ATD 2010 Bios

[chaosrevolver]

C - Elmer Lach (1940-1954)

One of the top playmaking centers ever to compete in the NHL, Elmer Lach spent his entire 14-year career with the Montreal Canadiens. He helped "les glorieux" win the Stanley Cup three times and gained much acclaim as the center on the club's dreaded Punch Line with XXXXXXXX and Maurice Richard. Lach also received accolades for his determination on the ice and his resilience in battling a host of serious injuries...A tireless and fearless style of play also became characteristic of the Nokomis Flash.

Lach's wizardry and spirit were crucial to the team's good fortunes. Many in the league felt his touch with the puck and ability to flip it to teammates were unrivaled. He retired in 1954 as the NHL's all-time leading scorer.

Lach was, above all else, a great playmaker. His incredible hockey sense and intelligence, combined with blessed skating skills were the perfect match for the Rocket. He was able to spring perhaps the greatest goal scoring machine of all time on countless occasions. Playing most often with XXXXXX on left wing, Lach was centering the famed Punch Line.

While he was an excellent offensive threat himself, Lach proved to be an ultimate team leader as well. Playing with Richard and XXXXXX for much of his career, Lach was the best of the three defensively. He often sacrificed his own offensive output and personal achievements in order to help his team win. The 5'9" Lach was never afraid of the physical game either, drawing comparisons to a fire hydrant because he was small but incredibly hard to budge.

He was a fast, smooth skater, tenacious in the corners, had good vision and deft hands and could fire a puck through a churning thicket of legs and skates and place it on the blade of a teammate's stick.

Accomplishments​

​

* Stanley Cup Winner (1944, 1946, 1953)
* Hart Memorial Trophy (1945)
* Art Ross Trophy (1948)
* NHL 1st All-Star Team (1945, 1948, 1952)
* NHL 2nd All-Star Team (1944, 1946)
* Led League in Points (1945, 1948)
* Led League in Assists (1945, 1946, 1952)

--***--​

 

[DoMakc]

Gilbert Perreault

Accomplishments:

Calder Memorial Trophy (1971)
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (1972)
2x NHL 2nd All-Star Team (1976, 1977)
4x Top 10 in Goals (1975 (7), 1976 (4), 1977 (7), 1980 (10))
5x Top 10 in Assists (1973 (5), 1976 (3), 1977 (9), 1979 (8), 1980 (4))
#85 on History of Hockey list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players (2008)
#47 on THN list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players

Quotes:

For 17 glorious seasons, Gilbert Perreault was the Buffalo Sabres. As he went, so did the Sabres. An absolute magician with a hockey puck, Perreault ranks high on the NHL's all-time scoring list with 512 goals and 814 assists, for 1326 points in 1,191 games
[...]
Gilbert was one of the greatest one-on-one players ever. He had more tricks up his sleeve than the rest of his teammates combined.

The player who stunned me the most and who I previously had never heard about was Buffalo Sabres Gilbert Perreault. Never before in my life had I seen such a dynamic skater. When he took off I got the feeling that a locomotive was making its way down the ice. Perreault was so smooth that he had no trouble going coast to coast, around the defensemen like a knife through butter. He wasn't a typical Canadian player, although a big fellow, he was a fantastically technical player, far superior to any of his [Team Canada] teammates

Gilbert Perreault was Jean Beliveau in the more physical way to get to the net than Jean. Smooth, great vision,elecrifying, Gilbert Perreault was the one who wanted to take a charge:"Give me the puck, I'm gonna make something happen", and 90% of time he had the puck, something great happened.

...for the years that I played, Gilbert was as good as anybody, who played the game

 

[Leafs Forever]

He was a prolific scorer and relentless backchecker during 16 rewarding seasons with the Montreal Canadiens. He never allowed his comparatively small frame to impede his progress in the NHL. He often teamed with his good friend Howie Morenz to form one of the most potent offensive duos in league history. His blazing forays down the port side made him one of hockey's most exciting left wingers of all time, and his combination of speed and small size made him one of the trickiest skaters to bodycheck.-loh

He was a marvelous stickhandler and had an unusual abundance of "hockey sense," he simply did the right thing at the right time.-Joe Pelletier

The Mighty Atom impressed fans with his speed and puckhandling abilities. He was also a feisty adversary who frustrated his larger opponents-loh

Despite six shoulder separations, three broken ribs, and routine injuries such as five nose fractures, he went on to score 270 goals, tying Morenz on the all-time list. He was also an outstanding checker, capable of stopping an opponent and then quickly starting a rush of his own.-Joe Pelletier

His ability to break up plays defensively and quickly lead the counterattack provided the Canadiens with a feared transitional game. Over time he earned the respect of many of the toughest players in the NHL because of his fearless refusal to back down in on-ice confrontations.-loh

He was also noted for taunting his opponents, needling them until they ended up making mistakes.

A small, shifty player who was difficult to catch or knock off the puck-Lord Stanley's Cup

An exceedingly tricky and agile skater, a winger so fast and so small he was difficult to hit. He didn't have a hard shot, but it was deadly accurate...This mater stickhandler could fade away from checkers like a wraith. But he was best known for his bullet-like speed.-Ultimate Hockey

If it wasn't for him, you guys wouldn't be writing about me so much.-Howie Morenz

The Toronto.St pats are pleased to pick a player that should give us one of the best forward duo's in the draft, the "Little Giant" himself...



AUREL JOLIAT!

Awards and Achievements
3 x Stanley Cup Champion (1924, 1930, 1931)
1 x Hart Trophy (1934)
1 x First Team All Star Left Wing(1931)*
3 x Second Team All Star Left Wing (1932, 1934, 1935)*
*-All Star teams did not exist until midway through Joliat's career(he was 29 when thus occurred). There were no AST's in many of his best seasons.

Top 10's
Goals- 5th(1924), 2nd(1925), 9th(1926), 2nd(1928), 9th(1933), 3rd(1934), 10th(1937)

Assists- 7th(1923), 10th(1924), 6th(1925), 3rd(1926), 5th(1928), 5th(1931), 5th(1932), 7th(1933)

Points- 9th(1923), 5th(1924), 3rd(1925), 5th(1926), 2nd(1928), 10th(1931), 8th(1932), 6th(1933), 8th(1934)

Playoff Goals- 2nd(1923)*, 3rd(1924)*, 9th(1932)*, 7th(1933)*

Playoff Assists- 1st(1924)*, 3rd(1929)*, 6th(1930)*, 1st(1931), 5th(1937)

Playoff Points- 3rd(1923)*, 2nd(1924)*, 4th(1929)*

*-Achieved with particularly low numbers due to era.

Biography
The start of Joliat's career in spots of one of tremendous perservance. After a falling off a roof incident, Joliat landed on his back and was lucky to escape serious injuries, but he would have to play in the NHL with displaced verterbraes which caused him great pain in his career, as well as stomach ulcers which he mostly ignored.

He would join Montreal in a trade involving them sending out a legendary but fading Newsy Lalonde. Fans would not be disappointed by the "unknown kid" however, and he would become one of the greatest left wingers in history.

He would score great numbers along with Howie Morenz, and despite his small stature, he would overcome it and the many bigger bruisers with his quickness to succeed in the league.

He would become very battered over the course of his career, but despite this, would be a great all-around player. He would help montreal to three stanley cups, as well as winning a hart trophy.

"Aurel was also known for a strange idiosyncrasies. For example, he wore a black baseball cap while he played, and wouldn't chase the puck without it. He was often the target of opponents who would swipe at that cap with a gloved hand. If they managed to dislodge it, a mighty roar of yeas and boos followed from the crowd. Aurel always retrieved his cap and put it on again to cover his bald spot. This lack of respect always infuriated Aurel, who played his best hockey when it happened."-Joe Pelletier

Aurel would retire in the 1938 season (although Aurel said he was fired), and be inducted into the hockey hall of fame. Joliat, one of the most colourful players ever, passed away on June 2, 1986 at the age of 84.

 

[seventieslord]

"Aurel was also known for a strange idiosyncrasies. For example, he wore a black baseball cap while he played, and wouldn't chase the puck without it. He was often the target of opponents who would swipe at that cap with a gloved hand. If they managed to dislodge it, a mighty roar of yeas and boos followed from the crowd. Aurel always retrieved his cap and put it on again to cover his bald spot. This lack of respect always infuriated Aurel, who played his best hockey when it happened."-Joe Pelletier

I can assure you this was not just a legend that grew over time. I was researching a different player for ATD10 in the NY Times, and there was a blurb in one game summary that said something like "Joliat had his black cap knocked off a couple of times, and the little giant was none too impressed."

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Sid Abel​

-Ranked 85 on the THN Top 100 list
-Ranked 93 on the HOH Top 100 list (2008 version)
-Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1969
-Stanley Cup Champion in 1943, 50, 52 (all as captain)
-Missed 2 full seasons of his prime due to service in World War 2

On the ice, he was an accomplished playmaking center and team leader who contributed to three Stanley Cup championships in Detroit
…
In 1946-47, he was teamed with wingers Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay for the first time. The line clicked and began to dominate opposing defenses. In 1948-49, they were dubbed the "Production Line." Abel led all Detroit scorers and was the recipient of the Hart Trophy--only the second Detroit player so honored after XXX, in 1940. The next year, Abel set career highs with 34 goals and 69 points. That same year, Lindsay, Abel, and Howe finished 1-2-3 in the NHL scoring parade and the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup.

Awards:
-Hart Trophy winner in 1949
-4th in Hart voting in 1950
-2nd Team All-Star in 1942 as a Left Wing
-1st Team All-Star in 1949 as a Center
-1st Team All-Star in 1950 as a Center
-2nd Team All-Star in 1951 as a Center

Stats:
-5 times Top 7 in Points (2, 3, 4, 5, 7)
-Led the League in Goals in 1949
-3 Times Top 7 in Goals (1, 3, 7)
-8 Times Top 10 in Assists (3, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 7, 10)

While Howe and Lindsay brought a mixture of styles and aggression that would intimidate their opponents, Abel's creativity and savvy was the backbone of the line and the Red Wings. But don't think he was soft. He could hit as hard or be as abrasive as his line mates…

It can be argued that Abel, not Howe, Sawchuk, Lindsay or Kelly, was the backbone of the great Red Wings team of the 1950's. Hockey historian Ed Fitkin was once quoted as saying "Sid will go down in the Red Wings' history as the greatest competitor and inspirational force the Red Wings ever had."
…
In 1952-53 Abel was released from the Red Wings and signed on with the Chicago Black Hawks as a playing coach. He took over a pathetic team that finished dead last in 5 of the previous six seasons. Yet "Old Bootnose," with the help of 1954 Hart Trophy winning goalie XXX, turned the Hawks around, and into the playoffs. They would go on to take the powerhouse Canadiens to seven games in the semi-final before finally bowing out.

 

[Leafs Forever]

He instead relied on a high skill level. He was a constant scorer and playmaker in the WHA. He relied on his strong hockey sense and puck handling skills-Joe Pelletier

His vision of the ice plus his elite intelligence allowed him to control the game like a quarterback.-Joe Pelletier

Blessed with excellent skating, speed and agility, his defensive approach was definitely more finesse than physical. His uncanny ice vision and tremendous passing allowed him to control the game. He added a valuable dimension to a physical Flyers defense - he provided the ability to rush the puck out of the zone or make a beautiful break out pass.-Joe Pelletier

"He's not real physical, but he doesn't have to be. He's so mobile he always gets a piece of you, just enough to throw you off the puck."-Bobby Clarke

He is an unselfish hockey player. He could score a lot more goals if he gambled a little more offensively, but he's so dedicated defensively, he's so concerned about the defensive side of the game, that's the most important thing to him. I think he could be leading this league by 20 points if not for the fact that he's such a conscientious defensive hockey player.-Former coach of this player

The only Flyer defenseman who has the speed to match Gretzky's is Mark Howe. His performance—and Howe has been spectacular in the playoffs—will be the key to keeping Gretzky off a spree. Howe, along with Edmonton's Paul Coffey, is probably the finest skating defenseman in the NHL. Unlike Coffey, he seldom gets so involved in his team's offensive thrusts that he is out of position defensively. Howe is also accustomed to an inordinate amount of ice time, especially now that XXX is out for the duration with a separated left shoulder. Look for XXX to have Howe on the ice whenever Gretzky's there.-Sports Illustrated Finals preview, 1985

Since Nov. 21, when Philadelphia penalty killers were the second worst in the league with 22 goals allowed in 80 shorthanded situations, the Flyers have moved to first place in that department, giving up 11 goals in 127 chances. More impressive, over a 22-game span, from Dec. 26 through Feb. 13, the Flyers allowed only seven goals in man-down situations while scoring eight shorthanded goals. In other words, their penalty-killing unit was plus one.
"The key is Mark Howe," says [Flyers’ coach] of his top defenseman. "In late November, Howe came to me and said that when he was with the Whalers he sometimes killed penalties as a forward and he thought he could help us doing that. I moved him up with Bobby Clarke. With Clarkie's puck-handling ability and Howe's breakaway speed, they not only kill penalties but they actually give us a scoring threat." At week's end Howe had five shorthanded goals, which tied him for the league lead. -Sports Illustrated, March 7, 1983

With our 4th selection, the Toronto St.Pats proudly select, a great defenceman who can play solid in a #1 role..



MARK HOWE!

Awards and Achievements
3 x NHL First Team All-Star defenceman (1983, 1986, 1987)
3 x Norris Trophy Runner-Up (1983 to langway who he beat in all-star voting, 1986 to Coffey who broke Orr's scoring record that year, 1987 to Ray Bourque)
2 x Stanley Cup Finalist (1985, 1987)
1 x WHA First Team All-Star left wing (1979)
1 x WHA Second Team All-Star left wing (1974)
1 x WHA Second Team All-Star defenceman (1977)
1 x Olympic Silver Medalist (1972)

Top 20s

Points Amongst defenceman- 1st(1980)10th (1981), 19th (1982) 8th(1983), 16th(1984), 13th(1985), 2nd(1986), 10th(1987), 7th(1988)

Playoff Goals Amongst defenceman- 5th(1985), 11th(1987), 7th(1988)

Playoff Assists Amongst defenceman- 5th(1985), 3rd(1987), 13th(1988), 2nd(1989)

Playoff Points amongst defenceman- 4th(1985), 4th(1987), 10th(1988), 3rd(1989)

Biography
Mark Howe began his pro career in the WHA with the Houston Aeros. He would remain there for four seasons before moving onto the Hartford Whalers. During his time in the WHA, he would get to play on a line with his father and brother- a highlight in his career.

Mark Howe would truly star in the WHA, and was considered one of it's best players. When the WHA folded into the NHL, he would be protected and kept on the Whalers team. Early in his NHL career, however, he would suffer one of the worst injuries in hockey history- he would impale himself on a goal post, no longeru sed due to the injury. The injury was very serious, and narrowly missed his spine which would have likely caused him to never play again.

He would fortunately recover however, and spend three seasons in Hartford before moving to Philadelphia Flyers in a blockbuster trade as a defenceman. It would be here where he would truly shine, becoming one of the league's best defenceman of the 80s, coming runner-up for the norris three times an a deep era for defenceman. His skills were very important to the Flyers team, who would twice make the cup finals with Howe and be defeated by the Oilers dynasty.

After a great time in the 80s, Howe's play would trail off due to injury. He would leave the Flyers in 1992 and sign with Detroit, solidifying a blueline, and play for another 3 seasons that were hampered by injury. He would retire in 1995, after a tremendous career in both the NHL and WHA.

A video highlighting Mark Howe in the WHA:

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Harvey "Busher" Jackson​

Big, fast, aggressive, and a great goalscorer - Jackson is the perfect fit to take take Ted Lindsay's place on the Production Line.

-Ranked 55 on the THN Top 100 list
-Ranked 89 on the HOH Top 100 list
-Stanley Cup in 1932
-Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1971

Jackson was a great rusher, with good size and a pure ability to score goals. He was famous for his backhand, which was lethal as he darted across the ice from the left side. With his physique and natural talent, Jackson avoided serious injuries even though he had a driving, entertaining style of play.

At 18, Jackson was the youngest player in the league, but he was brash and confident. In his first game - against the Montreal Canadiens at the Mutual Street Arena - he knocked down his idol, Howie Morenz. From the ice, Morenz offered his opinion of the awestruck newcomer: "You'll do."

Awards:

-Art Ross Trophy (1932)
-First All-Star Team Left Wing (1932, 1934, 1935, 1937)
-Second All-Star Team Left Wing (1933)

Stats:

-5 Times Top 7 in Points (1, 2, 5, 5, 7)
-5 Times Top 6, 6 Times Top 10 in Goals (2, 3, 3, 4, 6, 10)
-3 Times Top 10 in Assists (3, 9, 10)
-8th in Penalty Minutes in 1931

He (Joliat) picked an all star team (at the request of W.A. Howard, a writer for Canadian National Magazine) confined to players who played against him during his 16 years as a professional. He puts Benedict or Gardiner in goal; Shore and Noble on defense; Nighbor at centre; with Cook and Jackson on the wings. It's a well balanced unit. -

 

[Nalyd Psycho]

D-Jacques Laperriere

6 time Stanley Cup Champion ('65, '66, '68, '69, '71, & '73)
1 time Norris Trophy winner ('66)
1 time Calder Trophy winner ('64)
2 time First Team All-Star ('65 & '66)
2 time Second Team All-Star ('64 & '70)
1 time +/- leader ('73)
The only player to lead the league in +/- by beating Bobby Orr.​

For Jacques Laperriere as with many great, naturally talented players the game came easy. This was the essence of Laperriere’s greatness; he made the difficult look simple, executed the complicated with ease, all the while making it look effortless.

During his rookie season, Laperriere was constantly tested by the other players in the league. Laperriere was unflappable, possessing a rare poise, he showed like his idol Harvey, an ability to control the game in his own end. His calmness in the face of the opposing attackers also enabled him to consistently move the puck with sharp, crisp passes to the forwards, keying the Canadiens famous offensive attack.

Laperriere’s stoicism on the ice was disconcerting to many opposing players. He was never intimidated and was infrequently penalized. One of the league’s best shot blockers, his unusually long reach allowed him to use the poke check extensively in his own end. His long and lanky frame (6’2 and 190 pounds) masked a devastating body checker, one that didn’t shy away from the physical play that was a staple of league at the time.

Laperriere would pick his offensive spots carefully, and would rarely rush the puck. He possessed a hard, accurate, and low point shot that allowed his forwards untold scoring chances through deflections and rebounds.

Source

Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing in at 190 pounds, “Lappy†was one of the bigger men in the league. He could mix it up if need be but preferred not to. Unlike most players of his size, Laperrière chose brains over brawn, an approach that served him well throughout his career.

Never a high scoring offensive performer, Laperrière used his ability to anticipate the play to great advantage, usually defusing potential threats before they could materialize. With long arms even for a man of his height, Laperrière had an incredible reach, which he used to break up oncoming attacks without having to lay the body.

Laperrière’s stay-at-home style played a major role in half a dozen Stanley Cup Championships in the 1960s and 1970s. His accurate passing was essential to the team’s lightning-fast ability to turn the game around and counter-attack.

Source

It was obvious right from the start of his career with Les Habitants that he would be a key part of some great Habs teams. He was the classic pre-Bobby Orr offensive defenseman, anchoring the offense like a football quarterback, preferring to make incredible passes than rushing it himself.

No doubt Laperriere was tough. He had some terrible injuries he had to overcome during his playing days, for some reason usually in the playoffs. He suffered a broken leg in the 1965 semi finals, the year he won his only Norris trophy as the league's best defensemen. He played with a broken wrist while winning the 1971 Stanley Cup. In 1973, another Cup-winning year, he played 10 post season games with an odd helmet-face mask contraption to protect a broken nose.

Source
*Addenum: The year he played with a broken wrist was amazingly his most offensively productive playoffs with 13 points in 20 games.

A tall and mobile defenseman, Jacques Laperriere was a key component of the Montreal Canadiens' success during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Standing 6'2" and possessing an enormous reach, the lanky defender was a consistent impediment to opposing forwards. His poise and ability to move the puck forward after breaking up the play was crucial to the Habs' outstanding transition game. Many opposing skaters became annoyed with Laperriere's persistence, but he was rarely coaxed into taking a bad penalty and was never intimidated.

Through the remainder of his career, Laperriere's style was constant, as were his numbers. He never scored more than seven goals and registered between 30 and 40 points five times between 1963-64 and 1969-70. His poise and reliability were key components in Stanley Cup triumphs in 1965, 1966, 1968 and 1969. Following the 1965-66 season, he was presented the James Norris Trophy and was an NHL First Team All-Star after both the 1964-65 and 1965-66 seasons and a Second Team selection at the end of the 1969-70 schedule.

Source

 

[DoMakc]

Yvan Cournoyer

Accomplishments:

9x Stanley Cup (1965-66, 1968-69, 1971, 1973, 1976-78)
Conn Smythe Trophy (1973)
4x NHL 2nd All-Star Team (1969, 1971-73)
6x Top 10 in Goals (1967 (7), 1969(6), 1971 (8), 1972(4), 1973 (9), 1974 (7))
6x Top 10 in Goals (playoffs) (1968 (7), 1969(10), 1971 (3), 1973 (1), 1974 (9), 1978 (5))
Top 10 in Assists (playoffs) (1973 (6))
#98 on THN list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players


Quotes:

Yvan Cournoyer circumvented concern over his size by combining blazing speed and superb stickhandling into a Hall of Fame career that saw him collect ten Stanley Cup championships.

For those who got to witness Yvan Cournoyer apply his trade live and in person knew they were seeing something special. One of the best skaters and stickhandlers ever to grace a sheet of ice, Cournoyer played with an affection for the game of hockey that was as obvious as it was rarely matched.
[...]
Despite his small size physically, Cournoyer was one of the strongest and most uncatchable skaters of all time.
[...]
Yvan was not only fast but was also an impressive stickhandler, and had a booming slap shot that was deadly accurate. Yvan was actually a pretty tough player and was never intimidated by bigger stronger players.
"I was never the kind of guy who was going to hit first. But if a guy dropped his gloves I didn't back down."
[...]
Yvan was a great leader and would be the Canadiens captain during their glory years of the late seventies. He wasn't a vocal leader but he let his on ice performance do the talking.

Fans who remember the 1960s and 1970s will never forget Yvan Cournoyer. With legs pumping like pistons, he blazed his way through a 16-year NHL career epitomizing the skill, grace and firepower that symbolized the Flying Frenchmen.
[...]
Opponents couldn’t hit what they couldn’t catch and Cournoyer was untouchable. Turning on a dime at full throttle without losing speed or control of the puck, Cournoyer defied the laws of physics night after night. By filling nets around the league with rubber, Cournoyer carved out a place for himself among the most celebrated Canadiens of all time.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Albert Charles “Babe” Siebert ​

Started his career as a defenseman, became a two-way powerforward, then finished his career as a star all-round defenseman.

-Stanley Cups in 1926, 1933
-1936, 1937, 1938 First Team All-Star defenseman
-Hart Trophy winner in 1937
-3rd in Hart voting in 1938
-1st in scoring by defensemen in 1937.
-8th in Assists among all skaters (as a defenseman) in 1937.
-Captain of the Montreal Canadiens from 1936-1939
-Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1964

Siebert was one of those few players who could do it all - excelling both as a power forward and an all star defenseman. You don't see that any longer! He was as strong as an ox, making him nearly impossible to stop. In addition he added very good skating abilities with good straight-ahead speed. He was very responsible defensively and though he never had the scoring exploits of his famous "S" Line teammates, he was an underrated shooter and a skillful playmaker.

As a forward:

Siebert was equally well known for his rushing, his sheer physical strength and his relentless backchecking to get the team possession of the puck.

Siebert was the digger, using his physical strength to spring pucks from opponents in the corners, then backchecking relentlessly in order to lug the puck back into the opposing end.

As a defenseman:

. His speed was gone, so XXX wisely put him back on defense, where he was just as effective as ever. In his first year with the Canadiens, he won the Hart Trophy.

 

[DoMakc]

William Charles Barber

Accomplishments:

2x Stanley Cup (1974-75)
NHL 1st All-Star Team (1976)
2x NHL 2nd All-Star Team (1979, 1981)
2x Top 10 in Goals (1976 (5), 1978 (7))
Top 10 in Assists (1976 (9))
5x Top 10 in Goals (Playoffs) (1975 (7), 1976 (5), 1978 (5), 1980 (1), 1981 (4))
Top 10 in Assists (Playoffs) (1975 (5))

Quotes:

Bill Barber's sheer physical strength was one of his most important attributes.

A center throughout junior, Flyers legendary coach Fred Shero utilized his speed and skill as a left winger alongside Hall of Famer Bobby Clarke. Barber would go on to record 420 goals, along with 53 more in the playoffs. He was a key member of the two Stanley Cup championship Flyers teams in 1974 and 1975. He was selected as a first team All-Star once and a second team All-Star twice. Once he scored 50 goals, 5 times he scored over 40 and 9 times he scored 30 goals!

I can't think of a winger in the NHL who was a better all around hockey player

He skated up and down the ice with the reliability of a metronome, and by dedicating his NHL career to blending in, he stood out. He had the soul of a grinder, but the talent of a an artist."

As soon as Bill stepped out on the ice you knew he was a hockey player and was going to better than the most others. He had the same sort of class and finesse with the puck - and the hockey brains - that Bathgate had. And when some of the other teams started to challenge Bill, he fought back and fought back well.

 

[EagleBelfour]

With our fourth selection, the 106th overall in this year All-Time Draft, the Detroit Falcons are very happy to select Robert Scott Niedermayer

Nickname: Norm
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 200 lbs
Position: Defense
Shoots: Left
Date of Birth: August 31, 1973
Place of Birth: Edmonton , Alberta, Canada

Stanley Cup Champion (1995, 2000, 2003, 2007)
Stanley Cup Finalist (2001)
First All-Star Team Defenseman (2004, 2006, 2007)
Second All-Star Team Defenseman (1998)
Played in NHL All Star Game (1998, 2001, 2004, 2008, 2009)
James Norris Memorial Trophy (2004)
Conn Smythe Trophy (2007)
Olympic Participant (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010)
Olympic Gold Medalist (2002)
Olympic Team Captain (2010)
World Championship Gold Medalist (2004)
Team Captain (2004; 2008-2010)

Top-10 Scoring Among defenseman(1st, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 6th)
Top-10 Goalscoring among defenseman (7th, 8th, 8th)
Top-10 Assist among defenseman (1st, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 4th)
Top-10 +/- among defenseman (5th)
Top-10 Playoff Scoring (1st)
Top-10 Playoff Assist (1st)
Top-10 Playoff +/- (2nd)
Top-10 Playoff Scoring among defenseman (1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th)
Top-10 Playoff Goalscoring among defenseman (1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th)
Top-10 Playoff Assist among defenseman (1st, 3rd, 3rd, 8th, 9th, 10th)
Top-10 Playoff +/- among defenseman (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th)

Top-10 Hart Nomination (7th, 8th, 9th)
Top-10 James Norris Nomination (1st, 2nd, 2nd, 5th)


- He's the brother of Rob
- As a teen, his idol was Paul Coffey
- In 1992, with the Kamloops Blazers, Niedermayer won a Memorial Cup while capturing the Stafford Smyth Memorial Trophy as the tournament MVP
- Niedermayer represented Canada at the 1991 and 1992 World Junior Championships where he was named to the All-Star Team on both occasion
- Was drafted by the New Jersey Devils 3rd overall in 1991
- Niedermayer was named on the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1993
- Played in the 1996 World Cup Championship

A four-time Stanley Cup winner in 1995, 2000, 2003, and 2007 Niedermayer is a strong puck carrying defenceman who is one of the league's best skaters and is blessed with outstanding speed and offensive instincts.

More recently, Scott Niedermayer of the New Jersey Devils has added a few other touches to the role of defense-as-offense. He has been less flamboyant than Leetch and more defense-oriented than Orr. But none of the above were able to match Niedermayer when it came to the art of pokecheking. Scott's ability to relieve opponents of the puck with a deft slice of his stick was without equal in the NHL. Because Niedermayer did it unobtrusively, this important aspect of his game went unnoticed.

Although he had the physical ability to be a dominant force as a defenseman, bring paired with the likes of Scott Stevens and XXX XXXXXXX allowed him to skate fluidly as an offensive-minded defender, sometimes jumping into rushes commandingly.

Sites:
http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=11191
http://www.sihrhockey.org/member_player_sheet.cfm?player_id=2787&CFID=1956941&CFTOKEN=32966801
http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-hockey/athletes/scott-niedermayer_ath1022754dh.html

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

We are very pleased to draft the 2nd best goalie to play the game prior to 1940, and someone who I consider to be every bit as good as Parent, Brimsek, or Bower.

A man who was elite in the regular season, and even better in the playoffs:

Charlie "The Roving Scotsman" Gardiner, G​

-only goaltender to captain his team to a Cup win
-charter member of the Hall of Fame in 1945

-Ranked 76 on the THN Top 100 list
-Ranked 91 on the History of Hockey Top 100 list

End of the year all-star teams only existed for his final 4 seasons
-First Team All-Star 3 times (1931, 1932, 1934)
-Second Team All-Star 1 time (1933)

-Vezina winner (= modern Jennings) in 1932, 1934
-Stanley Cup in 1934 (backstopping perhaps the weakest team ever to win the Cup)

-Regular season career GAA: 2.02
-Playoff career GAA: 1.43 (a drop of 30%)
-Twice led the league in shutouts

-Durability: He only missed 4 games in his 7 year career

Nicknamed "The Roving Scotsman" because
-he was born in Scotland - making him the first European-born captain to win the Stanley Cup
-he would leave his net to break up plays

Charlie Gardiner was Chicago's first hockey superstar. He led them to the top of the league and eventually their first Stanley Cup in 1934 and put hockey on the map in the Windy City.
...
As a sophomore Gardiner lost a league high 29 games despite a 1.93 GAA. The Hawks won only 7 games. But Gardiner continued to play with unbreakable spirit, and earning high praise despite the statistics. The great Howie Morenz once claimed "Bonnie Prince Charlie" was the toughest goalie to score upon.
The Hawks continued to struggle as the 1930s progressed, but Gardiner emerged to become what many people feel was the best goalie of his day. He posted 42 shutouts and 2.02 GAA in 7 seasons. He won the Vezina Trophy in 1932 and 1934 and was named to 4 All Star Teams. He played with a team that offered very little offensive support (the whole team scored only 33 goals in 44 games in 1928-29). But Gardiner's play, much like that of Dominik Hasek years later with Buffalo, made the team a contender to reckon with.

He (Joliat) picked an all star team (at the request of W.A. Howard, a writer for Canadian National Magazine) confined to players who played against him during his 16 years as a professional. He puts Benedict or Gardiner in goal; Shore and Noble on defense; Nighbor at centre; with Cook and Jackson on the wings. It's a well balanced unit. -

Heroic performance in his final playoffs:

Gardiner's finest moment came in the 1934 playoffs, as "Smiling Charlie" advanced the Hawks to the Stanley Cup Finals against Detroit. This despite the fact that Gardiner was feeling quite ill at the time. Unbeknownst to him or his doctors, Gardiner had long suffered from a chronic tonsil infection. The disease had spread and had begun to cause uremia convulsions. Undaunted, Gardiner pressed on as winning the Stanley Cup had become an obsession with him. Though playing in body-numbing pain, the Hawks prevailed over the Wings. He permitted only 12 goals in 8 playoff games - a 1.50 GAA.

A well liked and jovial fellow, Gardiner served as the Blackhawks captain, a rarity for a goalie even when it was allowed. Before the decisive 4th game, the "Roving Scotsman" showed his leadership and reportedly told his teammates that they would only need to score one goal that night. Sure enough, the game had gone into double overtime at a 0-0 tie. Suffering from growing fatigue, Gardiner was weakening considerably as the game went on. But he managed to hold the Red Wings scoreless until Chicago's XXX finally scored.

The Hawks hoisted their first Stanley Cup, but Gardiner, the only goalie to captain a Cup champion, was just as happy he could escape the ice and collapse in the dressing room. A few weeks later Gardiner underwent brain surgery after suffering a massive brain hemorrhage. Unfortunately complications from the surgery would cost him his life on June 13, 1934.

 

[chaosrevolver]

D - Alexander Ragulin (1962-1974)

Alexander Ragulin was the tower of strength on the Soviet squads in the 1960's and early 70's. There is no question he is one of the all time greats of Russian hockey. There is also no question that if he were allowed to, he could have stepped into the NHL and been a star, even in the old 6 team league before 1967.

"Sasha" was a very large man at 6'1" and a very solid 225Ibs. He used his size to full advantage, patrolling the blue line with selective physicality. Ragulin was the perfect defenseman for the NHL. He was big and very strong, as well as very good at moving out opposing forwards from the slot. When Ragulin put that "bear hug" around a player there wasn't much anybody could do about it.

He had excellent positional play, and great puck movement out of the zone. Offensively he had a heavy shot but, as a throw back even in Soviet hockey, it was primarily his defensive play that was his strength.

"Aleksander Ragulin personified the Russian bear," said IIHF President René Fasel. "He was the kind of player that no forward really wanted to confront in the corner or in front of the Soviet net. Ragulin was probably the most dominating international defenseman in the 60s. We are all saddened by his premature death."

Accomplishments
* World Champion (1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973)
* Olympic Gold Medalist (1964, 1968, 1972)
* WC Best Defenseman (1966)
* WC All-Star (1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967)​

 

[chaosrevolver]

D - Allan Stanley (1946-1969)

He was often teamed with Tim Horton, another big veteran who knew a lot about positional play, and was a large part of the league's, and perhaps history's, best defensive unit with Carl Brewer, XXXXXX and XXXXX. Stanley also used his veteran savvy in the offensive zone and was placed on the Leafs' powerplay because of his accurate passes.

Allan Stanley ranks as one of the greatest defensemen to ever wear Maple Leaf blue and white. Stanley became a bit of an offensive presence in the era before Bobby Orr redefined a defenseman's offensive role. Stanley was a pinpoint passer and as a result he often saw time on the Leafs' power play units. Stanley was a superstar - He was a solid defensive blueliner who eventually would become outstanding en route to a Hall of Fame career. Toronto fans were very appreciative of Stanley's textbook defense and subtle majesty. Allan has to rank as one of the greatest defensive back liners in the history of the NHL, and it was eventually duly noted while he played. He is not your typical superstar, but a definite important star that every team needs.

Awards & Achievements
* Stanley Cup (1962, 1963, 1964, 1967)
* Second All-Star Team Defense (1960, 1961, 1966)
* New York Rangers Captain (1951, 1952, 1953)
* 0.35 PPG in RS and 0.39 PPG in Playoffs​

 

[chaosrevolver]

G - Billy Smith (1971-1989)

Goalie Billy Smith battled just about everything and everyone during his long and glorious National Hockey League career. He fought opposing players, using his stick like a scythe to rid his crease of encroaching forwards; he fought the media with his bold tirades; and he occasionally took on his own teammates and coaches, challenging them to raise their performance to match his own. Most of all, though, Battling Billy fought the puck he hated and attempted to keep away, especially when the Stanley Cup was on the line. Combative and competitive, Smith was one of the best of his era, winning the Stanley Cup four consecutive times with the New York Islanders at the beginning of the 1980s. Aside from his reputation as a clutch performer, Smith is also remembered for scoring the first goal by a netminder, though he had little to do with actually putting the puck in the opponent's net.

Perhaps the best clutch goaltender of all time, Battlin' Billy Smith was a major reason for 4 consecutive Stanley Cup championships on Long Island with the N.Y. Islanders. More importantly than numbers, Smith is considered to be one of the NHL's greatest playoff goaltenders of all time. Smith twice posted 15 post season wins and recorded a stingy 2.73 goals against average and five shutouts in 132 NHL playoff games. For 5 straight playoffs he led the entire NHL in appearances and wins, and three of those years he led in shutouts and GAA.

Awards & Accomplishments​

​

* Stanley Cup (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983)
* Conn Smythe Trophy (1983)
* First All-Star Team Goalie (1982)
* Vezina Trophy (1982)
* William Jennings Trophy (1983)​

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

The Swamp Devils are thrilled to add a two-way blue liner who can play big minutes in all situations. He's a right handed shot with a big slapshot that will help tremendously on the powerplay.

The master of the open-ice butt check:

D Rob Blake

Norris record: 1, 3, 3, 4, 5, 8

Compare to:
Zdeno Chara: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7

Scott Niedermayer: 1, 2, 2, 5, 10, 10, 12

Very close. Blake does have more top 5s.

Rob Blake is part of a dying breed. Many defensemen these days seem to have just one good quality. Whether it's speed, or a big point shot, or a crushing hip check, most defensemen specialize in just one aspect of their game, and their teammates must compensate for their weaknesses. Rob Blake is one of those rare, multi-talented blueliners that not only dominates in sheer size and hitting ability, but can put a big blast on net and still keep up with the quick-footed youngsters so many years his junior.

http://www.milehighhockey.com/2009/3/30/815026/top-avs-of-all-time-6-rob

...being named a Hobey Baker Award finalist, and getting called up to the Kings for the last four games of the regular season to experience a taste of NHL life. The following season, he made the team with an outstanding performance in training camp and became the team's number one defenseman.

Blake was thrilled to be joining an L.A. team that featured Wayne Gretzky. An offensive defenseman who was equally adept in his own end, Blake cherished the opportunity to join the rush when Gretzky had the puck, and in his first year he had 12 goals and 46 points from the blue line. Gretzky took to Blake immediately, and likened him to a young Paul Coffey due to his offensive talent and his superb shot, which became an integral part of the Los Angeles powerplay that Gretzky orchestrated.
...
An early highlight of Blake's career came during the 1993 playoffs when the team, led by Gretzky, made it to the Stanley Cup finals. Along the way they beat Calgary and Vancouver and then eliminated Toronto in game seven at Maple Leaf Gardens. But in the finals Blake and the Kings faced a Montreal team that had won 10 overtime games in these playoffs, and the Kings lost in six games. Blake had 10 points that spring and anchored a defense that was virtually impenetrable until that Habs series.
...
After parts of 12 seasons with the Kings, Blake was acquired by the Colorado Avalanche in the latter stages of the 2000-01 season. Upon his arrival with the Avs, Blake was instrumental in leading the Avs to the 2001 Stanley Cup title.

- 6’4” 225 lbs
- right handed shot

- NHL First All-Star Team in 1998.
- NHL Second All-Star Team in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
- James Norris Memorial Trophy in 1998
- Stanley Cup in 2001.

- 747 points in 1200 regular season games (as of 08/09)
- 71 points in 131 playoff games
- 19 points in 23 playoff games in 2001 (won Stanley Cup).
- Represented Canada in the Olympics in 1998, 2002, 2006
- named best defenseman in the Olympics in 1998
- Olympic gold medal in 2002

 

[EagleBelfour]

With our 5th selection, the 166th overall in this year All-Time Draft, the Detroit Falcons are extremely please to select Monsieur Murray Albert Olmstead

Nickname: Bert, Dirty Bertie
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 180 lbs
Position: Left Wing
Shoots: Left
Date of Birth: September 04, 1926
Place of Birth: Sceptre , Saskatchewan, Canada

Stanley Cup Champion (1953, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1962)
Stanley Cup Finalist (1951, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1959, 1960)
Second All-Star Team Centre (1953, 1956)
Played in NHL All Star Game (1953, 1956, 1957, 1959)
Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (1985)

Top-10 Scoring (4th, 5th, 7th, 9th)
Top-10 Assist (1st, 1st, 2nd, 9th)
Top-10 Penalty minutes (7th)
Top-10 Playoff Scoring (2nd, 5th, 6th 9th)
Top-10 Playoff Goalscoring (4th, 6th, 7th, 10th)
Top-10 Playoff Assist (1st, 1st, 5th, 6th)
Top-10 Playoff Penalty minutes (5th, 5th, 6th)
Calder Nomination (3rd)
Top-10 Hart Nomination (5th, 6th)

- In 1949-50, he was put together on a line with XXXXX XXXXXXX and Bep Guidolin. They were dubbed the "Boilermaker Line"
- Olmstead was traded to Detroit by Chicago with XXX XXXXXXX for Lee Fogolin Sr. and Stephen Black on December 2nd, 1950
- Eight days later, he was traded to Montreal by Detroit for Leo Gravelle
- Bert Olmstead set an NHL record for most assists in a season with 56 in 1955-1956, a record that wasn't broken until Jean Beliveau collected 61 five years later
- He scored eight points in a game, tying a league record
- Olmstead was claimed by Toronto from Montreal in Intra-League Draft om June 3rd, 1958
- In Toronto, XXXXX XXXXXX named Olmstead his assistant and he was the one running the practices
- He was claimed by NY Rangers from Toronto in Intra-League Draft, June 4th, 1962. He refused to report, although the Montreal Canadiens promessed him to trade for him in the first month
- Olmstead played in the Stanley Cup final in 11 of his 14 seasons in the NHL
- In the 1967–68 season, Olmstead served as coach of the expansion Oakland Seals

For much of his time in Montreal he played on the number one line. Initially this meant playing with Elmer Lach and Maurice Richard, succeeding the retired Toe Blake on the famed scoring line. Later he was on the left wing with Jean Beliveau and Boom Boom Geoffrion, and, surprisingly, it was his more famous linemates who claimed Bert was the key to the combination.

but most of all he was known for his leadership qualities, for getting the most out of his teammates and inspiring those around him to play better.

In Toronto, his career was rejuvenated and his experience proved a catalyst to the team's improved fortunes as the 1950s became the 1960s.

The team made it to the finals in 1960 and two years later won the Stanley Cup, in large measure because of Olmstead's role on the team and despite his having missed two months of the season with a badly broken shoulder.

During his playing days Bert Olmstead had a reputation of being a ferocious, antagonistic checker. Today he would classified as a top power forward. "Dirty Bertie" wasn't a natural, and because of that he had to work harder than most players. He wasn't the most fluid skater around but he made up his lack of talent by an enormous will to win. He even got upset during exhibition games if there was a lack of commitment from his teammates.

He would often play on a line with Jean Beliveau and Boom Boom Geoffrion, both of whom heaped tons of praise on their left winger.He was a 2nd team All-Star left winger in 1953 and 19 56. He also led the league in assists both in 1955 and 19 56. Bert had a career high 70 points in 1955-56 and was an important part of four Cup winning seasons in Montreal.

Bert Olmstead won a total of five Cups and could always be counted on to work hard shift after shift.

Olmstead was a bashing kind of player who dove into the corners with zing. But he was also a perfectionist.

You could expect a war if you were to follow Olmstead into the corners ... in the form of a butt-end, an elbow or a swat in the mouth. Although lacking the finesse of the Béliveaus and Bathgates, Olmstead was a pass-master and had excellent scoring instincts.

Without Olmstead, Toronto may not have won their first of three succesive Cups in 1961-62. He provided great leadership and, for a time, acted as assistant coach to XXXXX XXXXXX. Olmstead commanded so much respect in the Toronto dressing room than even crazy XXXXX XXXXX listened up.

Olmstead forged his Hall of Famer career with a combination of talent, belligerence and leadership, along with the ability to bring out the best in the players around him.

Olmstead was a hard hitting type of player who went into the corners with determination and did not yield the puck without a battle. He was a leader and his spirit rubbed off on the other players.

-''I grew up on a farm and I learned early how to work hard.'' - Bert Olmstead

-''He didn't stand any nonsense from us. Bert was about hte best left wing I ever saw when it came to fighting for possesion of the puck. And if I was where he wanted me, parked in front of the net, his pass would be perfect. Playing with Bert, I always felt that he got the best out of me, that he made me do smarter things than I would of done myself.'' - Jean Béliveau

-''He's the best mucker in the league. By mucker I mean that he's the best man in the corners. He goes in there and digs the puck out for you.'' - Kenny Reardon

-''Ollmstead could hammer an opponene senseless, and seconds later chew you out on the bench because you were three inches out of position'' - Jean Béliveau

-''The last game I played for Montreal I won the Cup and the last game I played with Toronto I won the Cup. So there you go!'' - Bert Olmstead


Sites:
http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=P198502#photo
http://www.sihrhockey.org/member_player_sheet.cfm?player_id=2861&mode=2
http://habslegends.blogspot.com/2008/03/bert-olmstead.html
http://www.hhof.com/LegendsOfHockey/html/spot_pinnaclep198502.htm

 

[seventieslord]

Stan Mikita, C

- 5'9", 169 lbs
- Member of the HHOF
- Stanley Cup (1961)
- Stanley Cup Finalist (1962, 1965, 1968, 1971, 1973)
- Art Ross Trophy (1964, 1965, 1967, 1968).
- Retro Conn Smythe Trophy (1962)
- Hart Trophy (1967, 1968)
- Top-7 in Hart Voting 7 Times (1st, 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th)
- NHL 1st All-Star Team (1962, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968)
- NHL 2nd All-Star Team (1965, 1970)
- Also finished 4th, 5th, 5th, 6th, 6th in All- Star Voting
- Retro Selke Awarded by Ultimate Hockey (1968, 1971)
- Top-20 in Goals 10 Times (2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 12th, 15th, 16th)
- Top-20 in Assists 14 Times (1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 11th, 13th, 15th, 20th)
- Top-20 in Points 14 Times (1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 3rd, 4th, 12th, 15th, 15th, 15th, 17th)
- Top-10 in Playoff Goals 7 Times (1st, 4th, 6th, 6th, 7th, 7th, 8th)
- Top-10 in Playoff Assists 7 Times (1st, 4th, 4th, 5th, 5th, 5th, 8th)
- Top-10 in Playoff Points 8 Times (1st, 4th, 4th, 6th, 6th, 6th, 8th, 8th)
- Career adjusted +136 post expansion (covers just age 27 to 39)

One of the most clever and successful forwards in league history, Stan "Stosh" Mikita won awards in numbers not seen again until Wayne Gretzky arrived in the NHL. A slick playmaker with a gifted scoring touch, Mikita had a career that spanned four decades, from the late 1950s until 1980. His longevity and consistency were nearly as impressive as his raw talent and left him near the top of a number of NHL categories when he retired after 22 seasons.

During his sophomore season in 1960-61, he more than doubled his point total to 53. In the post-season, he led all goal scorers with six and was a key reason behind the franchise's first Stanley Cup win since 1938.

By 1961-62, Mikita was in the upper echelon of NHL skaters... That year he scored 77 points and was voted onto the NHL First All-Star Team. Although the Hawks failed to repeat as Cup champs when Toronto beat them in the finals, Mikita enjoyed an outstanding post-season with 21 points in 12 games... The scoring exploits of Stosh reached new heights in 1966-67, when he won the Art Ross Trophy after scoring a personal best of 97 points. In addition, he was presented the Hart and Lady Byng trophies. The latter of these two awards is of interest since it was the culmination of a dramatic change in Mikita's style of play.

During his first seven NHL seasons, he was considered a "chippy" player. Mikita's habit of winding up in the penalty box frustrated his coaches, who preferred to see his immense talent remain on the ice. He recorded more than 100 penalty minutes four times and seemed far from ever winning the Lady Byng Trophy. But after his daughter questioned his style of play, Mikita vowed to clean up his act and did just that by registering only six minor penalties in 1966-67. Consequently, he became the first player in NHL history to win the Art Ross, Hart and Lady Byng trophies in the same season.

Mikita's contribution to the Hawks and the betterment of hockey in the United States was recognized when he received the Lester Patrick Trophy in 1976. Mikita continued to work hard on behalf of the Hawks and served as interim captain twice before retiring in 1979-80.

The skillful forward left the NHL as one of most popular stars and all-time leading scorers with 541 goals and nearly 1,500 points.

The little boy approached the two men in the restaurant. "May I have your autograph, Mr. Hull?" he asked the blond one sheepishly. "Certainly," said Bobby. "Why don't you ask Stan Mikita for his, too?"

Such is the case of Stan Mikita. He is always in the shadow of the Black Hawks number one hero - Bobby Hull. How a player of Mikita's ability could possibly play second fiddle to anyone is a mystery to many knowledgeable hockey men.

"He's one of the best all-around hockey players I've seen in my life," said Jim Gregory, general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. "It is just his misfortune that two superstars on the same team cannot share the popularity equally. One is always the darling of the fans while the other works hard for the slightest applause."

Working hard is something Mikita has known all his life. Although he possesses a world of hockey talent, he has found that he must work extra hard to keep his talents at top level.

"Some athletes are so great they don't have to practice," said Mikita. "Bobby Hull is one of them. He is so good everything comes natural to him. I have to work hard and practice hard. It's not so simple."

When Stan came to the Black Hawks from the St. Catherines Juniors at the beginning of the 1959-60 season, he came with more of a reputation for being a "tough guy," rather than a prolific scorer. Although he was his club's leading scorer in his OHA days, the Hawks looked to him more for his checking and fighting ability rather than his overall shinny prowess.

"I'll never forget my first training camp with the Hawks," Stan recalls. "It seems everyone knew of my reputation and no one passed up a chance to hit me good. I think I learned all about the NHL before I played my first regular game."

...The new Mikita was the toast of the league. "He is now the most dangerous plyaer in the league," stated Bruin general manager Milt Schmidt. "In the past we felt that we could take him off the ice for a while by getting involved in a scrap. But now he avoids trouble and stays on the ice longer."

...Stan Mikita is a rare breed. He is the king in pauper's clothing. He is an opera star in the role of spear carrier. As long as Bobby Hull plays in Chicago, he will have to accept his status. As he says, "what can I do?" Mikita has learned that it is impossible to please all the fans, especially in Chicago. He knows that there is only one person he must please, the toughest critic of all - himself.

Described as hockey's ultimate playmaker, his skill and finesse game was often overlooked by his vicious stick work and aggression. Hall of Fame defenseman Bill Gadsby once described Mikita as "a miserable little pain in the butt. He'd cross-check you, he'd spear you in the belly. You'd be going around the back of the net, and he'd spear you in the calf. Down you'd go."

Despite that reputation, never doubt just how a great of player he was. His coach was understandably a big fan.

"I have to say that I have never seen a better center. Maybe some could do one thing better than Stan, like skating faster or shooting harder. But none of them could do all the things that a center has to do as well as Stan does. And very few of them came close to being as smart as he is. He's about the brightest hockey player I've ever seen. He's a hard nosed hockey player. One of his biggest assets is that he has got a lot of pride."

a complete player on the ice, a team leader, and multiple award winner for his playing accomplishments. Often overshadowed by his more flamboyant, goal scoring teammate Bobby Hull, Mikita was nonetheless known for his outstanding abilities as a scorer, stickhandler, and passer, as well as on defense.

Years ago, Mikita's teammate Glenn Hall once gave his impression of Mikita explaining that he was so talented that he could change his mind in mid-stride while skating or shooting, which drove goalies crazy, thinking they had him figured.

Stan had become a marvelous skater, a master with the stick, an ingenious playmaker who could put the puck on a teammate's stick in just the right place at just the right time, and an accurate shooter who could score with any kind of shot from any place through any six-inch gap the goalie would give him. He was perhaps the smartest center of all-time and soon became captain of the Blackhawks.

The younger wing men are encouraged by Mikita. "Keep your stick on the ice and skate like hell. I'll get the puck to you.", he counsels. And that's usually what happens.

Undeniably, the Hawks' triumph was the result of team effort, but just as surely Mikita was the key man in the march to the top. If lesser players like **** and ****** contributed their share by playing all out, Mikita contributed more than his fair share because along with his unsurpassed will to win went greater talent. In the final analysis, much can be done with desire, but nothing can beat the combination of both the will to win and exceptional ability. It was the Hawks' good fortune that Mikita possessed both qualities in great abundance and combined them as never before in the year of final achievement of the long elusive goal.

Mikita had shaken the puck loose from a Canadien along the boards in Hawk territory, then had charged up ice until two Montreal defensemen double-teamed him. He spun out of their grasp, picked up the loose puck again and wove back and forth across Canadien territory as Montreal's finest helplessly watched. The crowd jumped to their feet, roaring their appreciation of the way Mikita had killed off the last 30 seconds of a Blackhawk penalty.

In killing the penalty, shooting the impossible goal and making the perfect assist, Mikita demonstrated the balanced offensive and defensive talents that make him one of the greatest players in hockey... "Bobby excites the crowd more but Mikita is the better all-around player," said Bernie Geoffrion...

Mikita admitted to this fierce pride, to a belief in expanding mental as well as physical potential on the ice: "Your mental attitude is the most important thing in this game", he said. "90% of the guys in this league shoot the same, skate the same, stickhandle the same. The only difference is mental attitude. You have to have the desire or you don't do anything. A lot of guys will think "Aw, I don't feel like it, let the other guys do it." That's when they get beaten."

Despite their emphasis on attack, as coach pointed out often, the Scooters were also a superb defensive line, the best on the Hawks. Less goals were scored against the Hawks when they were on the ice than were scored against the other units.

Stan Mikita had great vision and was very smooth on the ice.

Although Mikita never became the hero figure that Hull was, at least one GM said of him, "if I had one man to build a team around, I'd pick Mikita."

Guile and cunning, coupled with remarkable quickness, elevated Mikita to the forefront of centers in the National Hockey League... He displayed an uncanny ability to spot his wings, even if they were behind him, and his perfectly placed passes led to so many goals.

"You simply don't trade players of his caliber", said his GM. "If we haven't won enough in the past, it's because other players have let us down, not Mikita. What more could the man possibly do?"

"Mikita can make a defenseman look like a complete fool", said Rangers rearguard *** *******. "You'll hit him, and when he's falling to the ice, he completes a pass to one of his wingers who's moved behind you."

Apart from his all-world offensive abilities, he was a dilligent and untiring defensive force.

If any player can be described as the guts of a team, Stan Mikita is that man. More than any NHL club, the Hawks were decimated by WHA raids. They lost three quality players that a team could ill afford to lose, unless it possessed a really strong backbone. Which is where Stan Mikita comes in. His combined excellence as a leader and an artistic scorer enabled the Hawks to weather the storm.

I didn't like it when *** ******* took over as GM and wanted me to take a paycut. I'll admit that by the late 70s, my skills weren't what they had been, but I was still playing thirty minutes a game.

Mikita reminded me more of a fox terrier. He was snarling at bloody heels all the time. He couldn't care less about size. He was just plain fearless, that's all.

Howe is apt to hit first and relieve the opponent of the puck, but Mikita is likely to be hit first, and then rebound and capture his prize. "One Sunday," recalled King Clancy, "I saw big ***** **** hit him into the boards as hard as anybody's been hit. Stan still got the puck and passed it out to Bobby Hull for the tying goal."

Unfortunately, the league's record books do not record defensive abilities of forwards. Only the players themselves, through their grapevine, know who does the really hard work - the backchecking and chasing of opponents who have the puck. More often than not, the big scorers are poor backcheckers. They are one-way players whose scoring statistics are often besmirched by the large number of goals scored against them. In the past two years, for example, Howe scored 39 and 44 goals, yet many observers contend that his backchecking ability has diminished over the years. Mikita's more flamboyant and higher-paid teammate, Bobby Hull, is another whose backchecking abilities have often been questioned. Few, if any, could legitimately raise the backchecking question with Mikita. Defensive play has always been on his mind, and his excellent work in holding off the opposition has earned the respect of his foes. "I think the guy who prevents the goals is just as important as the guy who scores them,: says Mikita.

Meet Stan Mikita the agitator:

mikita speared his opponents with crisp, crackling indictments in the article, and he flailed away right to the end. "I'll tell you the real reason why we beat the Canadiens in the semifinals for the second straight year," he said. It was because ********* couldn't keep his head. I needled him into getting stupid penalties, and we scored important goals while he was in the box."

Then he went on: "needling plays a big part in the NHL. In the heat of the game, when the pressure is on, if you talk to an opposing player, find his weak spot, bug him, chances are that he is going to come after you. It works with such players as ***** *****, Carl Brewer, ***** **** and a few others. It certainly worked with *********. I bugged him a few times in the first two games. In the third game he went all out to get me. That was alright with me because we had lost the first two games and needed all the help we could get. In the first period, he got a penalty for charging me and we scored a few seconds later. Then when we faced off in their end, I said to him "Hey Looie, that was a heck of a play you made!" This made him madder and he came charging at me again. He got another penalty. Our powerplay worked for the second time and we led 2-0."

Pinpointing a hardnosed player like ********* in print was courting danger in the most masochistic way, but Mikita seemed unconcerned. "********* is a good hockey player, but he didn't help the Canadiens too much when they played against us. I'd talk to him, needle him a little bit, and the next thing I knew he was charging me all the way across the ice. If he did't get a penalty, he left his position. then I'd pass to *****.

Such statements were merely Stan's introduction. When he got to the meat of the piece, he proved that diplomacy was not in his dictionary. "I guess ********* doesn't like me. Well I don't like him either. But the important thing is not to lose your head in Stanley Cup games, where every game is crucial. I pick my spots. If we're losing by a goal or two, I'll try to put the needle in somebody so that he can get a penalty."

Mikita proceeded to deal with his other enemies. "Needling is an art. There are some players you just can't get excited. These include Andy bathgate, Gordie Howe, Johnny Bucyk, Red Kelly, Dave Keon, and Alex Delvecchio. You can usually accomplish a lot by needling Brewer, but he's smarter than *********."

At first Stan and *** ******* skated tentatively with their new partner. Mikita didn't take as many chances on getting caught down the ice as he had with McDonald. That may have cost him a few scoring opportunities, but it improved his play defensively. Unknown to most, he had become almost obsessive about his defensive record, something most forwards are apt to ignore. He began keeping a book on his goals against total, and took pride in the fact that his total had diminished.

One day he surprised a reporter by pulling out his file and reading figures to him. "Let's take the period from October 20 to November 7. In this span I was on the ice for 20 Chicago goals and had only 8 scored against. During that stretch the club had a 5-4 record. Now here's a real bad page. I was on the ice for 15 Chicago goals, but we had 10 scored against us. The club won 5 and lost 7. Now let's take a look at a real good page. Here I was on the ice for 20 Blackhawk goals, only 8 against. We won 9 and had 2 losses. So you can see the relationship."

A note about Mikita's retro Smythe from 1962:

Stan Mikita-Chicago
Chicago wasted a truly great playoff performance by Mikita. Set a new record for points (21) and assists (15) in a playoff year. Had points in eleven straight playoff games. Had two game winners and set up two other winners, along with scoring a short-handed tally. Was Chicago's best player in six of the twelve games.

A slick little centreman who is respected as one of the best in the league on faceoffs... an effective penalty killer as well as scorer.

It's commonly believed that Mikita's time as a truly great player ended along with the 1960s. However, he was a feared and respected player much longer than that. The World Almanac Guide to Pro Hockey conducted a poll of NHL players in 1974, when Mikita was 34. Here are the categories he did very well in:

BEST PLAYMAKER:
1. Bobby Orr 24 pts
2. Stan Mikita 21 pts
3. Bobby Clarke 12 pts

BEST STICKHANDLER:
1. Stan Mikita 27 pts
2. Bobby Orr 27 pts
3. Gilbert Perreault 24 pts

TEAM LEADER:
1. Bobby Clarke 50 pts
2. Bobby Orr 23 pts
3. Stan Mikita 8 pts

SMARTEST PLAYER:
1. Bobby Orr 29 pts
2. Stan Mikita 20 pts
3. Bobby Clarke 15 pts

BEST ON FACEOFFS:
1. Bobby Clarke 39 pts
2. Stan Mikita 28 pts

STAN MIKITA

Best on faceoffs | 2nd | 1971
Best on faceoffs | 1st | 1974
Best on faceoffs | 2nd | 1976
Best on faceoffs | 3rd | 1979
Best playmaker | 1st | 1974
Best playmaker | 3rd | 1976
Best stickhandler | 1st | 1976
Smartest player | 1st | 1974
Smartest player | 1st | 1976

Marvelous playmaker and deadly shot close to the net... still one of the greatest players in the game...the player with the most unpredictible moves... has an infinite number of ways to get the puck in the net - passing to a free wing, going for a wraparound shot, shifting on a defenseman, taking a slapper or wrist shot - they all work for him... From 10 feet he is murder, the goalie not knowing which impossible way Mikita will try to beat him... A master at taking faceoffs, a crafty stickhandler, and an irresistible skating force, always in motion, always turning, Mikita has the unapproachable skills that are beyond analysis and have kept him on top for so many years... Mikita's secrets have mystified so many players so many times...

Flea-sized center who has endured to carve remarkable career... slippery and shifty with a deadly shot...

Crafty center... still has enthusiasm for game... Also has deadly shot... Third in career points... the un checkable Czech... shifty and hard to catch... tough for his size...

 

[seventieslord]

Boston Globe, November 30th, 1926:

Nighbor at center ice is probably the most effective man in forward-line play. His poke check, either a jab or a sweep, has ruined more combination plays than that of any other player.

 

[seventieslord]

and more...

He was conscientious defensively and became known for a deft pokecheck that swiped the puck from an opponent's stick.

 

[Leafs Forever]

He had all the tools necessary to become a star in the NHL. He not only had the size but he also possessed the best wrist shot in the world at that time. On a couple of occasions his wristshot was clocked at 90 + MPH, which was harder than most players slap shots.-1972summitseries.com

But as soon as he settled down in Motor Town, he came back and showed flashes of his brilliance. Although clearly past his prime he scored 38 and 35 goals the following two seasons (78-79 and 79-80). His 73 and 74 pts was a really good result considering the fact that he was 35-36 years old playing for one of the worst teams in the league. Although not as fast as he used to be he still had that deadly wristshot as well as great touch around the net. As his speed deteriorated he became more and more of a power forward who thrived in the slot. He was hard to move away from the slot in the same fashion as Phil Esposito was and became something of a powerplay specialist.-1972summitseries.com

"He does what Phil Esposito does in the slot – takes up space, gets the puck and snaps shots on goal."-Gordie Howe

That level of intensity made him a success in North America, where he wasn't afraid to mix it up-redwings.nhl.com history page

With our 5th selection, the Toronto St.Pats are proud to select, perhaps the greatest born, raised, and trained Czechoslavakian hockey players ever....


VACLAV NEDOMANSKY!

Awards and Achievements
5 x Czech League Goal Scoring Leader (1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974)
4 x Czech League Point Leader (1967, 1971, 1972, 1974)
3 x World Championship All-Star team (1969, 1970, 1974)
1 x Best Forward of World Championships (1974)
1 x Olympic Silver Medalist (1968)
1 x Olympic Bronze Medalist (1972)

Top 10s
Czech League Points- 3rd(1966), 1st(1967), 2nd(1968), 3rd(1969) 5th(1970), 1st(1971), 1st(1972), 4th(1973), 1st(1974)

Olympic Goals- 3rd (1968), 2nd (1972)

Olympic Points- 9th (1968), 2nd (1972)

Olympic Notes: Nedomansky didn't light it up in the 68 olympics, but did so in the 72 -1 goal behind famed Khlarmov, and beating out every other member of that Soviet team in goals and points, a team featuring Boris Mikhailov, Alexander Maltsev, and Anatoli Firsov (who was past his prime, granted)

*More to come on this bio

 

[nik jr]

and more...

Boston Globe, November 30th, 1926:

it is very easy to find quotes like those.

in almost every game description i read, i found things like "the pick of the forwards was nighbor," "nighbor and boucher starred for ottawa," nighbor did his usual fine work at centre," "nighbor broke up rush after rush of the irish (st pats) and led several dangerous attacks on the irish net."

The game (4-1 Ottawa win over Canadiens) served as a denial to the well-worn belief that Ottawa has a one man team with Frank Nighbor, poke-checking centre, as the king-pin. Nighbor was not in uniform, owing to a severe cold.

a funny quote:

Harry Cameron, the Pembroke boy, who was let go for his bad habit of trying to make a wet county out of a dry one, beat Charlie Querrie's pets (Toronto Arenas) all by himself.

i guess MXD was right about him in (i think) ATD9.


i also found a story about ottawa complaining in 1917 (after nighbor and other stars were assaulted with sticks to the head) that the 1 referee system was inadequate.


funniest thing i found was about in a story about a game between ottawa and some team that i can't remember.
the other team's C had not been able to get by nighbor, so he threw the puck between nighbor's legs and went to get it. the crowd cheered b/c he finally got by nighbor. but the d-men stopped him quickly. i am trying to find that story again.

X was given a big hand when he carried the puck past Frank Nighbor, the famous center ice player, the little fellow pushing the rubber through Nighbor's legs to again obtain possession, but the defense of Boucher and Clancy was more than the Regina boy could overcome.

 

[seventieslord]

Sprague Cleghorn, D

- Member of the HHOF
- 5'10, 190 lbs - one of the largest players of the 1910s
- Stanley Cup (1920, 1921, 1924)
- Stanley Cup Finalist (1925, 1927)
- Hart Trophy Runner-up (1924, 1926)
- Top-10 in his league in goals three times (7th-1915, 8th-1922, 10th-1917)
- Top-10 in his league in assists three times (1st-1915, 3rd-1919, 6th-1917, 9th-1922, 9th-1925)
- Top-10 in his league in points three times (3rd-1915, 8th-1922, 10th-1917)
- Top-8 in points by defensemen every season from 1911-1926, 13 of these 16 times in the top-4 (1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 4th, 4th, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th)
- Top-3 in points by defensemen in playoffs 4 times (across all leagues, including stanley cup play) (2nd-1925, 2nd-1919, 3rd-1924, 3rd-1921)

Originally Posted by loh.net
A remarkably talented and fierce competitor, Sprague Cleghorn was admired, despised and feared during his playing days. Wherever he skated, Cleghorn served as the anchor of his team's defense or occasionally posed an offensive threat as a forward. His on-ice accomplishments and physical style of play made him a virtual archetype of the hard-nosed star of hockey's early days.

The 1911-12 season brought Cleghorn back to his hometown to suit up for the mighty Wanderers. His end-to-end rushes and cantankerous defensive play rapidly endeared him to the Montreal fans. ...Many times Sprague lost his temper and violently punished individuals who took liberties with his sibling, such as star forward Newsy Lalonde, who once checked **** hard and was made to pay for his action.

Cleghorn was a major factor in Ottawa's Stanley Cup triumphs in 1920 and 1921. During the 1920 championship series against the Seattle Metropolitans, he formed an effective backline tandem with fellow star Eddie Gerard. Although Cleghorn spent most of the 1920-21 regular season with the Toronto St. Patricks, he rejoined Ottawa in time to be a part of the squad's Stanley Cup triumph over Vancouver in a hotly contested and often violent championship series.

Cleghorn claimed his third Stanley Cup win in 1923-24 when his playing helped Montreal eliminate Vancouver and Calgary from the Pacific league in the playoffs. Cleghorn served as team captain from 1921 to 1925. The hard-nosed rearguard concluded his NHL career playing with the Boston Bruins until 1928.

Over his 16-year career in the NHA and the NHL, Cleghorn accumulated 169 goals, mostly from the defense position. At the time of his retirement he trailed only Harry Cameron among defenders on the all-time scoring list in the pro leagues. His goal contribution and competitive nature were key components to the success of every team he played on.

As well known as he was for his speculative rushes on offense, Cleghorn was lauded for his play even when he didn't have the puck. Many of the game's top forwards were less inclined to venture near a net guarded by a tough defender. But Cleghorn wasn't a mere bully; he was respected for exceptional defensive play that was considered to be at the same level as such stars as Eddie Gerard and George Boucher.

He was sensational when Ottawa won the cup in 1920... He is one of the greatest but roughest players the game has known...Cleghorn was one of the most aggressive players the game has ever known and to get by him, opponents had to face up to bodychecks, crosschecks, elbows, buttends and fists. His rushing was equally aggressive and whoever might relieve him of the puck would not come by it easily.

a Montreal native and a big, capable leader. he was a product of a rough neighbourhood where everything you got you had to fight for. And he played hockey the same way.

he could score goals at one moment, and at the next send someone off on a stretcher with his stick work.

Despite a capacity for outright savagery, Sprague Cleghorn was one of the finest defenders the game of hockey has ever known... he was able to make effortless transitions between the physical game and whirling rushes.

While Cleghorn was adept with the puck, he was possibly better without it. So harsh was his treatment of opposing forwards that many were scared to hang around the net... Cleghorn was no dime-a-dozen goon.

You might go up to Sprague Cleghorn and jokingly mention that his name sounds like a root fungus. You would do it exactly once, and you would do it never again.

With ***** and the Cleghorns on the team, the fleeter skaters and playmakers could operate with relative impunity - in those days that meant the opposition wouldn't attempt to rearrange your facial features more than once or twice a game.

Sprague Cleghorn was such a mean player that the opposition absolutely hated him... Showed himself to be a fierce competitor... anchored the defense corps that won the cup in 1924...

Many brawls broke out started by Sprague, who seemed to almost have a personal grudge against the opposition... He was certainly loved by hometown fans but very few others.

Cleghorn was the defensive stalwart, paired with either Eddie Gerard or Harry Cameron... the most feared defenseman of the time... in 1927, Cleghorn was coming to the end of his career, but his style of play had not mellowed; he remained one of the most feared men in the league...

Sprague made no bones about it. He'd skate over to the Montreal bench where they kept a big can of talcum powder, sprinkle some of it on his hockey glove, and then run that glove up and down the shaft of his stick. Then he'd glare over at our bench and we knew that he was ready - ready to give one of us the butt end of his stick. We'd begin to wonder which one of us would be nursing cracked or broken ribs before the night was over. Sprague could slip that butt end into you like a knife. He was smooth as silk and the referee would never even notice.

Sprague Cleghorn excelled in dazzling serpentine runs down the ice... holding his stick with one hand blocked the opponent with the other and bore down on the Ottawa net in many a speedy dash... with lightning speed sped from one side of the rink to the other until he was well in the enemy's territory and scored from a difficult angle... scored after another dodging journey through the Ottawas...

******* and Sprague Cleghorn gave ***** valuable assistance on the defense, and time and again they stopped the Vancouver charge when it looked as if nothing could stay Taylor's spectacular rushes.

Sprague Cleghorn was the hero of the Canadiens' win, scoring two of three goals on individual rushes and otherwise turning in a remarkable game.

How's this for durability?

When Sprague Cleghorn, captain of the Montreal Canadiens, world's professional hockey champions, was relieved in the last period of the recent Stanley Cup series match against calgary, he is believed to have completed a record for continuous professional hockey play which will stand for a long time. It was the first time in the 76 games he has played with the Canadiens that he has ever stepped out for a rest. In 1922 Cleghorn played 24 complete games. he played the same number in 1923 and this year he participated in 23 regularly scheduled games and five playoff battles.

Cleghorn still had it, even very late in his career, as evidenced by his two hart runner-ups, and what was written about him:

Thursday night Tex Rickard's Rangers play the Boston Bruins, a lineup which includes Sprague Cleghorn, one of the fastest of all the hockey stars.

Cleghorn is rated as one of the strongest defensive players in the game.

Cleghorn broks loose shortly after this, jimmied through the New York skaters then passed the puck to ******** just in time for the center to jam in a goal and tie the score.

Sprague Cleghorn, who on his last visit played the roughest exhibition of hockey seen here this season, will be closely watched by the New York players tonight.

Sprague Cleghorn put the Bostonians in front when he skimmed down on the New York net alone and when ******* tumbled in front of him he dodged to one side and pocketed the disc through ******' skates.

Two of the greatest defensemen now playing in the pro ranks, Lionel Conacher of the Americans and Sprague Cleghorn of the Bruins, will be pitted against eachother...

The defensemen in hockey are known as the hoisters. It is their duty to receive visiting delegates from the opposing team, to hoist them in the air and to let them fall where they may.

Lionel Conacher of the Americans, Ching Johnson of the Rangers, King Clancy of the Senators, and Sprague Cleghorn of the Bruins are the premier hoisters of the league.

The Bruins gathered their second goal; this was a result of the magnificent piece of work by veteran defenseman Sprague Cleghorn, who carried the disc down, passed to *********, and then was waiting to clip it in when ********* passed it back.

Sprague Cleghorn was masterful with his checking when the B's were shorthanded, which happened on occasion.

The things that were said about him years after retirement were very positive as well. Note the many references to his superb skating, his teaching ability, his leadership, and how he was regarded by his peers. Poor teammate? I think not.

For years Sprague Cleghorn was regarded as a bad man to tangle with in professional hockey, but there never was a player who could make him retreat. There were times when he was held up to severe criticism, and Cleghorn certainly did earn many penalties, but there was another side to this man that few understood. He was generous to a fault to his friends, and he was mighty loyal. Just recently in the frigid waters of Lake St. Francis he proved it. With two companions, Cleghorn set out on a fishing trip, and when a mile from shore the man who couldn't swim tried to change his position in the boat, in a second it turned over. The waves were running very high, but Cleghorn and Strachan placed their pal on the bottom of the capsized boat, and started the long battle to reach the shore. For an hour and a half they struggled along, with Cleghorn, the man in charge, urging his companions to keep on battling. The weather and the water were bitterly cold, and the non-swimmer several times slipped from his precarious position, and had it not been for the fighting spirit displayed by one of the greatest hockey players who ever lived he would never have ben saved. Finally they reached what they thought was the shore only to discover that they had landed in deep muskeg, where they sank to their hips, but managed to struggle through to a barned-wire fence, where Cleghorn grasped the wire with one hand and with the other dragged the non-swimmer to terra firma. Cleghorn's hands were cruelly torn, and all three men were in bad condition, but it was not until they had reached a farmhouse that Cleghorn gave evidence of the terrific battle against death in which he had just conquered. Those companions who struggled through with him will never forget Sprague Cleghorn, the man of iron nerve who, if necessary, would sacrifice his life to save those of his friends.

he, at different times, fractured both legs near the ankles. most athletes would have been useless after such mishaps, but they never bothered Cleghorn, who continued to stand out in the fastest hockey company in the world.

Referring to the wind-up of ******* ********'s NHL career as a player... a great deal of his success was due to his association with Sprague Cleghorn when they were defensive partners at Boston. His reputation for gameness was also emphasized through association with Peg. In his first game against cleghorn, the very young, brave, unwise ******** taunted Cleghorn, invited him to do a bit of mixing... History doesn't record any time that Sprague let such an invitation go unchallenged. The result was that ******** was knocked out with a scalp wound in his head... Hitchman was sold to Boston, where Cleghorn took him in hand, taught him all he knew, which was plenty, about defense work - and a new star was born who flourished for years.

For several seasons he and Sprague Cleghorn were Canadiens' regular defensemen, and they certainly made the road to ****** ******'s net the rockiest one to travel in all the history of hockey.

Jimmie Kelly of new York's "vigllage" doubts if he ever saw a hockey player who could skate backwards with Sprague Cleghorn, a talent which made that Canadiens star one of the greatest defensemen - his eye was never off the puck.

But Mr. Clancy finally yielded the information that the greatest axeman of all-time was Sprague Cleghorn. In fact, Clancy also said that, in his opinion, Cleghorn was the greatest of defensemen.

(Sammy, NHL player from 1924-1930) Rothschild got to talking about hockey players he has seen in the past 20 years, and when asked to select the inevitable all-star team, he didn't hesitate at all, came up fast with the following team: ******* ******, Eddie Shore, Sprague Cleghorn, Milt Schmidt, Bill Cook, Busher Jackson, coach *** ****.

Described by Frank Selke as "one of the truly great old-time hockey players", Cleghorn was a powerfully-built defenseman... fast, fearless, a skillful puckhandler, Cleghorn was recognized as a defense great of his era... Old-timers recall the rugged Cleghorn as a practical joker in a game which was becoming steadily more serious. He could tell a funny story when pressure on his team was heaviest, iron nerves undisturbed by sports crises.

 

[Nighthawks]

New Haven Nighthawks, Defenseman, Larry Robinson.

Position: D
Shoots: Left
Height: 6-4
Weight: 225 lbs.
Born: June 2, 1951 in Winchester, Ontario

Awards and Achievements
6-Time Stanley Cup Winner (1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1986)
2-Time Norris Trophy Winner (1977, 1980)
Conn Smythe Trophy Winner (1978)
NHL 1st Team All-Star (1977, 1979, 1980)
NHL 2nd Team All-Star (1978, 1981, 1986)
Hockey Hall of Fame (1995)

Larry Robinson finished his career with a NHL best +/- rating of 730. Not once during his 20 seasons did he post a negative rating nor fail to reach the playoffs with the Canadiens and Kings respectively.

From Greatest Hockey Legends.com
Robinson became an almost flawless defender. Blessed with a near perfect understanding of positioning, an amazingly long reach, and physical prowess combined with a frequent mean streak, Robinson became the pre-eminent defenseman in the modern era. Every team covets a monster on the blue line who can control the games power forward by installing fear in the minds before the game even starts, yet add an offensive level that is well above average. Modern day warriors like Rob Blake, Chris Pronger, Scott Stevens and xxxxxx xxxxxxx do their best to imitate Robinson, an intimidating devastator who almost never made a defensive mistake.

From Greatest Hockey Legends.com
What they needed was a tough, no-nonsense blueliner who would force the opposition to think twice before taking any liberties on the Habs skilled stars, as well as to the keep the crease clear of giants, thus making Ken Dryden's job much easier.

From Greatest Hockey Legends.com
Robinson developed into an offensive threat as well. He was a catalyst on the power plays as he was a strong puck carrier and brilliant passer. In his younger days he was a frequent puck rusher.

From Legends of Hockey.net
Internationally, Robinson represented Team Canada in the 1976, 1981 and 1984 Canada Cup tournaments. All three were Canadian victories. In 1981 he represented Canada in the World Championship and was named to the tournament All-Star team.