkers the game has ever seen.
Marcel played 20 years in the league. The last 5 of those were in Toronto where he helped the Leafs win the 1967 Stanley Cup. But Marcel is best known as a Detroit Red Wing. From 1949-50 to 1965 he was a standout on the defense, although he was often overshadowed by bigger names on the team - Gordie Howe, Red Kelly, Terry Sawchuk, Ted Lindsay, Alex Delvecchio and Bill Quakenbush to name a few.
Marcel's big break came part way through the 1950 playoffs. Gordie Howe was forced to miss some action due to injury, and the Wings filled that immense hole by moving rearguard Red Kelly up to the forward units. To fill the void on defense the Wings called up the rookie Pronovost who had never played an NHL game previously, although he had a strong season with the Omaha Knights, the Wings farm club, where he scored 13 goals and 52 points in 69 games and was named as the USHL rookie of the year.
Marcel stepped into the Detroit lineup admirably. He played in 9 games and picked up only 1 assist, but helped the Wings win the Stanley Cup!
It was widely expected that Marcel would make the Wings the following season, however that changed during training camp. In a pre season game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Marcel tried to carry the puck on one of his patented dashes, only this time, like many other times, he was creamed by the veteran defensemen Leo Reise and Bob Goldham. The two Leaf defenders sandwiched Marcel, and Goldham's stick managed to facture Marcel's cheekbone.
As a result, Marcel was sent to the minors to recover. He played 34 injury free games down there before being called up to Detroit around the mid-season mark. This time Marcel was here to stay in the NHL for good.
The Detroit Red Wings of the 1950s are an often forgotten about dynasty in hockey history. They were strong in the early portion of the decade - winning the Cup (Marcel was a member of all the championships) in 1950, 1952, 1954 and 1955. They are overshadowed by the unparalleled Habs dynasty from 1956 to 1960 that saw 5 consecutive championships.
Although his statistics don't really suggest it, Marcel was definitely a star on that team. Although he didn't get any real recognition until the late 1950s. By then the Wings had traded their top d-man - Red Kelly - to Toronto. Marcel took over as the top rearguard. Also by this time Marcel had mellowed his crazy style somewhat and became more of a reliable two way defender. As a result of these two items, Marcel was named to the NHL First All Star team in both 1960 and 61, and the NHL Second All Star Team in 1958 and 1959.
Marcel joined Kelly and a host of other veterans in Toronto for the 1965-66 season when he was traded in a huge deal which saw Aut Erickson, Larry Jeffrey, Ed Joyal and Lowell MacDonald also head to Toronto for Billy Harris, Gary Jarrett and Andy Bathgate. Marcel, as mentioned previously, enjoyed 5 strong seasons in Toronto and is a member of the famous 1967 Maple Leafs championship team.
Marcel, who's brothers Claude and Jean also played in the NHL, finished his career by serving as the playing coach of the Maple Leafs farm team in Tulsa. He served in this capacity for the 1969-70 season and part of the 1970-71 season.
Had Marcel played in Toronto his whole career, it is arguable he would be held in even higher regard today. He wouldn't have been overshadowed to the degree that he was in his earlier years, and he would have been a household name playing for "Canada's Team."
Marcel was certainly held in high regard when he played though, as is obvious by his inclusion in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Pronovost scored 88 goals and assisted on 257. During the playoffs he recorded eight goals and 23 assists. In addition to his five Stanley Cup Championship rings he was a four time season's end All Star and participated in 11 all star games.
His kamikaze style of play was the only way he knew how to play, and all the bruises, stitches, breaks and separations in the world didn't stop him.
"Making a dangerous play on the ice didn't make me any more nervous than crossing the street might make someone else. He doesn't worry about getting hit by a car and I don't worry about getting hurt on the ice. If I did, I'd probably go crazy."
Marcel never went crazy, but there was probably a lot of people who thought he was when he repeatedly attempted his reckless abandon. He was a strong skater and puck carrier, often compared to Kenny Reardon before him or, for more modern audiences, a Ed Jovanovski after him. Often he would make a spectacular rush from one end to another. Sometimes these rushes would end up in an equally spectacular crash - into the boards, into another player, or into the goalie. But they were fun to witness.
Defensively Marcel was never considered to be a hard rock defenseman, though he sure tried to be. He would attempt to hit anything in sight with reckless abandon. He was one of the best stick and poke checkers the game has ever seen.
Marcel played 20 years in the league. The last 5 of those were in Toronto where he helped the Leafs win the 1967 Stanley Cup. But Marcel is best known as a Detroit Red Wing. From 1949-50 to 1965 he was a standout on the defense, although he was often overshadowed by bigger names on the team - Gordie Howe, Red Kelly, Terry Sawchuk, Ted Lindsay, Alex Delvecchio and Bill Quakenbush to name a few.
Marcel's big break came part way through the 1950 playoffs. Gordie Howe was forced to miss some action due to injury, and the Wings filled that immense hole by moving rearguard Red Kelly up to the forward units. To fill the void on defense the Wings called up the rookie Pronovost who had never played an NHL game previously, although he had a strong season with the Omaha Knights, the Wings farm club, where he scored 13 goals and 52 points in 69 games and was named as the USHL rookie of the year.
Marcel stepped into the Detroit lineup admirably. He played in 9 games and picked up only 1 assist, but helped the Wings win the Stanley Cup!
It was widely expected that Marcel would make the Wings the following season, however that changed during training camp. In a pre season game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Marcel tried to carry the puck on one of his patented dashes, only this time, like many other times, he was creamed by the veteran defensemen Leo Reise and Bob Goldham. The two Leaf defenders sandwiched Marcel, and Goldham's stick managed to facture Marcel's cheekbone.
As a result, Marcel was sent to the minors to recover. He played 34 injury free games down there before being called up to Detroit around the mid-season mark. This time Marcel was here to stay in the NHL for good.
The Detroit Red Wings of the 1950s are an often forgotten about dynasty in hockey history. They were strong in the early portion of the decade - winning the Cup (Marcel was a member of all the championships) in 1950, 1952, 1954 and 1955. They are overshadowed by the unparalleled Habs dynasty from 1956 to 1960 that saw 5 consecutive championships.
Although his statistics don't really suggest it, Marcel was definitely a star on that team. Although he didn't get any real recognition until the late 1950s. By then the Wings had traded their top d-man - Red Kelly - to Toronto. Marcel took over as the top rearguard. Also by this time Marcel had mellowed his crazy style somewhat and became more of a reliable two way defender. As a result of these two items, Marcel was named to the NHL First All Star team in both 1960 and 61, and the NHL Second All Star Team in 1958 and 1959.
Marcel joined Kelly and a host of other veterans in Toronto for the 1965-66 season when he was traded in a huge deal which saw Aut Erickson, Larry Jeffrey, Ed Joyal and Lowell MacDonald also head to Toronto for Billy Harris, Gary Jarrett and Andy Bathgate. Marcel, as mentioned previously, enjoyed 5 strong seasons in Toronto and is a member of the famous 1967 Maple Leafs championship team.
Marcel, who's brothers Claude and Jean also played in the NHL, finished his career by serving as the playing coach of the Maple Leafs farm team in Tulsa. He served in this capacity for the 1969-70 season and part of the 1970-71 season.
Had Marcel played in Toronto his whole career, it is arguable he would be held in even higher regard today. He wouldn't have been overshadowed to the degree that he was in his earlier years, and he would have been a household name playing for "Canada's Team."
Marcel was certainly held in high regard when he played though, as is obvious by his inclusion in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Pronovost scored 88 goals and assisted on 257. During the playoffs he recorded eight goals and 23 assists. In addition to his five Stanley Cup Championship rings he was a four time season's end All Star and participated in 11 all star games.
Fern Majeau
Born on May 3, 1916 he would grow up to star with the hometown junior Maple Leafs, leading his team all the way to the Memorial Cup playoffs in 1935.
The 5'9" 155lb center would go on to play several seasons of amateur senior hockey in Quebec. It wasn't until 1943 when a 27 year old Majeau would join the Montreal Canadiens.
The Habs roster was depleted thanks to injury and player involvement in World War II. Montreal sought out some top Quebec senior talent during this time period, bringing in players like Majeau.
In 1943-44 season Majeau stepped in and scored 20 goals and 38 points in 44 games, replacing Pete Morin on the Razzle Dazzle Line with Buddy O'Connor and Gerry Heffernan.
The move paid off for Montreal as they won their first Stanley Cup in 13 years that season. Majeau would only get into one playoff game, yet his name was included on the Stanley Cup. Majeau would only get into 12 games with Montreal in 1944-45 before being released and returned to the senior ranks.
Majeau was known for his offense as well as his at-times offensive behaviour. He got into several stick swinging incidents and never seemed to find a referee that he liked - and he usually let him know it, too!
Fern Majeau passed away on June 17th, 1966. He was just 50 years old.
April 26, 2015
Red Heron
Heron would play two more seasons of amateur senior hockey before turning pro with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1939. Over the next two seasons he apprentice on the Leafs' depth lines, centering checking units with Gus Marker and Pete Langelle as his wingers. Though he was described as dynamic player he never really got untracked offensively, however.
Perhaps a lot of that had to do with a lack of opportunity. Late in 1939-40 season Heron was moved to Pep Kelly's wing with the great Sweeney Schriner on the opposite side. Playing with more offensively talented players Heron showed what he could do, exploding for a four goal game in a 8-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.
But such top line opportunities were rare for Heron, for whatever reason. In 1941-42 Heron started the season by tearing it up in the minor leagues with the Pittsburgh Hornets. He scored 20 goals and 36 points in just 23 games, including an AHL record six goals scored in one game! Three of his goals came in a 75 second span as the Hornets humiliated the visiting New Haven Eagles.
That type of pace gets you noticed, especially as NHL teams were losing talent to World War II efforts. The New York Americans traded Lorne Carr to the Leafs for Heron and Marker, but neither got untracked in New York, either. Heron scored just one assist in 11 games.
The Amerks moved Heron to Montreal before the end of the season, but his scoring woes continued. He picked up one goal and one assist in 12 more games with the Habs. In a nice piece of symmetry Heron's last NHL goal came against Toronto.
Montreal turned out to be Red Heron's last NHL stop. He, too, was called upon for military service the next season, though he was stationed in Toronto mostly. He was able to continue playing hockey at the senior level, finding his goal scoring touch once again.
After his military commitments ended Heron never did return to the pro game. He remained in Toronto and played senior hockey until the end of the decade.
Willie Brossart
A natural left winger for his youth and junior career, Willie Brossart was converted into a depth defenseman with three NHL teams in the early 1970s.
Mike Pelyk, a teammate of Willie's in Toronto, wasn't necessarily a fan, base on what he told celebrated hockey author Dave Bidini for his book "The Best Game You Can Name."
"We had a guy named Willie Brossart from Middle of Nowhere, Manitoba. He couldn't skate or shoot," said Pelyk.
Pelyk's assessment was rather harsh. After all Brossart did play parts of six NHL seasons, totalling 129 games. He only scored one goal and 15 points, but he was a defensive defenseman most nights. He did skate on left wing occasionally with his first team - the Philadelphia Flyers.
His most memorable NHL game likely came on November 27th, 1974. Then a member of the Washington Capitals, Brossart scored his first - and only - NHL goal in a game against the Minnesota North Stars. Later that game he badly broke his ankle and missed the rest of the season.
Brossart returned the following season and played 49 more games with the Capitals. He suffered another scary injury on January 24th, 1976 when he took Pittsburgh's Pierre Larouche's stick to the eye.
Though he recovered and played another season and a half in the minor leagues, that proved to Willie Brossart's last game in the NHL.
Brossart had a cousin, Ron Boehm, play in the NHL with the Oakland Seals.
Tony Poeta
Tony Poeta is another of the many members of the "one NHL game" club.
While playing junior hockey with the Galt Black Hawks of the OHA in 1951-52, he earned a one game look-see with the parent Chicago Black Hawks. In those days an amateur player could play up to three games in the pros without losing his amateur status. It was not uncommon for junior players to get such opportunities. He took the train over night to Chicago to play at Chicago Stadium, but never registered a point.
Unfortunately for Poeta, he never returned to the big leagues.
Not that he didn't try. He returned to junior the following year but with the Barrie Flyers. He helped the Flyers capture the 1953 Memorial Cup. Doug Mohns, Don McKenney and Don Cherry were on that championship team.
Poeta then turned pro, no doubt with NHL aspirations tucked away in his hockey bag. He would take that hockey bag to Marion, Ohio, Cleveland and Valleyfield, Quebec over the next year before heading home to North Bay. He had young family and decided the only thing he was more passionate about than hockey was his family.
In North Bay he was reinstated as an amateur and played with the Trappers in the local senior league of the next several years.
In 1958 he was loaned to Belleville to help out the McFarlands. Belleville won the Allan Cup that season, and as a result would represent Canada at the next World Championships. Belleville would bring home the gold in 1959, defeating the Soviet Union, but Poeta was not part of that squad.
Long after his playing days were over he still remained active in the local hockey scene as well as baseball diamonds. He also loved his frequent visits to the beaches in Florida.
On May 2nd, 2004 Tony Poeta passed away at the age of 71. His death came just days after celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary.
While playing junior hockey with the Galt Black Hawks of the OHA in 1951-52, he earned a one game look-see with the parent Chicago Black Hawks. In those days an amateur player could play up to three games in the pros without losing his amateur status. It was not uncommon for junior players to get such opportunities. He took the train over night to Chicago to play at Chicago Stadium, but never registered a point.
Unfortunately for Poeta, he never returned to the big leagues.
Poeta then turned pro, no doubt with NHL aspirations tucked away in his hockey bag. He would take that hockey bag to Marion, Ohio, Cleveland and Valleyfield, Quebec over the next year before heading home to North Bay. He had young family and decided the only thing he was more passionate about than hockey was his family.
In North Bay he was reinstated as an amateur and played with the Trappers in the local senior league of the next several years.
In 1958 he was loaned to Belleville to help out the McFarlands. Belleville won the Allan Cup that season, and as a result would represent Canada at the next World Championships. Belleville would bring home the gold in 1959, defeating the Soviet Union, but Poeta was not part of that squad.
Long after his playing days were over he still remained active in the local hockey scene as well as baseball diamonds. He also loved his frequent visits to the beaches in Florida.
On May 2nd, 2004 Tony Poeta passed away at the age of 71. His death came just days after celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary.
Gerry Heffernan
Desperate to change their fortunes, the team looked for an infusion of new talent. They didn't have to look far. They went across town to sign all three members of the top line of the Montreal Royals senior amateur club.
The Razzle Dazzle Line was coming to the National Hockey League, and within two seasons they would lead the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup ending a decade and a half drought.
The trio of flyweights who led the Royals to senior amateur dominance consisted of 5'6", 150lbs left winger Pete Morin from Lachine, 5'8" 145lb future Hockey Hall of Famer Buddy O'Connor from Verdun and 5'9" 160lb right winger Gerry Heffernan of Montreal.
Heffernan was a noted junior player who was happy to join the Royals at the age of 19 in 1936. Adventure lured the youngster away by 1937, crossing the Atlantic Ocean to play for the Harringay Greyhounds of the English National League. Statistics are scarce, but it is safe to say his biggest score was meeting the woman who would be come his bride in 1940 - Kathleen "Kit" Duggan.
After his single season British sojourn Heffernan returned to Royals and joined Morin on a line with a fellow named Gordie Crutchfield. They would lead the Royals against the Port Arthur Bearcats for the Allan Cup as Canada's amateur champions, falling short in overtime in the championship game.
The Allan Cup was still held in high regard at that time, with it's heroes and villains celebrated not unlike the Stanley Cup. Heffernan would lead the Royals back to the Allan Cup playoffs the following two seasons. Even once Buddy O'Connor entered the scene the Royals never could quite win the title.
The Habs welcomed all three to the NHL in 1941-42, sparing no expense. They signed the entire line for a combined $12,000.
They immediately began wowing crowds with their exciting skating and passing game. They were too small to win many puck battles. They relied on their speed and creativity.
Originally only Buddy O'Connor remained with the Canadiens, with Heffernan returning to Royals. A broken toe did not allow Heffernan to play his best in his rookie season, but he remained headline worth in the city with his amateur game. A playoff call up in 1943 led to a full time return for the 1943-44 season. He scored an impressive 28 goals and 48 points in 43 games, reuniting with O'Connor and new linemate Fern Majeau.
The Habs were a powerhouse by then, thanks to another youngster named Maurice Richard playing on a line with Lach and Toe Blake. The Habs would steamroll their way to their first Stanley Cup championship since 1931.
Maurice (Rocket) Richard played with Mr. Lach and veteran Toe Blake, which became known as the Punch Line. Mr. Heffernan and Mr. O'Connor were joined by Fern Majeau, similar in size to his pint-sized linemates.
That season, Mr. Heffernan enjoyed his best ever, netting 28 goals in 43 games. He would only score once in the playoffs. Still, the Canadiens managed to claim their first championship since 1931. Heffernan would get his name on the Stanley Cup, though his first name was spelled "Jerry."
The Stanley Cup championship game was Heffernan's last in the NHL. He returned to the Royals for two more seasons of unsuccessfully chasing the Allan Cup title that escaped his grasp.
By the summer of 1946 Heffernan retired from hockey. He took up a profitable job as an insurance broker in Montreal and fell in love with golf. He would retire to California where he passed away in 2007 at the age of 90.
John Sleaver
Born in Copper Cliff, Ontario, Sleaver left for Galt, Ontario in 1950 to play for the Chicago Black Hawks OHA affiliate. He would play five seasons in Galt, including on teams featuring young Kenny Wharram and Bobby Hull.
In the 1953-54 season Sleaver had his first taste of NHL action. He was called up for one game in which he made the scoresheet. Unfortunately it was for taking a two minute penalty.
It took two more years before Sleaver got an extended look. In a 12 game stretch he score his only NHL goal and point.
From that point on John was relegated to a long vagabond career in the minor leagues, playing for 11 teams in five different leagues.
Sleaver's longest minor league stay was in Rhode Island, and he made Smithfield his after hockey home and was very active with the Lions Club. He later retired to Suzy Lake, Florida where he passed away in 2001.
April 25, 2015
Gizzy Hart
Gizzy Hart was a hockey star in the 1920s and 1930s.
Though Wilfred Harold Hart was born in Brandon, Manitoba in 1901, the Hart family moved to Weyburn, Saskatchewan in 1914. He rose to prominence as a hockey presence in Weyburn, as well as an excellent baseball player and track star.
But he was at his best on the ice. He starred for the Weyburn Wanderers junior and senior hockey teams, challenging for the Allan Cup in 1923.
After his strong showing in 1923 Hart jumped to Vancouver Island out west in British Columbia to turn pro with the Victoria Cougars of the PCHA/WCHL. He had a particularly strong year, scoring 15 goals - the second most on the team behind only Hall of Famer Frank Fredrickson. He was named to the PCHA All Star team.
Hart's production levelled off the following two years, scoring 8 goals and 6 goals, respectively. But the Cougars team was as strong as any hockey team in the country. The Cougars won the Stanley Cup in 1925, the last non-NHL team to do so. Gizzy Hart even scored the Stanley Cup winning goal! In 1926 the Cougars returned to defend their championship but ultimately lost in the final to the Montreal Maroons.
Major league hockey out west collapsed in 1926 and the NHL secured the playing services of the best of the west. The entire Victoria Cougars team was purchased by hockey interests in Detroit. The team was moved to the NHL as an expansion franchise, and eventually would be renamed the Red Wings. Hart moved, too, and was given sweater number 13. Records are murky, but Hart may have become the first player in NHL history to wear number 13.
By the time the short and stocky Hart got to the NHL he was not putting up fantastic numbers any longer. After playing two scoreless games with the Detroit Cougars in 1926-27, Hart's contract was sold to the Montreal Canadiens. Over the next two seasons Gizzy contributed six goals and 11 points over 84 games.
The fantastic skater was perhaps better known to Montrealers for his intermission entertainment than his in game play. Players used to kill time during the break with timed puck carrying sprints, with Gizzy winning his fair share of competitions.
In 1928-29 the Montreal Canadiens shuttled him off to the Providence Reds of the CAHL where he played for another six seasons. Hart was a prolific scorer at this level, especially when teaming together with linemate Hago Harrington. They finished 2nd and 3rd, respectively, in CAHL scoring in 1931-32, trailing only Lloyd Klein of Boston.
Hart did get called back up for an 18 game trial with the Habs in 1932-33. He played sparingly, picking up only two assists.
Hart retired as a pro in 1934 and returned to Weyburn to coach many teams over the years. He would live in Weyburn the rest of his life.
Gizzy Hart passed away in 1964 at the age of 63.
April 24, 2015
Yvan Joly
The 5'8" right winger had a season to remember in 1979-80. He led the OHL with an amazing 66 goals in 67 games, adding 93 assists for 159 points! He would have had even more but he was added to Canada's World Junior Championships team, scoring three more goals in five games. He then concluded his season with his NHL debut in the Stanley Cup playoffs, appearing in a game against Minnesota.
It was a game he'll never forget. And it could have been two, but his flight to Montreal was late so Montreal opted to scratch him for the game they originally wanted him to debut in.
"Get some sleep, they said," remembered Joly. "How was I supposed to sleep? I was up at 4am so I wouldn't miss the plane. Ever since I was a little kid I've been waiting for this. I can't believe it's happened. My legs are still shaking."
Joly never figured on the scoresheet in that first NHL game. He probably figured he would get a number of chances to do so in the future, but in hockey, as in life, you should never expect such opportunities to just be given to you.
Including that lone playoff game, Yvan Joly would play only three career games. "The French Canadian fireplug" from Hawkesbury would get into one more NHL game in each of the 1980-81 and 1982-83 season, but otherwise spent the better part of three seasons apprenticing with the Habs farm team in Nova Scotia. He never did register on a NHL scoresheet.
Montreal tried trading Joly to Hartford but for unknown reasons the deal could never be arranged. Montreal and Joly seemed to have a rocky relationship. The Habs had trouble signing Joly out of junior, and Joly expressed that he felt he had not been given a proper chance in Montreal. Montreal opted to release Joly from his contract in 1983. He would sign as an AHL free agent in Maine after starting the year in Italy.
Joly retired for the 1984-85 season. He tried an AHL comeback in 1985-86 with Indianapolis but after 17 games he hung up his skates for good.
The love of hockey was still strong with Joly despite his setbacks. He stepped behind the bench, finding a lot of success at the junior level.
Lorne Davis
After graduating from junior hockey with his hometown Regina Pats, Davis embarked on 12 year professional career. He travelled all through western Canada, playing in Victoria, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg as a pro. He road the minor league buses for Hershey, Buffalo, Providence and Muskegon. All told he survived about 700 minor league games - not bad for a player who turned down the chance to play minor league baseball, too.
Here and there Davis was rewarded with NHL try-outs that totalled 95 career games.
After a 3 game look with the Montreal Canadiens in 1951-52 (scoring 1 goal and 1 assist), Davis got a good look with the Habs as a call up in the 1953 playoffs. Despite not playing in any regular season games that season, Davis appeared in seven post-season contests, scoring 1 goal and 1 assist. He got his name on the Stanley Cup that year, as the Habs defeated the Boston Bruins four games to one.
Davis strong spring resulted in an extended look in the 1953-54 season. He played 37 games, scoring 6 goals and 10 points. He also chipped in 2 more goals in 11 Stanley Cup post-season games. Ultimately Montreal would come up just short, losing the Stanley Cup in overtime in game seven versus the Detroit Red Wings.
Davis was moved to Chicago for the next season, but after only 8 games he was moved to Detroit. He went 22 scoreless games with the Wings before being demoted to the minor leagues for the balance of the season. Detroit went on to win another Stanley Cup, but Davis did not play and was not included in the team engraving.
The Boston Bruins acquired Davis in the shocking Terry Sawchuk trade. Though he was ultimately a throw in in the deal, the Bruins hoped Davis could get his NHL career back on track. They gave him a 15 game look in 1955-56, but when Davis contributed only one assist the Bruins sent him back to the farm. He did not get another look for another four years.
All told Lorne Davis scored 8 goals and 20 points in 95 career NHL games and another 3 goals and 4 points in 18 playoff games.
After he retired as a pro he continued to play senior hockey for another five seasons, mostly in Regina. He also participated in the 1966 World Championships.
When Davis finally hung up his blades and became a scout for the St. Louis Blues, Houston Aeros (WHA) and New York Rangers
In the late 1970s Davis decided to return to Regina and step behind the bench of his Alma mater, the junior Pats. He also was one of three co-coaches (with Clare Drake and Tom Watt) for Canada at the 1980 Olympics. The legendary Father David Bauer insisted upon Davis' inclusion.
Soon after the Olympics Davis joined the Edmonton Oilers as a bird dog, finding such greats as Grant Fuhr, Ryan Smyth and Kelly Buchberger. Davis earned five more Stanley Cup rings while working with the Oilers.
Davis continued scouting for the Oilers right up until his death in 2007. The 77 year old suffered a cardiac event. He was also battling cancer.
Wildor Larochelle
Described as "tough and strong despite his 5 foot 8 inch frame," Larochelle was a productive right winger during his long career. Including two seasons with Chicago late in his career, Larochelle played in 474 games, scoring 92 goals and 166 points.
The Sorel, Quebec native cracked the Montreal Canadiens’ lineup for the first time in 1925-26. He was only 19 years old when he first put on the Habs jersey.
Like many young players Wildor had to bide his time for the first few seasons, but by 1929 he emerged as a confident and physical presence who could be counted on to score, as well. Playing along side Pit Lepine and Georges Mantha, Larochelle helped Montreal win the Stanley Cup in the spring of 1930.
"The entire Canadiens team jumped to the ice and almost smothered Larochelle," wrote L.S.B Shapiro in the morning paper. "After a few seconds of wild struggling he was lifted to the shoulders of his exhausted teammates and carried to the dressing room . . . It was a stirring finish and took place to the roar of a capacity crowd."
That goal advanced Montreal to the final against Chicago. They would narrowly defeat the Hawks three games to two.
"It was called the "One million dollar goal," recalled Larochelle's nephew Yvan Joly, referring to the hefty pay raise Larochelle got that summer - from $2000 a year to $3500. "He often had me the story of that goal. He also told me of the time he got broken collarbone and nose when he was dumped by Eddie Shore of the Boston Bruins. These are memories that remain to me always like when players of the caliber of Howie Morenz and Newsy Lalonde came home in Sorel."
Larochelle, now flanking Lepine and Armand Mondou, scored a career-high 18 goals in 1931-32 and finished 1933-34 with 27 points, second best on the team only to the legendary Howie Morenz.
Thirteen games into the 1935-36 campaign, Larochelle was sold off to the Chicago Blackhawks, where he wound down his NHL career. He opted to retired in 1937 rather than report to the minor leagues.
Wildor Larochelle worked in the hotel business with his father until 1951. He then contracted tuberculosis and was admitted to a convalescent home for the last 13 years of his life. He died in 1964, though it was cancer that claimed him. He was just 58 years old.
Though he left us nearly half a century earlier, the city of Sorel still honoured him and other local hockey heroes in 2013.
"He was a very affable man with a big heart who loved children, especially his nieces and nephews. He had no children, so he spoiled us in droves. It was he who kept us when my parents left. And it was a hockey player!" recalled his nephew Yvan Joly.
Art Giroux
Art Giroux may have only played in 54 NHL contests, scoring six goals and four assists. But he, too, is a legend of hockey.
Especially in Rhode Island.
Giroux was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba but first became prominent in Saskatoon with the Crescents. But it was in sunny California, of all places, that Giroux became noticed by the Montreal Canadiens.
The Habs bought Giroux's contract from the San Francisco Tigers following an outstanding 34 goal season (in 46 games). They also signed Art's brother, George, who played for the champion Oakland Sheiks.
The Giroux's would report to the Habs farm affiliate in Rhode Island - the Providence Reds. It was there that Art, in particular, became a legend, winning four championship titles.
His success begged for a shot at the big leagues. Art Giroux played one full season with the Montreal Canadiens. He scored five goals and seven points in 40 games, but time has largely forgotten Art Giroux. He may be only remembered nowadays as part of the answer to a trivia question as he was one of the few Montreal players to wear number nine before Rocket Richard arrived and made the number famous.
Giroux would later briefly play with Boston and Detroit, but would return to the minor leagues for the balance of his long career. He was happy to be able to return to Providence for the bulk of his career.
Art Giroux passed away on June 5th, 1982 in Calgary, Alberta.
April 23, 2015
The Best Hockey Teams of All Time
Who is the greatest hockey team of all time? Is it Wayne Gretzky's Oilers, or Gordie Howe's Red Wings? Was it the Toronto Maple Leafs, either the post-World War II or the 1960s dynasties? Or was it the Montreal Canadiens dynasties of the 1950s or the 1970s? How about the original hockey dynasty, the Ottawa Senators of nearly 100 years ago? Or the New York Islanders of the 1980s?
Christyne Kavanagh of Tucker Hockey recently presented an amazing infographic to me for use here at GreatestHockeyLegends.com. I had to alter it ever so slightly to work with the Blogger format, but what follows is Kavanagh's work. She picked hockey's greatest dynastiesy, primarily basing her choices on Stanley Cup wins, Hall of Fame players and period dominance. She also adds some some fascinating and fun facts.
You may want to click on each of the following 9 images to increase the size of the images:
Again, special thanks to Christyne Kavanagh of Tucker Hockey
Christyne Kavanagh of Tucker Hockey recently presented an amazing infographic to me for use here at GreatestHockeyLegends.com. I had to alter it ever so slightly to work with the Blogger format, but what follows is Kavanagh's work. She picked hockey's greatest dynastiesy, primarily basing her choices on Stanley Cup wins, Hall of Fame players and period dominance. She also adds some some fascinating and fun facts.
You may want to click on each of the following 9 images to increase the size of the images:
Again, special thanks to Christyne Kavanagh of Tucker Hockey
Jeff Brownschidle
All three sons went on to play high levels of hockey. Mark played at Boston University, while Jeff followed Jack's path to the University of Notre Dame and then on to the National Hockey League.
Jeff was not the natural talent that Jack was, and he always had to skate in his big brother's shadow. Jack was one of the all time greats at Notre Dame, graduating the year before Jeff arrived. Jeff, too, had a strong collegiate career, but was never drafted by a NHL team.
Upon graduation Jeff went on to sign as a free agent with the Hartford Whalers, though he would play primarily with the minor leagues. He was called up to the NHL for a couple of stints totalling 7 career games. He picked up 1 assist.
At the age of 37 Jeff died as the result of traffic accident in Buffalo. Police determined Jeff's van ran a red light at 4:20am on December 13th, 1996. He was hit by an oncoming car. Though there were reports that the other driver would be charged with impaired driving, he was cleared of any charges as his blood-alcohol level was found to be within the legal limits.
Jeff left behind two young daughters who he was passing on the love of sports to. The city named a baseball field after him in his honour.
Pete Kelly
Pete Kelly's first NHL playoffs goal won the Stanley Cup for the Detroit Red Wings.
That was one of many fascinating facts in the life of Pete Kelly.
Kelly was born in St. Vital, Manitoba, on the outskirts of Winnipeg. Though his hockey career took him all over the map, he called Montreal and later the Canadian Maritimes home.
Kelly played his junior hockey in Montreal from 1929 through 1932, and played another season of senior hockey in the city in 1932-33.
He then moved to Prince Edward Island and starred in the Maritime Senior Hockey League for two seasons before the whole circuit fell victim to the Great Depression. The entire league folded mid-season.
Kelly decided it was as good a time as any to turn pro. Unlike most players even back in the 1930s, Pete Kelly did not have to apprentice in the minor leagues. He jumped immediately to the National Hockey League, playing 25 games (3 goals and 10 assists) with the now long-defunct St. Louis Eagles team.
The St. Louis team was short-lived. The former Senators of Ottawa had transferred there for only one season before they too had to fold due to economic hardship.
The NHL had a dispersal draft to divvy up the St. Louis roster. The New York Americans selected Kelly but traded him to Detroit the next day.
Kelly would play four seasons in Detroit, including on the Stanley Cup championship teams of 1936 and 1937. His goal in third period of the 3-2 win in game four of the 1936 finals gave the Red Wings not only the game but the Stanley Cup!
Kelly would lose his spot in Detroit and the NHL and become an AHL regular with the Pittsburgh Hornets to finish the decade. In the early 1940s he would return, briefly, to the NHL with the New York/Brooklyn Americans after a record breaking AHL season with Springfield. He led the entire AHL in scoring with an amazing 33 goals, 44 assists and 77 points in 46 games in 1941-42.
That season proved to Kelly's last professional season. He, like so many NHL players, joined Canada's military efforts in World War II, though his involvement was quite different. He didn't serve with the army or the navy or the air force. Rather he joined YMCA War Services, helping the troops in Canada's maritimes as well as in England. He would continue to play hockey while doing so, but a broken leg while playing in England all but ended his playing days.
In 1947 Kelly stepped behind the bench of the University of New Brunswick hockey team, a job he held for 20 years. He also served as the University's athletic director until his retirement in 1977. Three times he guided his hockey team to Maritimes hockey championships.
Kelly was also a notable golfer, winning several martime amateur championships both before and after the War. Not surprisingly Pete Kelly was inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame.
Pete Kelly passed away on March 22nd, 2004. He was 90 years old. He was also the last surviving member of the St. Louis Eagles.
Kelly was born in St. Vital, Manitoba, on the outskirts of Winnipeg. Though his hockey career took him all over the map, he called Montreal and later the Canadian Maritimes home.
Kelly played his junior hockey in Montreal from 1929 through 1932, and played another season of senior hockey in the city in 1932-33.
He then moved to Prince Edward Island and starred in the Maritime Senior Hockey League for two seasons before the whole circuit fell victim to the Great Depression. The entire league folded mid-season.
Kelly decided it was as good a time as any to turn pro. Unlike most players even back in the 1930s, Pete Kelly did not have to apprentice in the minor leagues. He jumped immediately to the National Hockey League, playing 25 games (3 goals and 10 assists) with the now long-defunct St. Louis Eagles team.
The St. Louis team was short-lived. The former Senators of Ottawa had transferred there for only one season before they too had to fold due to economic hardship.
The NHL had a dispersal draft to divvy up the St. Louis roster. The New York Americans selected Kelly but traded him to Detroit the next day.
Kelly would play four seasons in Detroit, including on the Stanley Cup championship teams of 1936 and 1937. His goal in third period of the 3-2 win in game four of the 1936 finals gave the Red Wings not only the game but the Stanley Cup!
Kelly would lose his spot in Detroit and the NHL and become an AHL regular with the Pittsburgh Hornets to finish the decade. In the early 1940s he would return, briefly, to the NHL with the New York/Brooklyn Americans after a record breaking AHL season with Springfield. He led the entire AHL in scoring with an amazing 33 goals, 44 assists and 77 points in 46 games in 1941-42.
That season proved to Kelly's last professional season. He, like so many NHL players, joined Canada's military efforts in World War II, though his involvement was quite different. He didn't serve with the army or the navy or the air force. Rather he joined YMCA War Services, helping the troops in Canada's maritimes as well as in England. He would continue to play hockey while doing so, but a broken leg while playing in England all but ended his playing days.
In 1947 Kelly stepped behind the bench of the University of New Brunswick hockey team, a job he held for 20 years. He also served as the University's athletic director until his retirement in 1977. Three times he guided his hockey team to Maritimes hockey championships.
Kelly was also a notable golfer, winning several martime amateur championships both before and after the War. Not surprisingly Pete Kelly was inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame.
Pete Kelly passed away on March 22nd, 2004. He was 90 years old. He was also the last surviving member of the St. Louis Eagles.
Jack Brownschidle
Jack was born in Buffalo and grew up playing hockey with his brothers, Jeff and Mark who were also drafted by the NHL, with Jeff briefly playing with Hartford, too. Their father John coached them for much of their youth.
While hockey was important in the Brownschidle family, so was education. All three boys went to University. Jack and John both went to Notre Dame, though they were never teammates as Jack was four years older. Mark went to Boston University.
Education was so important to Jack that he passed on a chance to play in the 1976 Olympics in order to graduate with his degree on time. He would have had to commit to the United States national team for the entire season, missing a year of school.
Jack did get a good taste of international action while also patrolling the Notre Dame blue line as a two time All American. while setting several school records. He finished the 1973-74 season with the national team, but did not participate at the World Championships. The experience still helped him improve as a player, and he returned in 1975 and skated in all 10 World Championship games alongside names like Mike Eruzione and Ron Wilson.
You know the United States Olympic team had interested in the skilled defenseman Brownschidle for the 1980 Olympic team that miraculously won the gold medal at Lake Placid. But Brownschidle had graduated from University and jumped to the National Hockey League.
The St. Louis Blues had drafted Brownschidle 99th overall in 1975. He more-or-less jumped right into the Blues lineup, spending just 36 games apprenticing in the minor leagues. He was a full time NHL defenseman by his second year in pro hockey.
He was lauded as an intelligent defender who understood his positioning, allowing him to play an exceptionally clean game. Offensively he was a capable puck mover, though he was quietly appreciated. He set club records (since broken) for assists and points by a defenseman in one season. He even left the Blues as the second highest scoring defenseman in team history. All of this came despite modest totals.
The Blues waived Jack Brownschidle near the end of the 1983-84 season, with the Hartford Whalers acquiring his services. Like his brother before him Jack was used sparingly in Hartford, mostly playing in the minor leagues over the next four seasons.
His final season in pro-hockey was 1987-88 with the Rochester Americans - the closest he ever came to playing at home in Buffalo.
Tony Currie
Tony Currie was quoted as saying he loved the game and the opportunities it presented.
Currie, the son of a military man, was born in small town Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia and later grew up and starred as a peewee in small town Oromocto, New Brunswick. No one knew back then that this local whiz kid would leave to play junior hockey in British Columbia, Edmonton and Portland, Oregon, play nearly 300 NHL games with St. Louis, Hartford and Vancouver, compete for the Stanley Cup in Vancouver, and finish his hockey career in Germany and Italy.
The St. Louis Blues would draft Currie 63rd overall in 1977, the year after he led all Canadian junior right wingers with 73 goals in 72 games.
Currie played five seasons with the Blues, scoring on his very first shot and once setting a post-season team record for assists (12) in one playoff year (since broken). Currie was a 20 goal-threat from the third line.
The Blues made a big trade with the Canucks midway through the 1981-82 season, sending Currie, Jim Nill, Rick Heinz and a draft pick all in exchange for goalie Glen Hanlon. Canucks fan may have briefly been excited to hear they traded for Currie before realizing it was Tony Currie and not Edmonton's Jari Kurri!
It was a good move for Tony Currie and his fellow former-St. Louis co-horts. The Canucks went on an unexpected run all the way to the Stanley Cup finals in 1982 before losing the championship to the New York Islanders. It was an exciting time even though Currie only played three times in the playoffs, and did not play in the finals vs. the Islanders.
Currie only played sparingly for the Canucks over the next two years. While most players take the news of being demoted to the minor leagues hard, Currie at least had the comfort of going home. The Canucks farm team back then was out of Fredericton, New Brunswick. Currie had an especially strong 1982-83 season with the Express, scoring 47 goals and 95 points in just 68 games.
Currie was released from his Canucks contract half way through the 1983-84 season, allowing him to return to the NHL as a free agent with the Hartford Whalers. He would play parts of two seasons with the Whalers before exiting the NHL for good.
Tony Currie played in 290 NHL games, scoring 92 goals, 119 assists for 211 points. After a few more years in the minor leagues he headed overseas to Germany and Italy. He later settled back in New Brunswick, playing with several senior league teams in Fredericton.
While returning to the rink as an amateur he enrolled at the University of New Brunswick, earning a business degree specializing in marketing. He became an account executive for an IT services firm in Canada's Atlantic region. He has since relocated to Toronto as a senior account executive with Saba software.
April 21, 2015
Whatever Happened To The Rover?
Here's a good question: Whatever happened to the rover?
For those who don't know, there actually used to be another player on the ice. Each team had six skaters plus a goalie - two defensemen, a center, a left winger, a right winger and something called a rover.
This is basically 19th century hockey, long gone by the time the NHL formed in 1917. The National Hockey Association, the forerunner to the NHL, last used the position in the 1910-11 season. The western pro league PCHA did continue with the rover throughout that decade.
Essentially the rover kind of played the role of today's center, or perhaps of today's roaming defensemen. Bobby Orr would have been the ultimate modern day rover.
Way back then the defensemen, unlike Orr, didn't participate too much in the offensive side of the rink. In fact they would often just sit back on their own side of the ice and wait for the puck and attackers to return. Similarly the forwards, especially the wingers didn't do much back checking in those days, either.
The rover, however, was all over the ice. The rover, who was usually the team's best skater, jumped up on offense and hustled back to help out the defensemen. He was probably one of the most spectacular players on the ice to watch.
Who were the best rovers of all time? The Hockey Hall of Fame lists 19 of it's honoured members as rovers (though all played multiple positions). Names that may still be familiar with today's die-hard hockey fans would include Newsy Lalonde, Lester Patrick, Hobey Baker and Cyclone Taylor.
So whatever happened to the position of the rover?
It seems the overseers of the game back then felt they needed to open up the game. The ice was too crowded, and by removing a couple of bodies allowed for more space. Remember, the game was very professionalized as the 1910s arrived. It was good business to encourage a faster game that was more entertaining for the paying customers.
For those who don't know, there actually used to be another player on the ice. Each team had six skaters plus a goalie - two defensemen, a center, a left winger, a right winger and something called a rover.
Essentially the rover kind of played the role of today's center, or perhaps of today's roaming defensemen. Bobby Orr would have been the ultimate modern day rover.
Way back then the defensemen, unlike Orr, didn't participate too much in the offensive side of the rink. In fact they would often just sit back on their own side of the ice and wait for the puck and attackers to return. Similarly the forwards, especially the wingers didn't do much back checking in those days, either.
The rover, however, was all over the ice. The rover, who was usually the team's best skater, jumped up on offense and hustled back to help out the defensemen. He was probably one of the most spectacular players on the ice to watch.
Who were the best rovers of all time? The Hockey Hall of Fame lists 19 of it's honoured members as rovers (though all played multiple positions). Names that may still be familiar with today's die-hard hockey fans would include Newsy Lalonde, Lester Patrick, Hobey Baker and Cyclone Taylor.
So whatever happened to the position of the rover?
It seems the overseers of the game back then felt they needed to open up the game. The ice was too crowded, and by removing a couple of bodies allowed for more space. Remember, the game was very professionalized as the 1910s arrived. It was good business to encourage a faster game that was more entertaining for the paying customers.
April 20, 2015
How The Original Winnipeg Jets Changed Hockey History
A fantastic read from Roy MacGregor this past weekend:
It was a pivotal moment in professional hockey, virtually doubling salaries and giving players more control over their lives. Mr. Mikita used to joke he got down on his knees every morning to give thanks to Mr. Hull. Mr. McDonald and Mr. Hull also remain close friends: “Two weeks ago in Chicago, we closed down Kitty O’Sheas [pub].”
The arrival of the Jets also dramatically changed Winnipeg. Mr. McDonald believes it put the notion into Winnipeggers’ heads that they could be big-time, could support pro sports.
Mr. Nilsson and Mr. Hedberg arrived in 1974. The Jets were already known for embracing European players, but it was “The Hot Line” of Messrs. Hull, Hedberg and Nilsson – a line deserving of Hall-of-Fame honours – that brought massive attention to the Jets.
“Hockey is more than a sport in places like Winnipeg,” Mr. Nilsson says from Stockholm, where he now lives. “I loved my four years in the city – and to be able to play with Robert Marvin Hull was better than a dream. It was amazing!”
Here's the full story...
April 18, 2015
Basil Pocklington - Hockey's X Man
There are many unusual stories involving the Stanley Cup and the NHL playoffs. Over the course of the playoffs I will cover many of them, starting with the story of Basil Pocklington.There's a pretty good chance you've heard of Peter Pocklington. He was the impish Edmonton Oilers owner during the dynasty days, but is best known for selling Wayne Gretzky in order to pay for his failing business ventures outside of hockey.
When the Edmonton Oilers won their first Stanley Cup in 1984, Pocklington had his father's name, Basil, engraved on the Cup. Basil had absolutely nothing to do with the team beyond the family connection. The NHL decreed this to be unacceptable, and had the name X'd out.
The story gets stranger. In 1993, after the Montreal Canadiens won the Cup, the NHL sent the Cup to the official engravers in Montreal to include the names of the most recent recipients. Much to the NHL's surprise, the engraver removed the entire bottom ring of the Cup was removed, and was rendered unusable because the steel ring to connect each band broken.
A new band was created, without Basil Pocklington's X'd out name, but with the 1981 Islanders misspelled as Ilanders! The NHL found this to be unacceptable and had the Cup returned and had the engravers reinstate the name Basil Pocklington and then X it over again. The Ilanders mistake was never fixed. The original band remains in storage at the Hockey Hall of Fame.
In case you did not know, there are actually two Stanley Cups in use today. One is a replica that is often on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame while the real Cup is on tour, which is often. The replica does not contain the 16 X's in the '84 Oilers entry, making it easy to decipher whether you are looking at the real Stanley Cup or the replica.Including the Pocklington and Ilanders debacle, there have been a total of 12 engraving mistakes on the Stanley Cup. The two most recent (Adam Deadmarsh was misspelled as Adam Deadmarch and Manny Legace was misspelled as Manny Lagace), have been corrected.
The other mistakes are:
The 1937-38 Chicago Blackhawks Pete Palangio's name appears twice, once spelled correctly and once incorrectly as Palagio.
The 1941-42 Toronto Maple Leafs' Turk Broda is is also represented twice, once as Turk Broda, and once as Walter Broda.
The 1946-47 Toronto Maple Leafs' Gaye Stewart is misspelled as Gave Stewart.
The 1951-52 Detroit Red Wings entry has two errors. Coach Tommy Ivan's name is misspelled as Tommy Nivan, and star forward Alex Delvecchio's name is misspelled as Alex Belvecchio.
The Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup 5 times in a row between 1956 and 1960, and each time goaltender Jacques Plante's name is spelled different. It is either J. Plante, Jacques Plante, Jac Plante, Jacq Plante, and Jaques Plante.
The 1962-63 Toronto Maple Leafs are entered as TORONTO MAPLE LEAES
Similarly, the 1971-72 Boston Bruins are BQSTQN BRUINS. I guess the O chisel was missing that day.
The 1975-76 Montreal Canadiens' Bob Gainey is listed as Bob Gainy
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