Yesterday GreatestHockeyLegends.com's Tuesday Top Ten offered a fun look at the Top Ten Hockey Teeth.
There have been a few hockey players who actually became dentists. Bill Baker (1980 USA Olympic team), Al Simmons (Boston Bruins), Bobby Copp and Phil Samis (Toronto Maple Leafs), Bill Carse (Chicago Black Hawks), Rod Smylie (Toronto St. Pats), Duke McCurry (Pittsburgh Pirates), Stan Brown (Detroit Cougars/New York Rangers) Lou Hudson and Joe Sullivan (1928 Olympic gold medal winning team from Canada), Bill Carson (Toronto Maple Leafs/Boston Bruins), Doc Stewart (Boston Bruins), and pre-NHL star Gordon Roberts all became dentists.
Other hockey players became doctors, most famously Randy Gregg, who was a licensed doctor while playing with Wayne Gretzky's Edmonton Oilers. Fred Arthur of the Hartford Whalers quit the NHL after one season to pursue a career in medicine, while Pat Graham, who played 103 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs, became a chiropractor. He was a chiropractor for the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team.
There is one more hockey player turned doctor. Dr. Jerry Wilson - the newest profile here at GreatestHockeyLegends.com.
Dr. Jerry Wilson is the father of long time NHL player and Canadian Olympian Carey Wilson. He is also the grandfather of current NHL star Colin Wilson of the Nashville Predators.
His impact on the hockey world is far greater than his offspring. He also happens to be a former Montreal Canadien himself; the Winnipeg Jets team doctor (he also worked for the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet); and influential in convincing early European stars like Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson to come to North America.
You can read more about Dr. Jerry Wilson here.
Showing posts with label hockey doctors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hockey doctors. Show all posts
October 13, 2010
March 12, 2007
More Hockey Doctors
Last week I posted a well received article about NHL players who either were or later became doctors.
I had 1o players identified: Randy Gregg, Fred Arthur, Al Simmons, Bobby Copp, Phil Samis, Jerry Wilson, Rod Smylie, Duke McCurry, Bill Carson and Doc Stewart. Pre-NHL era player Gordon Roberts and 1928 Olympians Lou Hudson and Joe Sullivan rounded out the list.
Several colleagues have come through with more hockey playing doctors. Dave Soutter and Seth Lerman reminded me of another modern era player who became a doctor. Bill Baker, a 1980 "Miracle on Ice" veteran who played 143 games in the NHL, returned to the University of Minnesota and completed his dentistry residency in 1993. He now works oral surgeon and maxillofacial specialist in Brainerd, Minnesota, with satellite offices in Bemidji and Little Falls.
"CGory2" informed me about Pat Graham, a player I admitedly never heard of. He played 103 games with Pittsburgh and Toronto in the early 1980s, but he never fulfilled his potential due to chronic back pain. His many hours in the chiropractor's office sparked an interest in the field. He opened his own practice in Toronto, and became a consulting chiropractor for the Toronto Blue Jays.
My old buddy Patrick Houda came through with three more, including Bill Carse, who practiced in Honolulu, and Stan Brown.
Unless they are patients of theirs, most fans nowadays have never heard of any of these guys other than Gregg and maybe Baker. But Houda notes a goaltender many of us are familiar with also became a doctor, though not exactly what you're expecting.
Clint Malarchuck, best remembered as the Buffalo Sabres goalie who had his neck sliced by a skate, got his papers as a horse dentist and chiropractor from the Acadamey of Equine Dentistry in Idaho. A life long rodeo and horse enthusiast, the Alberta born Malarchuk practices horse care when his schedule as Columbus Blue Jackets goaltending consultant allows.
Outside of the medical field altogether is Morris Mott and Les Kozak. Michel Vigneault reminded me about Mott, the former 1960s Canadian national and Olympic team star who later played for the California Golden Seals. He got a doctorate in history and is now a professor at Brandon University in Manitoba. I'm still hoping to learn more about Dr. Kozak.
I had 1o players identified: Randy Gregg, Fred Arthur, Al Simmons, Bobby Copp, Phil Samis, Jerry Wilson, Rod Smylie, Duke McCurry, Bill Carson and Doc Stewart. Pre-NHL era player Gordon Roberts and 1928 Olympians Lou Hudson and Joe Sullivan rounded out the list.
Several colleagues have come through with more hockey playing doctors. Dave Soutter and Seth Lerman reminded me of another modern era player who became a doctor. Bill Baker, a 1980 "Miracle on Ice" veteran who played 143 games in the NHL, returned to the University of Minnesota and completed his dentistry residency in 1993. He now works oral surgeon and maxillofacial specialist in Brainerd, Minnesota, with satellite offices in Bemidji and Little Falls."CGory2" informed me about Pat Graham, a player I admitedly never heard of. He played 103 games with Pittsburgh and Toronto in the early 1980s, but he never fulfilled his potential due to chronic back pain. His many hours in the chiropractor's office sparked an interest in the field. He opened his own practice in Toronto, and became a consulting chiropractor for the Toronto Blue Jays.
My old buddy Patrick Houda came through with three more, including Bill Carse, who practiced in Honolulu, and Stan Brown.
Unless they are patients of theirs, most fans nowadays have never heard of any of these guys other than Gregg and maybe Baker. But Houda notes a goaltender many of us are familiar with also became a doctor, though not exactly what you're expecting.Clint Malarchuck, best remembered as the Buffalo Sabres goalie who had his neck sliced by a skate, got his papers as a horse dentist and chiropractor from the Acadamey of Equine Dentistry in Idaho. A life long rodeo and horse enthusiast, the Alberta born Malarchuk practices horse care when his schedule as Columbus Blue Jackets goaltending consultant allows.
Outside of the medical field altogether is Morris Mott and Les Kozak. Michel Vigneault reminded me about Mott, the former 1960s Canadian national and Olympic team star who later played for the California Golden Seals. He got a doctorate in history and is now a professor at Brandon University in Manitoba. I'm still hoping to learn more about Dr. Kozak.
March 08, 2007
Doctor Hockey
Hockey players spend so much time in dentist chairs and medical rooms, you'd think a few would take more than a passing interest in the medical profession. It turns out a few have. By my count 15 NHLers were practicing physicians or became so in retirement. Two others were Olympic gold medal champions, and one other pre-dated the NHL.
Most hockey fans of the 1980s know that Edmonton Oilers defenseman Randy Gregg was also a full fledged doctor. His NHL career almost came by accident. He began attending the University of Alberta at age 16, and three years later entered into medical school. He tried out for the U of A Golden Bears hockey team strictly for personal enjoyment of the game. Though his studies never suffered, it became evident he was prodigious on the ice as well as off. The lure of firstly the Olympics and secondly the chance to play in the NHL with his hometown Oilers put his medical career on hold.
Around the same time another standout defenseman was trying to balance NHL hockey and his medical career. Fred Arthur drafted 8th overall by the Hartford Whalers in 1980, selected before the likes of Brent Sutter, Jari Kurri, Bernie Nicholls, and Andy Moog. The 6'5" 210lb blue liner established himself as a physical, puck moving back liner with the Cornwall Royals, a sure fire NHL defender.
But at the same time he excelled at school, taking particular interest in English Literature and Calculus. His love for education would override his love for hockey. On October 20th, 1982, Arthur, now a member of the Philadelphia Flyers, retired from the game after just 80 games, 1 goal and 9 points. He chose to pursue medical school rather accept the Flyers demotion to the minor leagues, passing on an $80,000 a year salary in the process. Arthur was quite open at the time about how he did not enjoy the pro hockey or junior hockey lifestyle, and that he worried that thigh and eye injuries in his only NHL season were only the beginning of a career of pain.
Bill Baker was a member of the 1980 "Miracle On Ice" Team USA Olympic team that captured gold. The defenseman went on to play 143 NHL games with Montreal, Colorado, St. Louis and New York Rangers. He returned to the University of Minnesota, where he was once the star hockey player, and completed his dental residency in 1993. He now works as an oral surgeon and maxillofacial specialist.
"CGory2" informed me about Pat Graham, a player I admitedly never heard of. He played 103 games with Pittsburgh and Toronto in the early 1980s, but he never fulfilled his potential due to chronic back pain. His many hours in the chiropractor's office sparked an interest in the field. He opened his own practice in Toronto, and became a consulting chiropractor for the Toronto Blue Jays.
These four are the only two modern cases of NHLers being or becoming doctors, though one good source tells me Al Simmons, a 1970s Bruins farmhand who played 11 games in the NHL, later became a dentist. I'm still trying to verify that.
1940s Leafs players Bobby Copp and Phil Samis, who played in 40 and 7 games respectively, went on to careers as dentists, as did Jerry Wilson who played 3 games with Montreal in 1957-58. Bill Carse played 3 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1940s, but later moved to Honolulu to practice.
There a number of early day hockey players who were medical professionals. They include Rod Smylie (Toronto St. Pats), Duke McCurry (Pittsburgh Pirates), Stan Brown (Detroit Cougars/New York Rangers) Lou Hudson and Joe Sullivan (1928 Olympic gold medal winning team from Canada), Bill Carson (Toronto Maple Leafs/Boston Bruins), Doc Stewart (Boston Bruins), and pre-NHL star Gordon Roberts, among others. There is no better resource to learn about these hockey playing doctors and dentists than James Milks' Lost Hockey.com website.
By the way: This whole thread on hockey playing doctors started while researching the career of Elwyn Romnes, one of the NHL's earliest American born stars. It turns out the man known far better by his nickname "Doc" has no ties to the medical field at all.
Most hockey fans of the 1980s know that Edmonton Oilers defenseman Randy Gregg was also a full fledged doctor. His NHL career almost came by accident. He began attending the University of Alberta at age 16, and three years later entered into medical school. He tried out for the U of A Golden Bears hockey team strictly for personal enjoyment of the game. Though his studies never suffered, it became evident he was prodigious on the ice as well as off. The lure of firstly the Olympics and secondly the chance to play in the NHL with his hometown Oilers put his medical career on hold.Around the same time another standout defenseman was trying to balance NHL hockey and his medical career. Fred Arthur drafted 8th overall by the Hartford Whalers in 1980, selected before the likes of Brent Sutter, Jari Kurri, Bernie Nicholls, and Andy Moog. The 6'5" 210lb blue liner established himself as a physical, puck moving back liner with the Cornwall Royals, a sure fire NHL defender.
But at the same time he excelled at school, taking particular interest in English Literature and Calculus. His love for education would override his love for hockey. On October 20th, 1982, Arthur, now a member of the Philadelphia Flyers, retired from the game after just 80 games, 1 goal and 9 points. He chose to pursue medical school rather accept the Flyers demotion to the minor leagues, passing on an $80,000 a year salary in the process. Arthur was quite open at the time about how he did not enjoy the pro hockey or junior hockey lifestyle, and that he worried that thigh and eye injuries in his only NHL season were only the beginning of a career of pain.
Bill Baker was a member of the 1980 "Miracle On Ice" Team USA Olympic team that captured gold. The defenseman went on to play 143 NHL games with Montreal, Colorado, St. Louis and New York Rangers. He returned to the University of Minnesota, where he was once the star hockey player, and completed his dental residency in 1993. He now works as an oral surgeon and maxillofacial specialist.
"CGory2" informed me about Pat Graham, a player I admitedly never heard of. He played 103 games with Pittsburgh and Toronto in the early 1980s, but he never fulfilled his potential due to chronic back pain. His many hours in the chiropractor's office sparked an interest in the field. He opened his own practice in Toronto, and became a consulting chiropractor for the Toronto Blue Jays.
These four are the only two modern cases of NHLers being or becoming doctors, though one good source tells me Al Simmons, a 1970s Bruins farmhand who played 11 games in the NHL, later became a dentist. I'm still trying to verify that.
1940s Leafs players Bobby Copp and Phil Samis, who played in 40 and 7 games respectively, went on to careers as dentists, as did Jerry Wilson who played 3 games with Montreal in 1957-58. Bill Carse played 3 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1940s, but later moved to Honolulu to practice.
There a number of early day hockey players who were medical professionals. They include Rod Smylie (Toronto St. Pats), Duke McCurry (Pittsburgh Pirates), Stan Brown (Detroit Cougars/New York Rangers) Lou Hudson and Joe Sullivan (1928 Olympic gold medal winning team from Canada), Bill Carson (Toronto Maple Leafs/Boston Bruins), Doc Stewart (Boston Bruins), and pre-NHL star Gordon Roberts, among others. There is no better resource to learn about these hockey playing doctors and dentists than James Milks' Lost Hockey.com website.
By the way: This whole thread on hockey playing doctors started while researching the career of Elwyn Romnes, one of the NHL's earliest American born stars. It turns out the man known far better by his nickname "Doc" has no ties to the medical field at all.
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