- Jul 26, 2010
- 30,837
- 13,597
Atd2025 Bio Thread
- Thread starter BenchBrawl
- Start date
-
We sincerely apologize for the extended downtime. Our hosting provider, XenForo Cloud, encountered a major issue with their backup system, which unfortunately resulted in the loss of some critical data from the past year.
What This Means for You:
- If you created an account after March 2024, it no longer exists. You will need to sign up again to access the forum.
- If you registered before March 2024 but changed your email, username, or password in the past year, those changes were lost. You’ll need to update your account details manually once you're logged in.
- Threads and posts created within the last year have been restored.
- Our 2025 light and dark themes were lost, so we are rebuilding them. Light theme is currently available, but work in progress
Our team is working with Xenforo Cloud to recover data using backups, sitemaps, and other available resources. We know this is frustrating, and we deeply regret the impact on our community. We are taking steps with Xenforo Cloud to ensure this never happens again. This is work in progress. Thank you for your patience and support as we work through this.
In the meantime, feel free to join our Discord Server
Professor What
Registered User
RED KELLY
First of all, kudos to @TheDevilMadeMe for the work on the 2014 bio, which this extensively borrows from.
Scoring among defensemen:
Goals: 1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,2,3,5,5
Assists: 1,1,1,2,2,2,3,3,5,8,10,10
Points: 1,1,1,1,1,2,2,3,3,4,5,5,10
Scoring among all players: (D) means scored as a defenseman
Assists: 2,4(10),6(D),8(D),8,9(D),10(D)
Points: 6(D),6,8(D),9(D)
Hart voting: 2,3,3,4
Doug Harvey for comparison: 2,3,5,5,5
No other defenseman finished top five in voting for the award from 1947-1966.
In 2018, The Hockey News awarded Kelly three “Retro” Norris trophies, finding him to be the best defenseman in the NHL for each of the final three years before the award was first handed out (1951, 1952, 1953). He also won the inaugural Norris Trophy (1954). This would bring Kelly to an overall total of 4. Lending further credence to this idea is the fact that Kelly was a unanimous first team all-star in each of these three seasons. Thus, it seems accurate to say that from the 1950-51 season to the 1953-54 season, Kelly was the best defenseman in the world.
He was a six-time first team all-star (1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957) and a two-time second-team all-star (1950, 1956). Additionally, he won four Lady Byng Trophies (1951, 1953, 1954, 1961) and played in 12 all-star games.
Quotes:
“I can tell you as you go through the history of defensemen in the NHL, they talk about Eddie Shore, they talk about Red Kelly, they talk about Doug Harvey, they talk about Bobby Orr, they talk about Nick Lidstrom and a few other from the '80s and '90s.
“But Red Kelly was the premier offensive defenseman throughout his time in Detroit,” – Scotty Bowman
“So Mild-mannered, never uttering a curse word, Kelly nevertheless was one of the NHL's most feared fighters during those rare occasions when he engaged in fisticuffs. Likewise, he was a nonparalled defenseman, yet he could carry the puck on attack better than most of the foremost forwards.” – Detroit Red Wings Greatest Moments and Players
“To this day he remains the most underrated superstar to come down the pike. Yet his dossier cannot be disputed. He was the balance wheel of champions as a defenseman in Detroit, and, as a center, the most decisive factor in creating a dynasty in Toronto more than a decade later. No other hockey player can make that statement. – Stan Fischler
“Kelly, for instance, ranked ninth among all NHL scorers with the 54 points in 1950-51. Last year he placed eighth with 46 points (the next nearest defenseman was Doug Harvey, 26th with 34 points). His 19 goals last year ranked him 14th in that department.Strangely enough, neither of Kelly’s best totals are NHL records. He fell one short of the goal mark last year, Flash Hollett having made 20 while a Detroiter. And three years ago he came within three of Babe Pratt’s record of 57 points by a defenseman, made while Babe was with Toronto.Despite all this scoring year after year, Kelly still maintains tne reputation of also being the best defensive defenseman in the business.” – Hockey News
“Along with all that, he’s a master of the pokecheck, having learned that lesson well while playing alongside Bill Quackenbush his first few yearn with the club. Although he’s not known as a hitting defender, Kelly can bodycheck when necessary. Once in a while Ivan tells him to dish out a few checks just to keep from being rusty.” – Hockey News
“He was so strong, and that was something you can’t forget. That was one of his great strengths, his strength, along with his skating. He could handle himself, and there was really nobody who could push him around because of his strength. He was the only guy who was strong enough to play against Beliveau, and he skated as well.” – Dave Keon
“Red Kelly was a unique player - versatile and talented enough to be one of the National Hockey League's best-ever defensemen early in his career and a high-scoring center at the end. The red-haired gentleman was cool and calculating on the ice and never swore, but there was no doubt about his ability to take care of himself. He had been a championship boxer at Toronto's St. Michael's College, skills the four-time winner of the Lady Byng Trophy wouldn't often display during his 20-year NHL career.” – legendsofhockey
“Neither. I'll take Red Kelly.
Kelly is the best all-around performer in our league. Sure, Howe and Richard are great , but Red is not only great on defense , he can score too. He's the big reason Detroit has won five straight (regular season) championships.
When Kelly rushes up ice, it's something to see. He sparks Howe and Lindsay and the others. When we play the Wings, we go out to stop him. We feel there's a better chance of winning that way.” – Lynn Patrick when asked if Gordie Howe or Maurice Richard was the best player in the NHL.
“Leonard ‘Red’ Kelly very well might be the most underrated superstar in National Hockey League history.” – Joe Pelletier
“Without ever playing a game in the minor leagues Kelly stepped directly into the NHL in 1947-48. Before long he was establishing himself as the best defenseman in the league. He was the predecessor to Bobby Orr as the offensive defenseman in hockey as he easily outscored his fellow NHL defensemen.” – Joe Pelletier
“Yet as good as he was offensively, he was better defensively. He had an uncanny knack of reading plays and breaking them up, and he controlled the puck in his own zone adeptly. To make his defensive legend even more impressive, Kelly excelled without taking many penalties himself.” – Joe Pelletier
Quotes from HOH board members:
“Offense relative to other defensemen
Kelly: 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5
Lidstrom: 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 5
Potvin: 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 5
Discussion: Kelly is the best offensive defenseman. He basically matches Lidstrom's performance despite converting to a forward 12 years into his career. If we include Kelly's career as a forward, we'd include 1961 (6th in scoring, 2nd in assists) and 1963 (13th in scoring, just 2 points out of 9th place). Lidstrom is clearly ahead of Potvin for 2nd place.
Source: Pnep
Offense relative to league
Data: here's how all three players compare, over their ten best years, relative to the league. Note I'm only including Kelly's years as a defenseman.
Kelly: 7th overall in scoring (1950-59)
Potvin: 10th overall in scoring (1975-84)
Lidstrom: 17th overall in scoring (1998-2008)
Source: hockey reference
Discussion: once again, Kelly is the best offensive defensemen. This time Potvin passes Lidstrom for second place.” – @Hockeyoutsider
“Red Kelly was better than two of his teammates currently up for voting: Lindsay and Sawchuk. First, let’s consider the evidence from hockey writers from the 1950s. The Hart trophy voters easily thought that Kelly was the Wings’ best player after Mr. Hockey. Red Kelly finished in the top three in Hart voting three times (1951, 1953, 1954). No other Wing (aside from Howe obviously) made it to the top three during the dynasty years, even once. In fact, Red Kelly alone had as many top-ten finishes as Lindsay and Sawchuk combined.
Even if you don’t think that Hart voting matters, consider this. The Detroit dynasty was able to win a Cup without Sawchuk (1950); they won without Abel (1954, 1955); they could win it even without Howe (1950). Only Kelly and Lindsay were the constants. However, the Wings had a great team in the late 1940s (including Lindsay) but couldn’t win their first Cup until Kelly emerged as an all-star defenseman in 1950. His ability to control both ends of the ice put them over the top.
Kelly’s last year as an all-star defenseman was in 1957 (when the Wings were 1st in the regular season, and Howe and Lindsay finished 1-2 in scoring). In 1958, Kelly’s first off year, the Wings dropped 18 points and 2 spots in the standings. Granted, Lindsay was gone in 1958, but the Wings only lost 22 goals for versus 50 goals against. Unless you want to make the case that Lindsay was somehow more important to the defense than Kelly, it was the loss of Kelly as an elite defenseman (and, of course, the emergence of the Canadiens), that ended the Wings’ dynasty.” – @Hockeyoutsider
Quotes from Sports Illustrated:
“On the attack, the Red Wings in general play a slam-bang, puck-hounding game, relying on manpower rather than on finesse to wear down their opponents. Their offensive sorties frequently have the advantage of a "fourth forward," the great Red Kelly, perennial All-Star defenseman and a natural play-builder, shown at right (No. 4) as he leads a rush toward the Rangers' goal. Three of the last four seasons, Kelly has ranked among the top ten scorers, the only defenseman to climb into that exalted circle.”
“With Detroit, Kelly has developed into the best defenseman in the league. An intelligent, graceful, superbly conditioned athlete, the All-Canadian Boy if there ever was one, Kelly, in the words of Fred Huber, the Wings' erudite publicity director, "can maneuver the puck with his skates better than most players can with their sticks." In an early-season game with the Bruins this year, Kelly scored three goals, the first defenseman to achieve "the hat trick" since Happy Day did it some two decades ago. In the offseason, Kelly returns to the village of Simcoe, Ontario, where his family has owned tobacco and fruit farms for four generations, and prepares himself for another hockey campaign by working in the fields, covering about 14 acres a day as he primes an average of 1,200 "sticks" of tobacco.”
“For several seasons now Harvey and Red Kelly of Detroit have been in a class of their own, a discernible cut above the other defensemen in the league. Kelly's style of play, of course, has always been an individual one. A marvelous, tireless skater, he has the energy and the speed and the maneuverability to serve not only as a stout defender but to double as a virtually cohesive part of the offense. This season " Detroit's fourth forward," as Kelly has been called for some time, was actually pressed into service as a forward. Jimmy Skinner, the Wings coach, made the move early in December, after his team had managed to win only 6 of its first 25 games and it seemed they might never get rolling. Skinner's second and third lines had not been producing at all, and he recognized that his first tactical adjustment—using his powerful first line of Howe, Reibel and Lindsay as often as they could climb over the boards—hadn't been getting him anyplace. Overwork was diminishing the H-R-L line's punch, and lack of work wasn't helping the confidence of his newly formed third line and the sluggishness of his second line. The defense had been functioning well, though. Pronovost had been playing fine hockey, Godfrey was doing all right, old Bob Goldham—he entered the NHL way back in 1941 with Toronto (can you believe it?)—was still getting around O.K.; furthermore, Larry Hillman, a very promising defenseman, could be recalled from the minors. So Skinner made his move. He switched Kelly to left wing on his first line and sent Lindsay down to juice up the second. It was a daring bit of juggling, and it worked. Almost overnight the Wings began to win at their customary clip, and until they dropped five out of those six points in that head-on series with Montreal, it looked as if they might be on their way to recapturing all of their old grinding efficiency.
As for Kelly, he was a revelation on left wing. He remained at that position for 26 games, until Pronovost was hurt and he had to be sent back to bolster the defense. Over that stretch Red scored 11 goals and assisted in 13 others, but these statistics barely intimate what an enormous amount of wing he played. One picture or, more accurately, one series of pictures remains clearly in my mind. It is Kelly back-checking with that effortless finesse of his, breaking up one enemy rush after another before they could even get started and generally creating the impression that progress up his side of the rink was virtually impossible, a road temporarily closed to traffic.”
“The Detroit Red Wings signed Kelly in 1947 at the precocious age of 19. He responded by helping them to eight championships and four Stanley Cups in 12 years. Then, in a deal that shocked the NHL, he was traded to New York near the close of the 1960 season. He had fallen into disfavor with Detroit General Manager Jack Adams, first for his frankness in facing Adams with the team's complaints ("I felt that was my duty as captain," says Kelly) and second for admitting to a newspaper reporter that Adams had urged him to play part of the previous season six days after breaking an ankle. The story created a sensation. " Adams tried to get the doctor to say the ankle wasn't broken," says Kelly, "but it was." Rather than report to last-place New York, Kelly decided to quit. Five days later, after considerable backstage maneuvering, league officials okayed a deal by which he was to report instead to Toronto, and Kelly changed his mind.
Red made his first appearance with Toronto the very next night. When his line skated onto the ice, the ex-Detroiter received a four-minute ovation that has never been matched in Maple Leaf Gardens. "Just when the applause should have died down," recalls Red, "everyone stood up."
In Detroit, Kelly had become one of the best defensemen in the league, but Punch Imlach, who is never inhibited by tradition, decided to make a center of him. In doing so, he lighted the spark that propelled a formerly floundering club to the finals of the Stanley Cup. In the semifinals Toronto met Detroit. "I never once looked up in that box where I knew Adams would be looking down at us," says Kelly softly. "I knew they'd be told to come after me, and they did, but it didn't bother me. The more they came the harder I fought. I figure it made me play better. I liked it."
Toronto liked it too. The Leafs grew even stronger the next year as Kelly fed long, daring passes to a brilliant but brooding young prodigy named Frank Mahovlich who, up to then, had failed to live up to his early promise. Under Kelly's influence Mahovlich's goal production rose from a 1960 total of 18 to 48 in 1961. Mahovlich went on to become the only big-league athlete worth an official $1 million at the auction block, but it was Kelly who was voted the team's most valuable player. One year later, Toronto finally regained that long-awaited Stanley Cup as Kelly, one of those largely responsible, set a career high of 22 goals scored and a personal low of only six minutes spent in the penalty box. "If you lose your temper while the puck's in play, you only give your opponents an easy chance to score," he says, explaining a philosophy that has long since established him as one of the cleanest players in the game.”
Notes from TDMM:
Kelly should be credited with the equivalent of 4 consecutive Norris Trophys
- He won the first ever Norris Trophy (1954) and was a unanimous First Team All Star the 3 previous years (1951, 1952, 1953).
- 1955: Kelly was a close second to Harvey and way ahead of anyone else.
- 1956: Kelly fell behind Bill Gadsby for 2nd place in Norris and AS voting in a very close vote, but Kelly spent 1/4 of that season as a LW due to injuries to teammates. Red Burnett thought it cost him the 1st Team AS, a view supported by Hart voting. Kelly was 4th in Hart voting, Harvey 5th, and Gadsby didn't receive a single Hart vote.
- 1957: Kelly was a distant 2nd behind Harvey, and had a moderate but solid lead on #3.
- Kelly finished a close 2nd in Hart voting to an Al Rollins (a goalie), and many people think that Rollins was being given credit for his previous season (when he lost the Hart to Gordie Howe the year Howe shattered all the records).
- Kelly was voted the best player of the year in a press poll. (At the time, the Hart Trophy really did seem to go to "most valuable," not best player).
- Note that Maurice Richard and Gordie Howe were both in their primes and finished 3rd and 4th in Hart voting respectively.
- His forward career is sometimes underrated - he was top 10 in Hart voting twice (1962, 1967) and he played a key two-way role at center on the team that won 4 Cups.
- IMO, there is an argument that Kelly's 12 years as a defenseman alone are enough to equal Denis Potvin, then you add his time as a forward...
Kelly finished top 10 in NHL scoring 3 times as a defenseman (and once as a center), the only defenseman other than Orr and Coffey to finish top 10 in NHL scoring more than twice. Potvin and Shore are the only other ones to do it twice.
ImporterExporter
"You're a boring old man"
Aubrey "Dit" Clapper - D/RW - Boston Bruins - 1927-1947
Below is my career overview through many hours of newspaper researching with publishers plus on newspapers.com.
Entries are chronologically dated:
(1928-29), Clapper was used mostly as a wing but did see some action on the blueline in relief.
Preview of the 29-30 season stating Clapper appears ready to ascend into star territory. He would.
Detailed description of Clapper goal shows he used opposing players as screen to score.
Feature on Dutch Gainor actually sheds a lot of light on just how rapid Clapper's rise in ability/output was been from 28-29 to the 29-30 campaign.
Clapper scouting report calls him "A rugged, sturdy player, he has tremendous strength in his wrists and can drive the pucik like a shot from a gun. It was his low, raking drives that flicked at lightning speed across the goalers feet that earned him so many goals earlier in the season."
Clapper was allowed away from the team for a game due to his fiancee's serious illness, which she would pass away from later in the month (a few entries below this)
In season scouting report of sorts by a Western paper no-less. Called "standout performer" in his new position. Heavy shot cited and he seems to have been the focal point of the attack.
Slick pass from Clapper to Weiland ends up being GW. Dit also scored a pair of goals.
The Boston Globe Archive
Clapper's fiancee passed away during the 29-30 season due to complications from an illness.
Lester Patrick and Rangers offered huge sum to get Clapper in 1930.
One of the standout players in the NHL. Has a right hand shot that "few, if any rival wings, can approach." Clapper rated among the stars of hockey.
More citations of Clappers fast shots.
"Dead-Eye" Dit Clapper, the greatest straight-away marksman in professional hockey."
Citation of Ching Johnson having his jaw broken in a head on collision w/Clapper
Clapper's lighting shot cited again plus evidence of him PK'ing.
The Gazette Archive
This is big for Clapper. Even in a SCF series ending loss to the Morenz led Habs, Clapper was cited as spectacular, claiming a place as "one of the greatest wing players in hockey." And this is the Montreal Gazette, so you can throw any bias out the window.
Ottawa Citizen reviewing the 29-30 campaign of Clapper. Officially listed as a defensemen interestingly, but obviously played RW, cited as being a "spectacular goal-getter" and "prime favorite in Boston."
Diagram showing a popular combination between Clapper and Weiland.
Clapper hat trick + beautiful jab/devastating right cross to knock down Kilera in a fight.
Clapper takes would Battleship Leduc in a big collision.
The Morning Union Archive
Clapper already noted as established star in NHL, possessing one of the hardest right handed shots.
Charlie Gardiner names the 5 toughest players he's ever had to stop. Clapper is in some elite company.
Nels Stewart
Morenz
Bill Cook
C. Conacher (has hardest shot according to Gardiner)
Dit Clapper
Gardiner calls Clapper a "sweet all-around player and a good shot, too. I'd pick him as just a little above Ebbie Goodfellow of the Falcons for general effectiveness around the net."
Montreal paper calls Clapper the Bruins' most deadly marksman, and in this game was their most effective.
Victor Jones of the Globe states: Clapper "playing one of the best all-around wings I have ever gazed upon."
"On the very first rush, Clapper, who not only covered his own right wing all night, but also roamed to the other flank, stole the puck from Charlie Conacher, eluded Bob Davidson with some blazing stick handling, and put the Bruins two goals up while the Bruins were shorthanded."
"Dit likes to play up front but he is also a smart defenseman and has filled Eddie Shore's berth more than once. His 194 pounds, packed on a six-foot-two-inch frame, give him plenty of brawn to step into incoming forwards."
Toronto rumor mill alleging Busher Jackson for Clapper was discussed/offered?!?
Clapper scouting report from 1936 (still a F at this point)
Vic Jones calling some of the Boston faithful loud mouths.
Cites Clapper as being "for years Clapper has been rated one of the most valuable players in the league and I have seen him play some games on one leg which other players couldn't match with two."
Art Ross emphatically stating that Clapper is not for sale, at any price.
Winning goal was a Clapper SH variety (5th goal in 6 games).
The great Dal MacDonald of the Montreal Gazette giving a firsthand account of Clapper's move back to D late in the 1936-37 season.
"For one who hasn't played defense for 10 years, Clapper proven that he has a remarkable memory of the finer points of this position. Dit came to Boston Tigers, then the farm club of the Bruins, 10 years ago as a defenseman and was converted into a right winger by Art Ross. Mr. Clapper, like the elephant, apparently never forgets. Certainly tonight as he steadied down the Boston defense he looked like an old hand at the job.
Eddie Shore couldn't have done better."
From the game report same paper:
"Reinforced by Clapper, the Bruin rearguard units which were unsteady in Montreal, played sound hockey here and the Bruins played confidently all the way to win a merited triumph.
It was Clapper too, acting as the 4th F on a power play, who shot home the first goal and sent the Bruins on their victory march."
First game of the 37-38 campaign, Clapper on D. "Clapper will do at defense." Also called a "riot, knocking down 2 Rangers who tried to stop him."
The Boston Globe Archive
A fan tried to sue Clapper for 10K for being stuck by a puck shot by Dit,
Boston Globe writer Vic Jones speaks to the ability of Clapper to protect his teammates.
Clapper beauty of a GW goal described
Fantastic overview on Clapper during the 38-39 season.
Noted to "have dropped into the defensive post like a hand fits into an old glove. With his tremendous physical bulk and strength, his ability to hit a stunning body check, to break quick on attack and set up plays, he quickly became one of the most valuable players on the entire Bruin rear guard."
Edmonton paper calls Clapper "one of the greatest hockey players of all time" during the musings of hockey rumor mill. It was suggested Clapper was headed to NY......but that obviously did not happen.
Baz O'Meara, the "hockey encyclopedia of Montreal" put Clapper and Babe Siebert on this AS team late in the 38-39 campaign over players like Earl Seibert and Art Coulter.
Evening Express Archive
Clapper and Shore co-won the Bruins MVP award for the 38-39 season.
Clapper's scoring from the blueline is stellar
Western paper calls Clapper "almost a dead cinch for an all-star spot."
"Dit, who once played right wing on the famous dynamite line, has been winning huzzas all season for his work at stopping them coming in and getting past them when he starts traveling out."
The Boston Globe Archive
Clapper playing with a broken toe, has a 4 point night, starring for the Bruins.
Bill Hutchinson opinion piece regarding the AS teams for the 38-39 season.
He states "An all-Boston defense appeals to this writer strongly. They play the game the way we like it. Shore and Clapper know how to bust them or steer them to a corner and nobody can deny they know what it is all about when it comes to ripping into enemy territory when goals are needed. Clapper's wing experience has not been forgotten and Shore always was an artist at starting scoring threats.
Vic Jones in an opinion piece, decries fighting, and notes that most hockey players are crappy "fighters". Clapper, however, led a group of players who buck that general trend in late 30's hockey. Dit was cited along with Bill Cook, Earl Seibert, Nels Stewart, and Lionel Conacher, along w/a few others who could actually fight on skates.
Clapper knocked another player out of a game (Shibicky) w/a body check.
Clapper doing some fine defensive work in the SCF clinching game
Wild fact. Both Clapper and Brimsek missed the Cup ceremony because they got into the showers too quickly! See picture below.
Great action shot of Clapper assisting on a Mel Hill goal during the SCF.
Clapper announced Captain by Art Ross before 39-40 season.
Clapper listed as 211 lbs prior to the 39-40 season.
Toronto Star refers to Clapper as a "great defenseman now." prior to 39-40 season.
Scouting report/bio on Clapper
Toronto speaks to Clapper's defensive brilliance.
Outstanding Clapper overview by Gerry Moore of the Globe.
1940 Scouting report cites Clapper as being one of the most versatile players of all time. His size, strength, heavy bodychecking, and speed were cited and his puck carrying abilities meshed very well with Art Ross' style of play.
Clapper becomes 1st Bruin to win team MVP in unanimous vote.
Western paper saying Clapper "has played better than ever at the blueline for the Bruins, since Eddie's departure. He also took home team MVP honors, after sharing it with Shore the previous season.
Illinois paper picks Clapper as 1st team D for 1939-40 stating "There is no questioning the selection of Dit Clapper. He not only is the season's top defense man but the most valuable player in the NHL as well."
BIG praise from a Blackhawks writer.
Brooklyn NY paper citing Clapper as the only Bruin defender capable of being a threat carrying the puck, possessing "savvy" and is "in a class with Bauer/Cowley (at carrying the puck).
Clapper repeating as the 1st team AS by a "tremendous vote" commending his "all-around work as captain and rusher with the Bruins after the departure of Eddie Shore.
I feel strongly by this point in time, Clapper has ascended to best Dman in the world. Some considered him the best player period.
Clapper toughness noted.
Feature on Clapper and Goodfellow being as rugged and tough as they come in the NHL. Conn Smythe apparently wanted Clapper more than any Dman of that time period. Obviously a trade never transpired.
Dick Irvin of Montreal wanted to acquire Clapper in 1940
Baz O'Meara stating that there is virtually no chance the rumors of Clapper being available are true. Trading Clapper would bring the roof in on Art Ross
Conn Smythe revisiting his efforts to try and lure Clapper away from Boston. Said Toronto would have "10 pennants dangling from the roof instead of one."
Cited as Canadian Press pick for an AS berth the previous 2 years, turning in "peak performances" of his career on the blueline.
Clapper's coolness on the ice cited.
Telegraph-Journal Archive
HJ Osborne feature on Clapper's 200th, stating Clapper "is looked on as one of the greatest of all-time stars in NHL warfare."
The Toronto Star Archive
NJ paper feature on the importance of Clapper.
"It's hard to imagine them (rest of star players) achieving such a record without a big fellow named Aubrey Clapper in the line up every game.
"Clapper is still about the most important single individual on the Bruins team. Once a star forward, he's now the mainstay of a defense that's one of the best in the NHL, He still has the speed to go down and score a goal in an occasional "clutch."
Clapper intercepting pass and going the length of the rink to score OT goal.
He was presented his 200th goal puck before the game by Ottawa mayor Stanley Lewis
Frank Boucher calls Clapper best player in the world, 1941 (he'd later repeat this a few years down the road).
The Bayonne Times Archive
"I rate him (Clapper) even above Eddie Shore."
Sports Editor Bill Gaynon of Ontario paper cites Clapper as generally the name most thrown out in 1941 for best defensemen in the NHL
Really neat 1 on 1 interview with Clapper, a number of topics discussed.
"Clapper, captain of the Bruins, has been recognized as the league's outstanding defensemen, and the selectors showed this again by giving him 29 of a possible 30 votes."
The Sports Fan Cup (sounds like a fan vote for most popular player in the league) awarded by Bus Johnston saw Clapper edge out Syl Apps with 66,910 votes to 61,566.
The Windsor Star Archive
Doug Vaughan, of the Windsor Star speaks to the dominance of the 1940-41 Bruins.
Calls Clapper "the best rearguard in the business today." Brimsek and Clapper sparked the Bruins in the SCF win vs Toronto w/Cowley missing time.
Incredible piece on Clapper's leadership and contributions to the Bruins.
Bill Cowley states:
"I thought Clapper was a cinch to win the Hart Trophy. He played marvelous hockey for us this year. If there was any one man more responsible than another for our Stanley Cup victory, I think Clapper is that man. Dit's help to Bruins doesn't stop at being a great player. He's a grand fellow, looked up to by all the players and one of the finest leaders I have ever seen."
Much more written below...
Dit Clapper winning a face-off as a defensemen.
North Bay Nugget Archive
Clapper wins the Sports Fan popularity contest and is presented with trophy by Bus Johnston in the Montreal forum. The voting tally is listed about 6-7 entries above this one.
Clapper is the feature and coverman for the 1941-42 NHL hockey guide publication.
The Portsmouth Herald Archive
Clapper was a heavyweight fighter throughout his career.
Huge praise for Clapper from Ebbie Goodfellow who picks his All Time-Opponent Team (players he's faced)
At defense, Goodfellow contends that Clapper, of the present Bruins, is as good if not better than any of the old stars. "There's a defensemen who is as smooth as they come," Goodfellow said of his Boston rival and that's praise indeed.
Waterloo Region Record Archive
Clapper named assistant manager (coach)
"Listing hockey's leading players, book them in the order of: Clapper, Apps, Schmidt, Heller, Hextall, Syd Howe, Mush March, Goodfellow, Tommy Anderson and Earl Seibert."
The Winnipeg Tribune Archive
Details of the Achilles injury
Bill Hutchinson, sports editor notes that Clapper's loss for Boston is a big one, saying "the big defenseman probably is Boston's most important player."
The Toronto Star Archive
In depth look at Clapper's injury with quotes from players.
Famous Ottawa Journal writer Bill Westwick notes Clapper's immense importance to Boston, especially during their last SC run.
"...the big rearguard who in a quiet way has done a lot more coaching of the Boston Club that he's ever been publicly credited with.
And even in the twilight of an illustrious major league career, Clapper still rates with the greatest."
Ebbie Goodfellow picks his All-Opponents team (seemingly best players he ever faced) and Dit Clapper is on the 1st team, along with Shore, over both King Clancy and Ching Johnson. Remember, you also had Earl Seibert, Lionel Conacher, Babe Seibert, and Art Coulter who didn't make EG's list.
The Calgary Albertan Archive
Harry Scott of Calgary highlighting the severe Achilles injury Clapper sustained midway through the 1941-42 season.
I think this is an important juncture in Clapper's career, at least as far as his time as a defenseman goes. The fact that he sustained such a rough injury, at his age (34), in 1942 with less modern methods of surgery/healthcare, etc, and then managed to return to full health and play essentially 4 more seasons, while making his way back onto the postseason AS team in 1943-44, speaks to the character of Clapper and ability.
At this point in time he's already played longer than the vast majority of NHL'ers ever, and was almost universally considered the best defenseman in the world, and some considered him the most valuable player period. You can see the Hart voting finishes in 1940 (3rd) and 41 (2nd) as a testament to that value.
Bill King of the Biddeford Maine paper says Clapper's injury is the biggest reason for Boston's losses.
The Boston Globe Archive
Clapper was a tough SOB. Roughly a month after having his Achilles cut, he's walking around without crutches or a cane.
"The team can't help getting a lift from the presence of Clapper, who was always an inspirational leader in his active role as captain."
Clapper acting coach while out w/the Achilles injury.
Big praise from Dink Carroll of the Montreal Gazette, wondering if the Achilles injury to Clapper would be the end of his career, in a "Playing The Field" piece.
States "Only the greatest players last that long (15 years) and Clapper was certainly one of them. Up to the time of his injury he was still All-Star material."
Clapper's leadership noted and work behind the bench sparking Bruins.
Clapper coaching the Bruins to a playoff victory. Aggravated his injured achilles tendon by jumping up and down on the bench when the winning goal was scored.
Also cited as masterminding the team from the bench perfectly.
Detroit previewing the return of Clapper from serious injury. A favorite in Detroit, his return is celebrated. Also was called a "brilliant wingman" by old timers.
Nice Clapper feature in the Toronto paper cites Clapper as most durable player in NHL with a long career of star power.
Early season 42-43 season, it seems like Clapper is already returning to his pre-injury form.
"For years, Clapper has been one of the most popular players in the big-time loop-and small wonder. Not only is he ace-high on performance, but he rates as one of the most sportsmanlike players in the circuit. Never in one season has he spent an hour on the penalty bench."
This is Clapper's first season after returning from the Achilles injury. Noted by Jack Adams to be having a "good season" but Hollett, Cowley and Brimsek the best Bruins to date. His heavy checking was still on point it seems.
In game report notes it was a hard checking game and best contest at the Garden to date, with Clapper handing out 4 body checks that wowed the crowd, smacking down Don Grosso, Syd Abel, Jimmy Orlando, and Bill Quackenbush to the ice."
Walter McMullen, sports editor details Clapper's career and standing all time ending w/ "so when compiling your list of the greats of hockey, place the name Mr. Clapper at the top, or thereabouts."
Dink Carroll citing Clapper "is back to his old self" in the early portions of his first season since having Achilles sliced through less than a year ago.
Commercial Archive
Feature by Bill King on Clapper's career.
Clapper and Rocket had a fight in 1943
Andy Lytle recalling the great Moose Johnson. saying "he had the fire and zest of King Clancy in the body of Dit Clapper"
Earl Seibert picks Clapper and Shore for his 1st team D on his all-time opponents team.
"Dit is practically an institution with the Bruins, one of those players in a million. No player with whom I have ever been associated has given me more pleasure from a manager's point of view.
But you come to Clapper and you have a great forward when he was up front. You put him back on the defense and he continues to star. And all the way he has been of the best influences any hockey club ever had in its ranks. The older players like him; the young ones admire him.
If I had to name an all-star all-time Hart trophy winner I'd name Dit. He typifies the true winner of the award."
-Art Ross
Recalling how Clapper was instrumental in Maurice Richard learning the lesson of keeping your head up.
Incredible late career retrospective by Herb Manning of the Winnipeg Tribune.
Some key highlights:
"Eddie Shore was a dynamic, colorful figure with Boston's Bruins and he wound up finally with the title of Mr. Hockey-a super-giant among the giants of the slippery game.
But Clapper is colorful too, and a more efficient craftsman than Shore, a better team player, in the estimation of hockey men who know him.
Frank Boucher cites Clapper as "greatest ice general he ever saw, with highly developed powers of leadership and the ability to inspire and preserve balance among his associates. His outstanding characteristic is his talent for leadership."
Late career feature on Clapper
Frank Boucher calls Clapper best player in game in 1944 and the "greatest ice general he ever saw".
The Hamilton Spectator Archive
Preseason write up on Clapper for the 44-45 season
Clapper picks his All-Time Hockey Team.
"Red Dutton, league prexy, has written a book in which he lists an all-time all-star team..."right wing, Clapper"
Since being moved to the back-lines, the 6-foot-2, 195 pounder has reached new heights. For the past eight seasons he has been among the leading defensemen, his speedy skating still counts heavily. Despite the rough checks he dishes out, Clapper is thoroughly a gentleman, universally well liked and a ball-player's ballplayer."
Leo McDonald of Detroit Times calls Clapper an "all-time, all-great" player in this piece in which Clapper picks his all time team. Nice read.
Clapper picking his AS team...."However, few pink experts would omit the name of Aubrey Dit Clapper from any all-star aggregation...Clapper stepped into Eddie Shore's famous skates as a defenseman where he has been consistently tops."
Montreal paper calls Clapper "one of the all-time defense greats of the NHL."
The Witness Archive
The Boston Globe Archive
Recalling the one time in Clapper's career where he lost his composure and socked newly appointed president of the league, Clarence Campbell (then a ref) during a game in 1937. After KO'ing Dave Trottier, Campbell made a snide remark to Clapper during the brawl and got a punch for it. Campbell admitted his role in the punch and there was no ill-will between them.
Art Ross cites Clapper's ability to learn and absorb lessons early in his career as one of his biggest assets in becoming a HOF caliber player.
Fantastic end of career look at Clapper by Ottawa writer Tommy Shields. You'll see his retirement was not only celebrated greatly in Boston, it was a league wide affair with each team giving a special presentation to Clapper for his career achievements.
Also, a heroic story mentioned where Clapper helped save the lives of 3 of his friends when their boat flipped over and he had to swim half a mile to shore, to retrieve a 2nd boat.
Some great photos of Clapper's jersey that ended up in the HOF. More hardware presented. At the end of the article you can see the remaining schedule for "Clapper night".
Daily Sentinel Archive
Clapper's fighting ability cited
Really neat picture of Clapper accepting a silver bowl from the Jack Adams, on behalf of the Detroit Red Wings during his final season in the league.
Clapper being presented with silver tray during his final game in Montreal.
Fantastic career overview on Clapper by Dink Carroll, another citation of his generalship of the ice being made by someone who witnessed him firsthand. Dink will later compare his generalship and IQ to that of Harvey in 1961.
The Boston Globe Archive
More 1st hand accounts of Clapper being the policeman for Boston's smaller players.
The Gazette Archive
Longtime Bruin team physician, Dr Kelley. cites Shore, Clapper and Schmidt as the most durable and rugged players over his tenure (now 1953).
Feature for series being done by Red Fischer, written by Clapper, remembering his 200th goal.
More testaments to how well liked Clapper was/is. Plus this entry and next speak to his AS picks and thoughts on current players. You can tell he knows hockey given the players he put forth.
Great interview w/Clapper.
Wonderful analysis and comparison between Clapper and Doug Harvey by the all time great writer Baz O'meara who's career started in 1910 (Ottawa Journal) and later spent 30+ years at the Montreal Star (1929 through late 60's). He has some of the most in depth opinion pieces I've seen in all my research over the years.
Main points:
Clapper was a standout at controlling the game from the blueline ala Harvey
Cited as being a touch faster, a heavier body checker than Harvey
Caught Rocket Richard w/his head down in an early career game
Cited as not being overshadowed by Eddie Shore and called a "more competent defender" than his former teammate. This tracks with Clapper calling Shore the best offensive defensemen he ever saw in the entry just above this.
Another man w/a lot of hockey knowledge, Elmer Ferguson, with a fantastic overview of Clapper's longevity, skills/abilities, ability to pair well with numerous teammates at F and D.
The Times-Transcript Archive
Another profile by another long time writer Lloyd Percival talking about Clapper's ability to control the play, remain calm and collected on the back end. 2 way play cited.
Feature on Bobby Bauer highlights how Clapper, not Shore, was the policeman for Boston.
This article in response to Harry Sinden allowing Guy Lapointe to wear the retired #5 jersey of Clapper, which didn't sit well with a lot of folks, including Clapper's family.
Milt Schmidt would pick Dit Clapper (along with Orr) over Eddie Shore, Ray Bourque or any other Boston great to play in a game 7, tie game, 1 minute left.
Below is my career overview through many hours of newspaper researching with publishers plus on newspapers.com.
Entries are chronologically dated:
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Wed, Jan 2, 1929Page 16The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Tue, Mar 19, 1929Page 26The Springfield Daily Republican
Springfield, Massachusetts • Wed, Mar 20, 1929Page 7The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Thu, Mar 28, 1929Page 26(1928-29), Clapper was used mostly as a wing but did see some action on the blueline in relief.
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Fri, Mar 29, 1929Page 30The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Wed, Oct 23, 1929Page 23Preview of the 29-30 season stating Clapper appears ready to ascend into star territory. He would.
The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Fri, Dec 13, 1929Page 10Detailed description of Clapper goal shows he used opposing players as screen to score.
The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Fri, Dec 13, 1929Page 32The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Fri, Dec 13, 1929Page 41The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Mon, Dec 30, 1929Page 17The Morning Union
Springfield, Massachusetts • Thu, Jan 2, 1930Page 16Feature on Dutch Gainor actually sheds a lot of light on just how rapid Clapper's rise in ability/output was been from 28-29 to the 29-30 campaign.
The Morning Union
Springfield, Massachusetts • Fri, Jan 3, 1930Page 25Clapper scouting report calls him "A rugged, sturdy player, he has tremendous strength in his wrists and can drive the pucik like a shot from a gun. It was his low, raking drives that flicked at lightning speed across the goalers feet that earned him so many goals earlier in the season."
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Tue, Jan 8, 1929Page 27Clapper was allowed away from the team for a game due to his fiancee's serious illness, which she would pass away from later in the month (a few entries below this)
The Leader-Post
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada • Wed, Jan 15, 1930Page 15In season scouting report of sorts by a Western paper no-less. Called "standout performer" in his new position. Heavy shot cited and he seems to have been the focal point of the attack.
The Windsor Star
Windsor, Ontario, Canada • Mon, Jan 20, 1930Page 17Slick pass from Clapper to Weiland ends up being GW. Dit also scored a pair of goals.
The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Wed, Jan 22, 1930Page 18The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Mon, Jan 27, 1930Page 16The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Mon, Jan 28, 1929Page 21The Boston Globe Archive
Clapper's fiancee passed away during the 29-30 season due to complications from an illness.
The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Mon, Feb 3, 1930Page 15The Toronto Star
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Wed, Feb 5, 1930Page 8Lester Patrick and Rangers offered huge sum to get Clapper in 1930.
The Windsor Star
Windsor, Ontario, Canada • Mon, Feb 17, 1930Page 17The Morning Union
Springfield, Massachusetts • Thu, Feb 20, 1930Page 21One of the standout players in the NHL. Has a right hand shot that "few, if any rival wings, can approach." Clapper rated among the stars of hockey.
The Republican
Springfield, Massachusetts • Wed, Feb 19, 1930Page 22The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Mar 4, 1930Page 12The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Wed, Mar 12, 1930Page 27More citations of Clappers fast shots.
The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Wed, Mar 19, 1930Page 16The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Thu, Mar 20, 1930Page 25"Dead-Eye" Dit Clapper, the greatest straight-away marksman in professional hockey."
The Kingston Whig-Standard
Kingston, Ontario, Canada • Thu, Mar 27, 1930Page 10Citation of Ching Johnson having his jaw broken in a head on collision w/Clapper
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Fri, Mar 28, 1930Page 41Clapper's lighting shot cited again plus evidence of him PK'ing.
The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Fri, Apr 4, 1930Page 20The Gazette Archive
This is big for Clapper. Even in a SCF series ending loss to the Morenz led Habs, Clapper was cited as spectacular, claiming a place as "one of the greatest wing players in hockey." And this is the Montreal Gazette, so you can throw any bias out the window.
The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Wed, Aug 20, 1930Page 9Ottawa Citizen reviewing the 29-30 campaign of Clapper. Officially listed as a defensemen interestingly, but obviously played RW, cited as being a "spectacular goal-getter" and "prime favorite in Boston."
The Toronto Star
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Wed, Nov 12, 1930Page 8The Edmonton Bulletin
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada • Wed, Nov 12, 1930Page 16The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Wed, Nov 19, 1930Page 18Chicago Tribune
Chicago, Illinois • Wed, Nov 26, 1930Page 21The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Fri, Nov 28, 1930Page 28The Herald Statesman
Yonkers, New York • Fri, Dec 12, 1930Page 31Star-Phoenix
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada • Fri, Dec 19, 1930Page 24Diagram showing a popular combination between Clapper and Weiland.
The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Fri, Dec 19, 1930Page 28The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Fri, Dec 26, 1930Page 12Clapper hat trick + beautiful jab/devastating right cross to knock down Kilera in a fight.
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Fri, Jan 30, 1931Page 31The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Wed, Mar 25, 1931Page 15Clapper takes would Battleship Leduc in a big collision.
The Springfield Daily Republican
Springfield, Massachusetts • Wed, Mar 25, 1931Page 18The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Mon, Mar 30, 1931Page 18The Morning Union
Springfield, Massachusetts • Fri, Nov 6, 1931Page 35The Morning Union ArchiveThe Morning Union Archive
Clapper already noted as established star in NHL, possessing one of the hardest right handed shots.
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Wed, Nov 18, 1931Page 21The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Wed, Dec 16, 1931Page 26The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Mon, Dec 21, 1931Page 17The Republican
Springfield, Massachusetts • Tue, Jan 5, 1932Page 14Charlie Gardiner names the 5 toughest players he's ever had to stop. Clapper is in some elite company.
Nels Stewart
Morenz
Bill Cook
C. Conacher (has hardest shot according to Gardiner)
Dit Clapper
Gardiner calls Clapper a "sweet all-around player and a good shot, too. I'd pick him as just a little above Ebbie Goodfellow of the Falcons for general effectiveness around the net."
The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Mon, Jan 18, 1932Page 16Montreal paper calls Clapper the Bruins' most deadly marksman, and in this game was their most effective.
The Times-Transcript
Moncton, Moncton Parish, New Brunswick, Canada • Wed, Nov 23, 1932Page 2The Winnipeg Tribune
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada • Tue, Feb 28, 1933Page 15The Springfield Daily Republican
Springfield, Massachusetts • Sun, Mar 26, 1933Page 19The Windsor Star
Windsor, Ontario, Canada • Mon, Jan 28, 1935Page 23The Calgary Albertan
Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Mon, Mar 25, 1935Page 5The Times-Transcript
Moncton, Moncton Parish, New Brunswick, Canada • Mon, Mar 25, 1935Page 2The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Mon, Dec 30, 1935Page 10The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Wed, Jan 15, 1936Page 20Victor Jones of the Globe states: Clapper "playing one of the best all-around wings I have ever gazed upon."
"On the very first rush, Clapper, who not only covered his own right wing all night, but also roamed to the other flank, stole the puck from Charlie Conacher, eluded Bob Davidson with some blazing stick handling, and put the Bruins two goals up while the Bruins were shorthanded."
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Tue, Mar 3, 1936Page 21North Bay Nugget
North Bay, Ontario, Canada • Fri, Mar 13, 1936Page 7"Dit likes to play up front but he is also a smart defenseman and has filled Eddie Shore's berth more than once. His 194 pounds, packed on a six-foot-two-inch frame, give him plenty of brawn to step into incoming forwards."
Calgary Herald
Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Thu, Apr 2, 1936Page 6Toronto rumor mill alleging Busher Jackson for Clapper was discussed/offered?!?
Daily Gleaner
Fredericton, York, New Brunswick, Canada • Fri, Oct 23, 1936Page 2Clapper scouting report from 1936 (still a F at this point)
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Tue, Jan 5, 1937Page 20Vic Jones calling some of the Boston faithful loud mouths.
Cites Clapper as being "for years Clapper has been rated one of the most valuable players in the league and I have seen him play some games on one leg which other players couldn't match with two."
The Toronto Star
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Sat, Feb 13, 1937Page 10Art Ross emphatically stating that Clapper is not for sale, at any price.
The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Mon, Feb 22, 1937Page 14The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Wed, Feb 24, 1937Page 23Winning goal was a Clapper SH variety (5th goal in 6 games).
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Sat, Mar 20, 1937Page 9The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Mon, Mar 22, 1937Page 16The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Fri, Mar 26, 1937Page 12The great Dal MacDonald of the Montreal Gazette giving a firsthand account of Clapper's move back to D late in the 1936-37 season.
"For one who hasn't played defense for 10 years, Clapper proven that he has a remarkable memory of the finer points of this position. Dit came to Boston Tigers, then the farm club of the Bruins, 10 years ago as a defenseman and was converted into a right winger by Art Ross. Mr. Clapper, like the elephant, apparently never forgets. Certainly tonight as he steadied down the Boston defense he looked like an old hand at the job.
Eddie Shore couldn't have done better."
From the game report same paper:
"Reinforced by Clapper, the Bruin rearguard units which were unsteady in Montreal, played sound hockey here and the Bruins played confidently all the way to win a merited triumph.
It was Clapper too, acting as the 4th F on a power play, who shot home the first goal and sent the Bruins on their victory march."
Star-Phoenix
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada • Wed, Nov 3, 1937Page 14The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Mon, Nov 15, 1937Page 8First game of the 37-38 campaign, Clapper on D. "Clapper will do at defense." Also called a "riot, knocking down 2 Rangers who tried to stop him."
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Tue, Dec 7, 1937Page 21The Boston Globe Archive
A fan tried to sue Clapper for 10K for being stuck by a puck shot by Dit,
The Brooklyn Citizen
Brooklyn, New York • Fri, Feb 18, 1938Page 6The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Fri, Feb 18, 1938Page 21The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Thu, Feb 24, 1938Page 8Boston Globe writer Vic Jones speaks to the ability of Clapper to protect his teammates.
Detroit Free Press
Detroit, Michigan • Mon, Dec 19, 1938Page 13Clapper beauty of a GW goal described
The Toronto Star
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Tue, Dec 20, 1938Page 11The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Tue, Dec 20, 1938Page 18The Morning Union
Springfield, Massachusetts • Wed, Jan 25, 1939Page 16Fantastic overview on Clapper during the 38-39 season.
Noted to "have dropped into the defensive post like a hand fits into an old glove. With his tremendous physical bulk and strength, his ability to hit a stunning body check, to break quick on attack and set up plays, he quickly became one of the most valuable players on the entire Bruin rear guard."
Edmonton Journal
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada • Thu, Jan 26, 1939Page 7Edmonton paper calls Clapper "one of the greatest hockey players of all time" during the musings of hockey rumor mill. It was suggested Clapper was headed to NY......but that obviously did not happen.
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Sat, Feb 4, 1939Page 7Baz O'Meara, the "hockey encyclopedia of Montreal" put Clapper and Babe Siebert on this AS team late in the 38-39 campaign over players like Earl Seibert and Art Coulter.
Evening Express
Portland, Maine • Mon, Feb 13, 1939Page 14Evening Express Archive
Clapper and Shore co-won the Bruins MVP award for the 38-39 season.
Star Weekly
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Sat, Feb 18, 1939Page 5Clapper's scoring from the blueline is stellar
Calgary Herald
Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Fri, Mar 3, 1939Page 7Western paper calls Clapper "almost a dead cinch for an all-star spot."
"Dit, who once played right wing on the famous dynamite line, has been winning huzzas all season for his work at stopping them coming in and getting past them when he starts traveling out."
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Mon, Mar 20, 1939Page 7The Boston Globe Archive
Clapper playing with a broken toe, has a 4 point night, starring for the Bruins.
The Moncton Transcript
Moncton, Moncton Parish, New Brunswick, Canada • Sat, Mar 25, 1939Page 6Bill Hutchinson opinion piece regarding the AS teams for the 38-39 season.
He states "An all-Boston defense appeals to this writer strongly. They play the game the way we like it. Shore and Clapper know how to bust them or steer them to a corner and nobody can deny they know what it is all about when it comes to ripping into enemy territory when goals are needed. Clapper's wing experience has not been forgotten and Shore always was an artist at starting scoring threats.
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Sat, Mar 25, 1939Page 6The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Wed, Mar 29, 1939Page 10The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Thu, Mar 30, 1939Page 20Vic Jones in an opinion piece, decries fighting, and notes that most hockey players are crappy "fighters". Clapper, however, led a group of players who buck that general trend in late 30's hockey. Dit was cited along with Bill Cook, Earl Seibert, Nels Stewart, and Lionel Conacher, along w/a few others who could actually fight on skates.
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Mon, Apr 3, 1939Page 8Clapper knocked another player out of a game (Shibicky) w/a body check.
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Mon, Apr 17, 1939Page 4Clapper doing some fine defensive work in the SCF clinching game
Wild fact. Both Clapper and Brimsek missed the Cup ceremony because they got into the showers too quickly! See picture below.
Daily News
New York, New York • Mon, Apr 17, 1939Page 126Great action shot of Clapper assisting on a Mel Hill goal during the SCF.
Daily Gleaner
Fredericton, York, New Brunswick, Canada • Tue, Oct 17, 1939Page 2Clapper announced Captain by Art Ross before 39-40 season.
Telegraph-Journal
Saint John, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada • Fri, Oct 20, 1939Page 8Clapper listed as 211 lbs prior to the 39-40 season.
The Toronto Star
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Sat, Oct 28, 1939Page 12Toronto Star refers to Clapper as a "great defenseman now." prior to 39-40 season.
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Wed, Nov 15, 1939Page 20Star Weekly
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Sat, Dec 2, 1939Page 36Scouting report/bio on Clapper
The Toronto Star
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Fri, Dec 22, 1939Page 11Toronto speaks to Clapper's defensive brilliance.
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Sat, Dec 23, 1939Page 4Outstanding Clapper overview by Gerry Moore of the Globe.
The Times-Transcript
Moncton, Moncton Parish, New Brunswick, Canada1940 Scouting report cites Clapper as being one of the most versatile players of all time. His size, strength, heavy bodychecking, and speed were cited and his puck carrying abilities meshed very well with Art Ross' style of play.
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Sat, Feb 3, 1940Page 4The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Tue, Feb 6, 1940Page 18The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Wed, Feb 7, 1940Page 11The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Wed, Feb 28, 1940Page 10The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Wed, Mar 13, 1940Page 21Clapper becomes 1st Bruin to win team MVP in unanimous vote.
Times Colonist
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Mar 13, 1940Page 13Western paper saying Clapper "has played better than ever at the blueline for the Bruins, since Eddie's departure. He also took home team MVP honors, after sharing it with Shore the previous season.
The Toronto Star
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Wed, Mar 13, 1940Page 16Collyer's Eye and The Baseball World
Chicago, Illinois • Sat, Mar 16, 1940Page 2Illinois paper picks Clapper as 1st team D for 1939-40 stating "There is no questioning the selection of Dit Clapper. He not only is the season's top defense man but the most valuable player in the NHL as well."
BIG praise from a Blackhawks writer.
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Mon, Mar 18, 1940Page 11Brooklyn Eagle
Brooklyn, New York • Tue, Mar 19, 1940Page 12Brooklyn NY paper citing Clapper as the only Bruin defender capable of being a threat carrying the puck, possessing "savvy" and is "in a class with Bauer/Cowley (at carrying the puck).
The Times-Transcript
Moncton, Moncton Parish, New Brunswick, Canada • Thu, Mar 21, 1940Page 2Clapper repeating as the 1st team AS by a "tremendous vote" commending his "all-around work as captain and rusher with the Bruins after the departure of Eddie Shore.
I feel strongly by this point in time, Clapper has ascended to best Dman in the world. Some considered him the best player period.
Times Colonist
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Mar 21, 1940Page 11Sun-Journal
Lewiston, Maine • Fri, Mar 29, 1940Page 12Clapper toughness noted.
The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Tue, Apr 16, 1940Page 16Feature on Clapper and Goodfellow being as rugged and tough as they come in the NHL. Conn Smythe apparently wanted Clapper more than any Dman of that time period. Obviously a trade never transpired.
The Montreal Star
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Fri, Apr 19, 1940Page 31Dick Irvin of Montreal wanted to acquire Clapper in 1940
The Montreal Star
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Wed, Apr 24, 1940Page 25Baz O'Meara stating that there is virtually no chance the rumors of Clapper being available are true. Trading Clapper would bring the roof in on Art Ross
The Toronto Star
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Wed, Aug 7, 1940Page 13Conn Smythe revisiting his efforts to try and lure Clapper away from Boston. Said Toronto would have "10 pennants dangling from the roof instead of one."
The Times-Transcript
Moncton, Moncton Parish, New Brunswick, Canada • Sat, Nov 2, 1940Page 2Cited as Canadian Press pick for an AS berth the previous 2 years, turning in "peak performances" of his career on the blueline.
The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Wed, Nov 6, 1940Page 14Clapper's coolness on the ice cited.
Telegraph-Journal
Saint John, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada • Mon, Jan 20, 1941Page 10Telegraph-Journal Archive
HJ Osborne feature on Clapper's 200th, stating Clapper "is looked on as one of the greatest of all-time stars in NHL warfare."
The Toronto Star
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Mon, Jan 20, 1941Page 11The Toronto Star Archive
The Herald-News
Passaic, New Jersey • Wed, Feb 5, 1941Page 17NJ paper feature on the importance of Clapper.
"It's hard to imagine them (rest of star players) achieving such a record without a big fellow named Aubrey Clapper in the line up every game.
"Clapper is still about the most important single individual on the Bruins team. Once a star forward, he's now the mainstay of a defense that's one of the best in the NHL, He still has the speed to go down and score a goal in an occasional "clutch."
The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Wed, Feb 5, 1941Page 11Clapper intercepting pass and going the length of the rink to score OT goal.
He was presented his 200th goal puck before the game by Ottawa mayor Stanley Lewis
The Republican
Springfield, Massachusetts • Fri, Feb 21, 1941Page 18Frank Boucher calls Clapper best player in the world, 1941 (he'd later repeat this a few years down the road).
The Bayonne Times
Bayonne, New Jersey • Tue, Feb 25, 1941Page 8The Bayonne Times Archive
"I rate him (Clapper) even above Eddie Shore."
Niagara Falls Review
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada • Mon, Mar 3, 1941Page 10Sports Editor Bill Gaynon of Ontario paper cites Clapper as generally the name most thrown out in 1941 for best defensemen in the NHL
Niagara Falls Review
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada • Mon, Mar 3, 1941Page 10Really neat 1 on 1 interview with Clapper, a number of topics discussed.
The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Fri, Mar 21, 1941Page 16"Clapper, captain of the Bruins, has been recognized as the league's outstanding defensemen, and the selectors showed this again by giving him 29 of a possible 30 votes."
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Sat, Mar 29, 1941Page 8The Montreal Star
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Tue, Apr 1, 1941Page 19The Sports Fan Cup (sounds like a fan vote for most popular player in the league) awarded by Bus Johnston saw Clapper edge out Syl Apps with 66,910 votes to 61,566.
The Windsor Star
Windsor, Ontario, Canada • Mon, Apr 14, 1941Page 18The Windsor Star Archive
Doug Vaughan, of the Windsor Star speaks to the dominance of the 1940-41 Bruins.
Calls Clapper "the best rearguard in the business today." Brimsek and Clapper sparked the Bruins in the SCF win vs Toronto w/Cowley missing time.
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Mon, Apr 14, 1941Page 8The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Sat, Apr 19, 1941Page 31Incredible piece on Clapper's leadership and contributions to the Bruins.
Bill Cowley states:
"I thought Clapper was a cinch to win the Hart Trophy. He played marvelous hockey for us this year. If there was any one man more responsible than another for our Stanley Cup victory, I think Clapper is that man. Dit's help to Bruins doesn't stop at being a great player. He's a grand fellow, looked up to by all the players and one of the finest leaders I have ever seen."
Much more written below...
North Bay Nugget
North Bay, Ontario, Canada • Sat, Nov 15, 1941Page 8The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Wed, Dec 3, 1941Page 23Dit Clapper winning a face-off as a defensemen.
North Bay Nugget
North Bay, Ontario, Canada • Fri, Dec 5, 1941Page 10North Bay Nugget Archive
Clapper wins the Sports Fan popularity contest and is presented with trophy by Bus Johnston in the Montreal forum. The voting tally is listed about 6-7 entries above this one.
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Tue, Dec 9, 1941Page 32Clapper is the feature and coverman for the 1941-42 NHL hockey guide publication.
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Tue, Jan 13, 1942Page 24The Portsmouth Herald
Portsmouth, New Hampshire • Wed, Jan 21, 1942Page 8The Portsmouth Herald Archive
Clapper was a heavyweight fighter throughout his career.
Detroit Free Press
Detroit, Michigan • Sun, Jan 25, 1942Page 11Huge praise for Clapper from Ebbie Goodfellow who picks his All Time-Opponent Team (players he's faced)
At defense, Goodfellow contends that Clapper, of the present Bruins, is as good if not better than any of the old stars. "There's a defensemen who is as smooth as they come," Goodfellow said of his Boston rival and that's praise indeed.
Press of Atlantic City
Atlantic City, New Jersey • Thu, Jan 29, 1942Page 11Waterloo Region Record
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada • Sat, Jan 31, 1942Page 8Waterloo Region Record Archive
Clapper named assistant manager (coach)
"Listing hockey's leading players, book them in the order of: Clapper, Apps, Schmidt, Heller, Hextall, Syd Howe, Mush March, Goodfellow, Tommy Anderson and Earl Seibert."
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Sat, Jan 31, 1942Page 6The Winnipeg Tribune
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada • Mon, Feb 2, 1942Page 14The Winnipeg Tribune Archive
Details of the Achilles injury
The Moncton Transcript
Moncton, Moncton Parish, New Brunswick, Canada • Mon, Feb 2, 1942Page 8Bill Hutchinson, sports editor notes that Clapper's loss for Boston is a big one, saying "the big defenseman probably is Boston's most important player."
The Toronto Star
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Mon, Feb 2, 1942Page 12The Toronto Star Archive
In depth look at Clapper's injury with quotes from players.
The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Mon, Feb 2, 1942Page 19Famous Ottawa Journal writer Bill Westwick notes Clapper's immense importance to Boston, especially during their last SC run.
"...the big rearguard who in a quiet way has done a lot more coaching of the Boston Club that he's ever been publicly credited with.
And even in the twilight of an illustrious major league career, Clapper still rates with the greatest."
The Calgary Albertan
Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Tue, Feb 3, 1942Page 10Ebbie Goodfellow picks his All-Opponents team (seemingly best players he ever faced) and Dit Clapper is on the 1st team, along with Shore, over both King Clancy and Ching Johnson. Remember, you also had Earl Seibert, Lionel Conacher, Babe Seibert, and Art Coulter who didn't make EG's list.
The Calgary Albertan
Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Tue, Feb 3, 1942Page 10The Calgary Albertan Archive
Harry Scott of Calgary highlighting the severe Achilles injury Clapper sustained midway through the 1941-42 season.
I think this is an important juncture in Clapper's career, at least as far as his time as a defenseman goes. The fact that he sustained such a rough injury, at his age (34), in 1942 with less modern methods of surgery/healthcare, etc, and then managed to return to full health and play essentially 4 more seasons, while making his way back onto the postseason AS team in 1943-44, speaks to the character of Clapper and ability.
At this point in time he's already played longer than the vast majority of NHL'ers ever, and was almost universally considered the best defenseman in the world, and some considered him the most valuable player period. You can see the Hart voting finishes in 1940 (3rd) and 41 (2nd) as a testament to that value.
Biddeford-Saco Journal
Biddeford, Maine • Fri, Feb 6, 1942Page 6Bill King of the Biddeford Maine paper says Clapper's injury is the biggest reason for Boston's losses.
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Tue, Feb 24, 1942Page 20The Boston Globe Archive
Clapper was a tough SOB. Roughly a month after having his Achilles cut, he's walking around without crutches or a cane.
"The team can't help getting a lift from the presence of Clapper, who was always an inspirational leader in his active role as captain."
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Wed, Feb 25, 1942Page 20Clapper acting coach while out w/the Achilles injury.
The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Mon, Mar 9, 1942Page 17Big praise from Dink Carroll of the Montreal Gazette, wondering if the Achilles injury to Clapper would be the end of his career, in a "Playing The Field" piece.
States "Only the greatest players last that long (15 years) and Clapper was certainly one of them. Up to the time of his injury he was still All-Star material."
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Sat, Mar 14, 1942Page 6Clapper's leadership noted and work behind the bench sparking Bruins.
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Mon, Mar 23, 1942Page 10Clapper coaching the Bruins to a playoff victory. Aggravated his injured achilles tendon by jumping up and down on the bench when the winning goal was scored.
Also cited as masterminding the team from the bench perfectly.
The Montreal Star
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Thu, Oct 22, 1942Page 25Detroit Evening Times
Detroit, Michigan • Fri, Oct 30, 1942Page 27Detroit previewing the return of Clapper from serious injury. A favorite in Detroit, his return is celebrated. Also was called a "brilliant wingman" by old timers.
Star Weekly
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Sat, Nov 28, 1942Page 18Nice Clapper feature in the Toronto paper cites Clapper as most durable player in NHL with a long career of star power.
The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Mon, Nov 30, 1942Page 18Early season 42-43 season, it seems like Clapper is already returning to his pre-injury form.
North Bay Nugget
North Bay, Ontario, Canada • Thu, Dec 3, 1942Page 18"For years, Clapper has been one of the most popular players in the big-time loop-and small wonder. Not only is he ace-high on performance, but he rates as one of the most sportsmanlike players in the circuit. Never in one season has he spent an hour on the penalty bench."
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Wed, Dec 16, 1942Page 25This is Clapper's first season after returning from the Achilles injury. Noted by Jack Adams to be having a "good season" but Hollett, Cowley and Brimsek the best Bruins to date. His heavy checking was still on point it seems.
In game report notes it was a hard checking game and best contest at the Garden to date, with Clapper handing out 4 body checks that wowed the crowd, smacking down Don Grosso, Syd Abel, Jimmy Orlando, and Bill Quackenbush to the ice."
The Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada • Thu, Dec 17, 1942Page 24Walter McMullen, sports editor details Clapper's career and standing all time ending w/ "so when compiling your list of the greats of hockey, place the name Mr. Clapper at the top, or thereabouts."
The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Sat, Dec 26, 1942Page 12Dink Carroll citing Clapper "is back to his old self" in the early portions of his first season since having Achilles sliced through less than a year ago.
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Sat, Feb 13, 1943Page 6The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Tue, Mar 16, 1943Page 24Commercial
Bangor, Maine • Wed, Oct 13, 1943Page 8Commercial Archive
Feature by Bill King on Clapper's career.
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Sun, Oct 31, 1943Page 28Clapper and Rocket had a fight in 1943
The Toronto Star
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Thu, Nov 4, 1943Page 16Andy Lytle recalling the great Moose Johnson. saying "he had the fire and zest of King Clancy in the body of Dit Clapper"
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Wed, Nov 17, 1943Page 18The Moncton Transcript
Moncton, Moncton Parish, New Brunswick, Canada • Thu, Nov 18, 1943Page 8The Morning Union
Springfield, Massachusetts • Fri, Dec 17, 1943Page 25The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Wed, Dec 22, 1943Page 6The Windsor Star
Windsor, Ontario, Canada • Tue, Jan 4, 1944Page 19Earl Seibert picks Clapper and Shore for his 1st team D on his all-time opponents team.
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Wed, Jan 26, 1944Page 9The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Fri, Feb 25, 1944Page 18"Dit is practically an institution with the Bruins, one of those players in a million. No player with whom I have ever been associated has given me more pleasure from a manager's point of view.
But you come to Clapper and you have a great forward when he was up front. You put him back on the defense and he continues to star. And all the way he has been of the best influences any hockey club ever had in its ranks. The older players like him; the young ones admire him.
If I had to name an all-star all-time Hart trophy winner I'd name Dit. He typifies the true winner of the award."
-Art Ross
The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Wed, Mar 1, 1944Page 16Recalling how Clapper was instrumental in Maurice Richard learning the lesson of keeping your head up.
The Winnipeg Tribune
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada • Fri, Oct 20, 1944Page 16Incredible late career retrospective by Herb Manning of the Winnipeg Tribune.
Some key highlights:
"Eddie Shore was a dynamic, colorful figure with Boston's Bruins and he wound up finally with the title of Mr. Hockey-a super-giant among the giants of the slippery game.
But Clapper is colorful too, and a more efficient craftsman than Shore, a better team player, in the estimation of hockey men who know him.
Frank Boucher cites Clapper as "greatest ice general he ever saw, with highly developed powers of leadership and the ability to inspire and preserve balance among his associates. His outstanding characteristic is his talent for leadership."
The Windsor Star
Windsor, Ontario, Canada • Tue, Oct 24, 1944Page 21Late career feature on Clapper
The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Tue, Oct 24, 1944Page 10Frank Boucher calls Clapper best player in game in 1944 and the "greatest ice general he ever saw".
The Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada • Fri, Oct 27, 1944Page 28The Hamilton Spectator Archive
Preseason write up on Clapper for the 44-45 season
Springfield Evening Union
Springfield, Massachusetts • Tue, Dec 19, 1944Page 12The Republican
Springfield, Massachusetts • Fri, Feb 9, 1945Page 14Clapper picks his All-Time Hockey Team.
Daily News
New York, New York • Sun, Feb 25, 1945Page 68"Red Dutton, league prexy, has written a book in which he lists an all-time all-star team..."right wing, Clapper"
Since being moved to the back-lines, the 6-foot-2, 195 pounder has reached new heights. For the past eight seasons he has been among the leading defensemen, his speedy skating still counts heavily. Despite the rough checks he dishes out, Clapper is thoroughly a gentleman, universally well liked and a ball-player's ballplayer."
Detroit Evening Times
Detroit, Michigan • Tue, Mar 6, 1945Page 16Leo McDonald of Detroit Times calls Clapper an "all-time, all-great" player in this piece in which Clapper picks his all time team. Nice read.
Evening Express
Portland, Maine • Fri, Feb 9, 1945Page 15Clapper picking his AS team...."However, few pink experts would omit the name of Aubrey Dit Clapper from any all-star aggregation...Clapper stepped into Eddie Shore's famous skates as a defenseman where he has been consistently tops."
The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Thu, Mar 8, 1945Page 16Montreal paper calls Clapper "one of the all-time defense greats of the NHL."
The Barre Daily Times
Barre, Vermont • Tue, Mar 27, 1945Page 2The Windsor Star
Windsor, Ontario, Canada • Fri, Oct 26, 1945Page 27The Witness
Bradford, Ontario, Canada • Wed, Mar 6, 1946Page 2The Witness Archive
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Fri, Sep 6, 1946Page 18The Boston Globe Archive
Recalling the one time in Clapper's career where he lost his composure and socked newly appointed president of the league, Clarence Campbell (then a ref) during a game in 1937. After KO'ing Dave Trottier, Campbell made a snide remark to Clapper during the brawl and got a punch for it. Campbell admitted his role in the punch and there was no ill-will between them.
The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Fri, Dec 27, 1946Page 18The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Sun, Feb 9, 1947Page 33Art Ross cites Clapper's ability to learn and absorb lessons early in his career as one of his biggest assets in becoming a HOF caliber player.
The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Wed, Feb 12, 1947Page 18Fantastic end of career look at Clapper by Ottawa writer Tommy Shields. You'll see his retirement was not only celebrated greatly in Boston, it was a league wide affair with each team giving a special presentation to Clapper for his career achievements.
Also, a heroic story mentioned where Clapper helped save the lives of 3 of his friends when their boat flipped over and he had to swim half a mile to shore, to retrieve a 2nd boat.
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Wed, Feb 12, 1947Page 18The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Thu, Feb 13, 1947Page 19Some great photos of Clapper's jersey that ended up in the HOF. More hardware presented. At the end of the article you can see the remaining schedule for "Clapper night".
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Thu, Feb 13, 1947Page 11Daily Sentinel
Rome, New York • Tue, Feb 18, 1947Page 10Daily Sentinel Archive
Clapper's fighting ability cited
The Times
Hammond, Indiana • Thu, Feb 20, 1947Page 11Detroit Free Press
Detroit, Michigan • Fri, Feb 21, 1947Page 16Really neat picture of Clapper accepting a silver bowl from the Jack Adams, on behalf of the Detroit Red Wings during his final season in the league.
The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Mon, Mar 3, 1947Page 18Clapper being presented with silver tray during his final game in Montreal.
The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Mon, Mar 17, 1947Page 18Fantastic career overview on Clapper by Dink Carroll, another citation of his generalship of the ice being made by someone who witnessed him firsthand. Dink will later compare his generalship and IQ to that of Harvey in 1961.
The Toronto Star
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Sat, Nov 1, 1947Page 13The Toronto Star
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Sat, Dec 11, 1948Page 18The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Sun, Mar 23, 1952Page 88The Boston Globe Archive
More 1st hand accounts of Clapper being the policeman for Boston's smaller players.
The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Fri, Dec 4, 1953Page 28The Gazette Archive
Longtime Bruin team physician, Dr Kelley. cites Shore, Clapper and Schmidt as the most durable and rugged players over his tenure (now 1953).
The Montreal Star
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Fri, Dec 24, 1954Page 34Feature for series being done by Red Fischer, written by Clapper, remembering his 200th goal.
The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Fri, Nov 2, 1956Page 20More testaments to how well liked Clapper was/is. Plus this entry and next speak to his AS picks and thoughts on current players. You can tell he knows hockey given the players he put forth.
The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Fri, Nov 2, 1956Page 27Great interview w/Clapper.
The Vancouver News-Herald
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Fri, Nov 2, 1956Page 8The Montreal Star
Montreal, Quebec, Canada · Monday, April 07, 1958Wonderful analysis and comparison between Clapper and Doug Harvey by the all time great writer Baz O'meara who's career started in 1910 (Ottawa Journal) and later spent 30+ years at the Montreal Star (1929 through late 60's). He has some of the most in depth opinion pieces I've seen in all my research over the years.
Main points:
Clapper was a standout at controlling the game from the blueline ala Harvey
Cited as being a touch faster, a heavier body checker than Harvey
Caught Rocket Richard w/his head down in an early career game
Cited as not being overshadowed by Eddie Shore and called a "more competent defender" than his former teammate. This tracks with Clapper calling Shore the best offensive defensemen he ever saw in the entry just above this.
The Montreal Star
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Wed, Jul 13, 1960Page 35Another man w/a lot of hockey knowledge, Elmer Ferguson, with a fantastic overview of Clapper's longevity, skills/abilities, ability to pair well with numerous teammates at F and D.
The Times-Transcript
Moncton, Moncton Parish, New Brunswick, Canada • Sat, Mar 18, 1961Page 13The Times-Transcript Archive
Another profile by another long time writer Lloyd Percival talking about Clapper's ability to control the play, remain calm and collected on the back end. 2 way play cited.
The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Tue, Jun 6, 1961Page 22The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Fri, Sep 18, 1964Page 15Feature on Bobby Bauer highlights how Clapper, not Shore, was the policeman for Boston.
The Toronto Star
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Wed, Jan 4, 1967Page 39The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Sun, Feb 16, 1969Page 82The Toronto Star
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Fri, Jan 20, 1978Page 17The Toronto Star
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Mon, Jan 23, 1978Page 8The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Sat, Jan 21, 1978Page 15The Leader-Post
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada • Fri, Oct 21, 1983Page 19This article in response to Harry Sinden allowing Guy Lapointe to wear the retired #5 jersey of Clapper, which didn't sit well with a lot of folks, including Clapper's family.
The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Mon, May 11, 1998Page 30The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sun, Apr 4, 1999Page 52National Post
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Tue, Jan 11, 2005Page 57Milt Schmidt would pick Dit Clapper (along with Orr) over Eddie Shore, Ray Bourque or any other Boston great to play in a game 7, tie game, 1 minute left.
North Bay Nugget
North Bay, Ontario, Canada • Sat, Aug 25, 2007Page 39The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts • Sun, Mar 6, 2016Page C2Attachments
-
1739163211986.png -
1739163598583.png -
1739163661841.png -
1739163661862.png -
1739164582853.png -
1739164612068.png -
1739165012627.png -
1739165042940.png -
1739165405977.png -
1739165472846.png -
1739685428157.png -
1739723747021.png -
1739727098128.png -
1739727138963.png -
1739735770704.png -
1739747390918.png -
1739940610081.png -
1740031797664.png -
1740031890119.png -
1740032236309.png -
1740032589948.png -
1740543106637.png -
1740543159097.png -
1740543233353.png -
1740543269673.png -
1740543298872.png -
1740545847773.png -
1740546124973.png -
1740546447307.png -
1740549066509.png
Last edited:
Professor What
Registered User
Frank Mahovlich
Thanks to @Voight for his previous bio, from which many of these quotes are taken.
Six-Time Stanley Cup Champion (1962, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1971, 1973)
Three-time First-Team All-Star, Six-Time Second-Team All-Star
Goal Finishes: 2,2,2,2,3,4,6,7
Assist Finishes: 7,8,10
Point Finishes: 3,4,5,6,7,10,10
7-year VsX: 87.8
10-year VsX: 84.1
Mahovlich scored 48 goals, and during this season it became so clear he was going to be a superstar for many years to come that Chicago offered the Leafs a cool one million dollars for the player. The Leafs rejected the offer, and Toronto went on to win four Stanley Cups in the next six years. -- Canada Sports Hall of Fame
In Montreal, Mahovlich was transformed from a great goalscorer into a premier playmaker. -- Century of Hockey Heroes
Mahovlich was a big man with a long powerful stride that powered himself through the opposing team's defense. Add to that his uncanny stickhandling and an overpowering shot, and Mahovlich was pretty much a perfect hockey player. -- Greatest Hockey Legends
Mahovlich led the Maple Leafs in goal scoring every season from 1960-61 to 1965-66 and also led the team in points five times. He was the main offensive weapon on Toronto teams that won the Stanley Cup in 1962, 1963, 1964, and 1967. -- Hockey's Glory Days
Mahovlich's physical attributes were a sight to behold when he was in full flight. He skated with an easy, fluid stride and made good use of his long reach, strength and laser like shot. He showed an ability to run over the opposition, especially defenseman who were in his way when he wanted to drive to the net. It was unfortunate that the rather critical Toronto public always expected Mahovlich to play like a superstar on the rampage. -- Hockey's Golden Era
He was an All-Star in half of the NHL’s “Original 6” cities, played on both sides of the biggest rivalry in the game, won six Stanley Cups, and then served in the Canadian Senate when his playing days concluded.
He scored 20 goals and 36 points in his first full season and beat out fellow Hall of Famer Bobby Hull for the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie. This was the first of 16 NHL seasons with at least 20 goals for the “Big M.” -- Hockey Writers
The next couple of years saw Frank Mahovlich score over 30 goals per season but his strained relationship with coach Punch Imlach and the fans was a constant distraction. He sufferred from depression and maybe even a nervous breakdown in 1967, missing a month of the regular season. Yet he helped the Maple Leafs win 4 Stanley Cup championships in the 1960s, including their victory in 1967. -- Home of the Leafs
He's the main reason im my memory that (the Montreal Canadiens) won the Stanley Cup (in 1971). -- Dick Irvin, Jr.
Frank Mahovlich was a talented and classy winger, a large man with the skills and hands of a pure scorer.
In Detroit, Mahovlich played more minutes than ever on the first line on the powerplay and sometimes even killed penalties. When Howe became the third player to break the 100-point plateau in the 1968-69 season, Mahovlich was cited as a significant factor. -- Kings of the Ice
Frank Mahovlich was a talented and classy winger, a large man with the skills and hands of a pure scorer. Known as "the Big M," Mahovlich was touted as a superstar while still a teenager. He went on to have a marvelous career, patrolling the left wing for 22 professional seasons in both the NHL and WHA. Many of those years were filled with glory as he earned individual awards and the Stanley Cup, but Mahovlich struggled through most of his hockey life with the stress that comes from great expectations. -- Legends of Hockey
Mahovlich moved like a thoroughbred, with a strong, fluid style that made it look as if he was galloping through the opposition. In full flight, he was an imposing figure. An explosive skater, Mahovlich could spot the right moment to turn it on and burst in on goal. He had a great move where he would take the puck off the wing, cut into the middle of the ice and try to bust through two defencemen for a chance on goal. He didn't always get through but when he did he scored some memorable goals. -- Maple Leafs Legends
The Canadiens acquired the dominant winger on January 13, 1971. The deal paid instant dividends as, in the 38 regular-season games remaining for hte Canadiens, Mahovlich scored 17 goals and dished out 24 assists.
However, it was in the playoffs that he really showed his exemplary talents. During the Canadiens successful Stanley Cup campaign that year, Mahovlich scored 14 goals and garnered 12 assists in 20 games, a team record at the time.
Mahovlich was again a major factor in the Canadiens successful 1972-73 campaign, when they again won the Stanley Cup. -- Montreal Canadiens CD-ROM
The “Big M” built on his skills, becoming one of Toronto’s top offensive threat in the 1960s. In the 1960-61 campaign, Mahovlich scored 84 Points, which would be a personal best in Toronto, and he led the league in Even Strength Goals (41). Mahovlich was named a First Team All-Star that year, and he would help lead the Maple Leafs to the first of three straight Stanley Cup wins. -- Not in Hall of Fame
It's hard to think of anybody playing any better, two-way hockey in two sets of playoffs, 1971 and 1973, than Frank Mahovlich did. He would kill penalties with Jacques Lemaire, he was on the powerplay and scored big goals and was just a wonderful player in those cup wins. -- Frank Orr
A genial, gentle man, Mahovlich was probably the most charismatic and certainly the most gifted player the Leafs have enjoyed. If not for the curtain, or rather the forces that necessitated it, Mahovlich and not Bobby Hull might have been the dominant player of his generation.
An arresting skater, stickhandler and shooter
To Leaf fans, Mahovlich's talents seemed so limitless, any game in which he was held scoreless must have been one he was taking off. He was booed, regulary and voraciously and Imlach never bothered to pronounce his name correctly.
His skills, so obviously mismanaged in Toronto, created universal demand. -- Top 100 NHL Players
Mahovlich established himself as one of the greatest scorers in hockey. [...] Mahovlich led the Maple Leafs in goal-scoring every season from 1960-61 to 1965-66. He was the main offensive weapon on Toronto's team that won the Stanley Cup in 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967. -- Total Hockey
Frank was a big man who skated with long powerful strides, the puck well out in front seemingly glued to his stick. He was a fine stickhandler with a hard and accurate shot. He could be very aggressive if ruffed but played hard clean hockey. He had an unusual temperament and at times could become quite moody. He was tried as a centre but then moved to left wing where he established himself as one of the best. -- Trail of the Stanley Cup
A strong argument can be made that Frank Mahovlich was the most physically talented man ever to sport the Toronto Maple Leaf colors. Other might contend that he was one of the laziest players to ever to put on the blue and white. -- Ultimate Hockey
Quotes from Players
Imlach never spoke to Frank Mahovlich or me for most of the season, and when he did, it was to criticize. Frank usually go the worst. We are athletes, not machines, and Frank is the type that needs some encouragement, a pat on the shoulder ever so often. -- Andy Bathgate
Mahovlich took over like Charlie Conacher used to do in his heyday. He turned those Ranger defensemen inside out with his shifts, change if pace an stickhandling. -- King Clancy
He's one of the toughest guys in hockey to defend against. He's big, fast, strong and an excellent stickhandler with a two-way shift and an extension-ladder reach. He just moves that puck out of your reach or bulls you out of the way when you try to trap him along the boards ... The guy's murder! -- Bill Gadsby
“Every time I’ve seen Mahovlich this season everything he has shot has gone in the net,” said Bronco. “Our net. He doesn’t even look as though he’s trying to score. He just fires away and gets goals. -- Bronco Horvath
If Toronto fans would appreciate his great talent and give him the cheers he deserves instead of booing him, maybe the pressure wouldn’t cook the guy. -- Gordie Howe
Bobby Hull may score more goals, but no one scores better goals than Frank. -- Dave Keon
Quotes form Board Members
Playing with the Leafs the synergy was there with Red Kelly and he was able to integrate into the style favoured by the Leafs. He brought physicality and defensive responsibility to the rink, levels of playmaking and defense. -- Canadiens1958
Notes:
Despite playing in the defensive-oriented system of the Maple Leafs through his prime, Mahovlich managed 48 goals in the 1960-61 season, nearly matching Geoffrion's mark of being the second player to ever score 50 goals in a season.
Mahovlich scored 30+ goals 10 times during his career, accomplishing the feat with three different teams. He also had a 40+ goal season with each of Toronto, Detroit, and Montreal
Last edited:
ImporterExporter
"You're a boring old man"
Ernie "Moose" Johnson, D/W
Active Career Sources:
Erroneous reports that Moose was near death.
"To the Wanderer team Johnson is what Fred Taylor was to Ottawa"
Not surprisingly, Johnson being called a sure bet for an AS nod after SC performance vs Ottawa in 1910
"Experts said he was a second Hod Stuart"
Pete Green, coach of Ottawa, wanted Johnson badly.
Johnson scouting report. Noted brilliant defence player, has lost two of his fingers on right hand (when younger), makes his performance all the more marvelous.
Early 1911, Moose Johnson gets called most sensational player in the world (over Taylor and others)
Johnson was punished for breaking team rules multiple times.
Johnson and Taylor called "two of greatest players in the world". This again by an Ottawa paper, not Montreal.
"For years mainstay of Wanderers and according to Lester Patrick, is a whole show in itself"
"According to eastern critics, Johnson is the greatest hockey player in the game"
"Moose considered best coverpoint in hockey"
"Now best man in the position (coverpoint) in the east"
Moose "living up to his eastern reputation"
Johnson "acknowledged by eastern critics who should know to be the best hockey player in the Dominion today"
Moose leadership starting to show up.
Details of the severe eye injury Moose suffered after being struck by a shot from Newsy Lalonde.
The first installment of why Johnson has an argument as the toughest player of all time. Went back into game after the Lalonde puck to the eye, horrible pain, sight in one eye, and played spectacularly, scoring a goal with 1 second left in regulation to send game to overtime.
First game back after injury, wasn't quite himself early but rounded into his usual form in final period.
Suffers bad shoulder injury
Moose making the all-star squad as unanimous choice "everyone seems to concede Johnson is the king pin cover in the game"
AS squads of 1912
"played that kind of game which marked him about the best man in his position prior to injury to eye"
"One of best known hockey players in Canada"
Johnson jumping from NHA to PCHA caused a big stir out east. Was "biggest drawing card in the league"
"With Fred Taylor and Ernie Johnson the coast fans will see two of the greatest hockey players in the world"
Moose noted "speed merchant and grand blocker" makes 1st team AS in 1913.
Moose knocks Taylor out of game with big hit.
"Conceded to be one of the greatest players in the game"
1st game back after missing almost a month with 14 stitches in ankle (skate blade) played splendid game
1914 All-Star
Tom Murray (goalie) states that Moose "is the best defence player he ever played behind"
Suffers a serious fractured jaw and still plays a dominant game
Noted bad luck run of serious injuries. He still plays regardless.
Broken ribs. Stays in game.
Great feature speaking to the difference between Nighbor (hook) and Johnson's (poke) checking styles. You'll see numerous entries later that cement that it was Moose Johnson who originated the poke check with Montreal.
Great overview of Johnson
1915 AS squads. Fantastic overview of Moose's dominance
"Johnson is without equal as a defence player in professional hockey"
"Moose, at his worst, is far superior to some defense men in the professional game at their best"
Incredible article by Barney Gross on Moose. Well worth reading the entirety.
"Copyrighted the poke check"
Great pictorial of how many serious injuries Johnson has sustained already by 1916.
"considered the greatest defense man in hockey today"
"far-famed Moose Johnson"
1917 AS teams - Johnson unanimous
"Mickey Mackay, as an offensive and defensive worker is, in our opinion, the class of the PCHA. He interrupts more plays in the course of a game than any other single player, not excepting the great and only Moose Johnson"
"Moose fame is well known over the ice hockey circuit"
Unanimous all-star 1918
Moose "in a class by himself at breaking up combination players"
"Has been one of the greatest defence men in the game"
Moose has cleaned up his game, despite retaining his dominant physical style.
The Vancouver Sun Archive
"There is not a more popular player in the league than Johnson"
“Greatest Defence Player of All Time”
“gamest player who ever donned a pair of tubes”
“For fifteen years Johnson has been playing professional hockey and during that time he has established a reputation as being the greatest defence man in the national game.
"Moose is known as the most fearless player in the world"
"The daddy of them all"
"his deadly poke check"
…"the defensive brilliancy of Moose Johnson will go down in the pages of Victoria’s history.
If the Moose stopped one Seattle rush at the blueline, he stopped a hundred."
"Johnson makes a spectacular rover."
"His poke check broke up the Vancouver rushes long before they assumed very dangerous proportions."
“The big fellow, who first started propelling a puck in the ice sport when the majority of his teammates of today were only knee high to a grasshopper, continues to reign as one of the kingpin defense men of the PCHA.”
Incredible game report on Moose Johnson "night".
“Moose is the spectacular being in the PCHA. There is no other player in the league that approaches him for sensational effectiveness.”
Moose's dominance against the Seattle Metro's is detailed. The Mets describe how they are going to figure him out. You'll see in the next entry, what transpired.
AP Garvey highlights the great season, at 37, Moose is having.
The next few entries will focus on why Moose Johnson decided to abruptly quit the game in the middle of the 1921-22 season.
Moose responding to the questions about why he retired without notice.
Billy Evans with a wonderful outside perspective on Johnson quitting.
Fantastic article by Tony McKinley on the career of Johnson.
Another reference from Alf Smith confirming Johnson developed and mastered the poke check before anyone.
Incredible piece by Irvin Rudick highlights just how impressive the dominance of Johnson was given he lost 3 fingers on his left hand as a youngster.
As you've seen above and will continue to see below this, Johnson's famous poke check is noted and you even get to read Johnson describing why he used that style specifically.
Bobby Rowe is quoted "Moose was certainly the greatest defense man that ever played hockey anywhere. I make no exceptions."
“I love to play hockey,” said Moose. “I would rather play hockey than eat, and many a time I have.”
"Johnson, probably the most famous and feared player in the league when Cyclone Taylor, Lester Patrick, Dick Irvin and many others were heroes..."
Toronto paper citing Johnson is "well known to fans from the coast of Canada to the other"
Andy Lytle, long time writer for the Sun, fondly remembering how amazing Johnson was.
Former teammate, Jack Marshall, in 1934 says that Moose was one of the best defensemen of his era. His only equals being Hod Stuart and Harvey Pulford.
Arthur Mann confirming what you've seen to date, that Moose Johnson earned the title as toughest hockey player of all time.
Alf Smith confirming that it was indeed Moose who originated the poke check
"Moose had the fire and zest of a Clancy in the body of a Clapper"
Long time Editor of the Oregonian reminiscing about Johnson's legendary career.
"Perhaps the greatest defense man ever behind a blue line"
“His hockey fame is still so great that a Montreal writer recently recalled his hook-checking feats with that long stick and spoke of him, which he certainly was, as the best hook checker in history; but he was even better with the poke check.”
Incredible find. Numerous all time greatest pick their historical all-star teams, by era, up until this point in time. Moose Johnson places on 2 of the "Prior to 1926" teams. Not surprisingly, you can see it's very split to those who played/operated in the west vs east during that time period. But he tied Hod Stuart w/2 mentions.
“There has never been another poke check like his”
“Nine times of out of ten, the Moose would poke the puck away…”
HOF citation for Johnson. In this entry and most of the rest, you'll see reference to his "famous", "unequaled" poke check.
Great feature as we hear from Bobby Rowe, remembering Johnson.
Active Career Sources:
The Toronto Star
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Tue, Nov 21, 1905Page 10The Montreal Star
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Mon, Mar 4, 1907Page 3
The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Fri, Mar 29, 1907Page 14Erroneous reports that Moose was near death.
The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Mon, Dec 16, 1907Page 8The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Mon, Dec 30, 1907Page 7The Toronto Star
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Mon, Mar 2, 1908Page 8The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Sat, Mar 21, 1908Page 17The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Sat, Nov 28, 1908Page 8The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Thu, Dec 24, 1908Page 8The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Mon, Feb 1, 1909Page 2The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Wed, Jan 19, 1910Page 5The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Mon, Feb 21, 1910Page 8"To the Wanderer team Johnson is what Fred Taylor was to Ottawa"
The Evening Mail
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada • Sat, Mar 5, 1910Page 2The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Mon, Mar 7, 1910Page 8The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Mon, Mar 7, 1910Page 4The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Tue, Mar 8, 1910Page 13The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Tue, Mar 8, 1910Page 13Not surprisingly, Johnson being called a sure bet for an AS nod after SC performance vs Ottawa in 1910
The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Tue, Mar 8, 1910Page 13The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Fri, Mar 18, 1910Page 8"Experts said he was a second Hod Stuart"
Calgary Herald
Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Sat, Oct 1, 1910Page 8The Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada • Sat, Nov 5, 1910Page 10Pete Green, coach of Ottawa, wanted Johnson badly.
The Montreal Star
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Thu, Dec 15, 1910Page 2Johnson scouting report. Noted brilliant defence player, has lost two of his fingers on right hand (when younger), makes his performance all the more marvelous.
The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Mon, Jan 9, 1911Page 4The Toronto Star
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Wed, Jan 11, 1911Page 13Early 1911, Moose Johnson gets called most sensational player in the world (over Taylor and others)
The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Thu, Jan 19, 1911Page 8The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Mon, Jan 30, 1911Page 4The Montreal Star
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Fri, Feb 10, 1911Page 8Johnson was punished for breaking team rules multiple times.
The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Wed, Feb 15, 1911Page 8The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Wed, Mar 1, 1911Page 10The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Mon, Mar 20, 1911Page 8Johnson and Taylor called "two of greatest players in the world". This again by an Ottawa paper, not Montreal.
The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Mon, Mar 20, 1911Page 12The New York Times
New York, New York • Wed, Mar 22, 1911Page 9The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Mon, Jul 31, 1911Page 4The Calgary Albertan
Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Fri, Nov 3, 1911Page 6"For years mainstay of Wanderers and according to Lester Patrick, is a whole show in itself"
The Calgary Albertan
Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Tue, Nov 14, 1911Page 6"According to eastern critics, Johnson is the greatest hockey player in the game"
The Calgary Albertan
Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Tue, Nov 14, 1911Page 6Times Colonist
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Nov 21, 1911Page 7"Moose considered best coverpoint in hockey"
The Edmonton Bulletin
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada • Wed, Nov 29, 1911Page 7The Winnipeg Tribune
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada • Mon, Dec 4, 1911Page 6"Now best man in the position (coverpoint) in the east"
The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Jan 3, 1912Page 10Moose "living up to his eastern reputation"
The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Jan 3, 1912Page 7The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Fri, Jan 5, 1912Page 10Johnson "acknowledged by eastern critics who should know to be the best hockey player in the Dominion today"
The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Jan 17, 1912Page 10The Winnipeg Tribune
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada • Wed, Jan 17, 1912Page 6Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Jan 17, 1912Page 14The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Jan 17, 1912Page 6The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Jan 20, 1912Page 6The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Jan 24, 1912Page 10Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Jan 31, 1912Page 14Moose leadership starting to show up.
Daily News Advertiser
Vancouver, Metro Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Jan 31, 1912Page 8The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Feb 3, 1912Page 6Details of the severe eye injury Moose suffered after being struck by a shot from Newsy Lalonde.
Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Feb 3, 1912Page 14The first installment of why Johnson has an argument as the toughest player of all time. Went back into game after the Lalonde puck to the eye, horrible pain, sight in one eye, and played spectacularly, scoring a goal with 1 second left in regulation to send game to overtime.
Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Feb 13, 1912Page 12The Winnipeg Tribune
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada • Tue, Feb 13, 1912Page 6The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Feb 17, 1912Page 10First game back after injury, wasn't quite himself early but rounded into his usual form in final period.
The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Feb 17, 1912Page 6Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Feb 17, 1912Page 14Suffers bad shoulder injury
The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Feb 17, 1912Page 7The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Feb 21, 1912Page 8Moose making the all-star squad as unanimous choice "everyone seems to concede Johnson is the king pin cover in the game"
The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Feb 21, 1912Page 6The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Fri, Mar 22, 1912Page 6Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Mon, Apr 1, 1912Page 14AS squads of 1912
The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Apr 3, 1912Page 6Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Mon, Apr 8, 1912Page 15"played that kind of game which marked him about the best man in his position prior to injury to eye"
The Moncton Transcript
Moncton, Moncton Parish, New Brunswick, Canada • Tue, Oct 22, 1912Page 6"One of best known hockey players in Canada"
The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Mon, Dec 2, 1912Page 9Johnson jumping from NHA to PCHA caused a big stir out east. Was "biggest drawing card in the league"
The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Mon, Dec 2, 1912Page 8Daily News Advertiser
Vancouver, Metro Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada • Sun, Dec 8, 1912Page 18Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Dec 10, 1912Page 16The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Dec 11, 1912Page 8The Winnipeg Tribune
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada • Thu, Dec 12, 1912Page 6"With Fred Taylor and Ernie Johnson the coast fans will see two of the greatest hockey players in the world"
Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Mon, Jan 27, 1913Page 14The Sault Star
Sault St. Marie, Ontario, Canada • Mon, Jan 27, 1913Page 5Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Jan 29, 1913Page 14The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Mon, Feb 17, 1913Page 10Daily News Advertiser
Vancouver, Metro Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada • Sun, Feb 23, 1913Page 12The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Mar 1, 1913Page 8Moose noted "speed merchant and grand blocker" makes 1st team AS in 1913.
The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Mar 1, 1913Page 12Moose knocks Taylor out of game with big hit.
The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Mar 8, 1913Page 1The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Mar 12, 1913Page 10Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Mar 19, 1913Page 15The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Mon, Mar 31, 1913Page 10
Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Mon, Sep 22, 1913Page 1"Conceded to be one of the greatest players in the game"
Daily News Advertiser
Vancouver, Metro Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Dec 6, 1913Page 8Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Dec 6, 1913Page 14The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Mon, Dec 22, 1913Page 4Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Jan 17, 1914Page 141st game back after missing almost a month with 14 stitches in ankle (skate blade) played splendid game
The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Jan 31, 1914Page 8The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Feb 10, 1914Page 101914 All-Star
The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Dec 3, 1914Page 7The Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Mon, Dec 7, 1914Page 8The Winnipeg Tribune
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada • Sat, Dec 11, 1915Page 19Tom Murray (goalie) states that Moose "is the best defence player he ever played behind"
The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Dec 16, 1914Page 6The Oregon Daily Journal
Portland, Oregon • Wed, Dec 16, 1914Page 12The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Dec 17, 1914Page 4Suffers a serious fractured jaw and still plays a dominant game
The Oregon Daily Journal
Portland, Oregon • Sun, Dec 27, 1914Page 24The Sunday Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Sun, Jan 3, 1915Page 24Noted bad luck run of serious injuries. He still plays regardless.
The Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Wed, Jan 6, 1915Page 12Broken ribs. Stays in game.
The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Jan 7, 1915Page 4The Sunday Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Sun, Jan 10, 1915Page 18Great feature speaking to the difference between Nighbor (hook) and Johnson's (poke) checking styles. You'll see numerous entries later that cement that it was Moose Johnson who originated the poke check with Montreal.
The Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Wed, Jan 20, 1915Page 12The Oregon Daily Journal
Portland, Oregon • Sun, Jan 24, 1915Page 19Great overview of Johnson
The Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Sat, Feb 27, 1915Page 10The Oregon Daily Journal
Portland, Oregon • Sun, Feb 28, 1915Page 181915 AS squads. Fantastic overview of Moose's dominance
"Johnson is without equal as a defence player in professional hockey"
"Moose, at his worst, is far superior to some defense men in the professional game at their best"
The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Fri, Oct 22, 1915Page 6The Oregon Daily Journal
Portland, Oregon • Tue, Oct 26, 1915Page 12The Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Sat, Dec 11, 1915Page 13The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Dec 15, 1915Page 13The Seattle Star
Seattle, Washington • Sat, Dec 18, 1915Page 7Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Jan 12, 1916Page 10Daily News Advertiser
Vancouver, Metro Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada • Sun, Jan 16, 1916Page 12Incredible article by Barney Gross on Moose. Well worth reading the entirety.
"Copyrighted the poke check"
The Oregon Daily Journal
Portland, Oregon • Sun, Jan 16, 1916Page 15The Oregon Daily Journal
Portland, Oregon • Sun, Jan 30, 1916Page 16Great pictorial of how many serious injuries Johnson has sustained already by 1916.
Star-Phoenix
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada • Fri, Feb 11, 1916Page 6The Sunday Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Sun, Feb 13, 1916Page 21The Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Sat, Feb 19, 1916Page 12The Sioux City Journal
Sioux City, Iowa • Sat, Mar 18, 1916Page 14"considered the greatest defense man in hockey today"
The New York Times
New York, New York • Wed, Apr 5, 1916Page 14"far-famed Moose Johnson"
The Oregon Daily Journal
Portland, Oregon • Sun, Nov 19, 1916Page 19The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Mon, Nov 20, 1916Page 6The Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Sat, Dec 9, 1916Page 16The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington • Mon, Dec 11, 1916Page 11The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington • Wed, Dec 13, 1916Page 16The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington • Tue, Dec 12, 1916Page 14The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Dec 13, 1916Page 14The Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Sat, Dec 16, 1916Page 14The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Fri, Dec 22, 1916Page 12The Sunday Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Sun, Dec 24, 1916Page 10The Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Sat, Dec 30, 1916Page 16The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Jan 3, 1917Page 10The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Jan 10, 1917Page 6Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Jan 31, 1917Page 9The Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Sat, Feb 10, 1917Page 16The Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Tue, Feb 13, 1917Page 12The Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Wed, Feb 14, 1917Page 14The Sunday Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Sun, Feb 18, 1917Page 241917 AS teams - Johnson unanimous
Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Feb 21, 1917Page 10The Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Wed, Feb 21, 1917Page 14Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Mon, Feb 26, 1917Page 10Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Mon, Feb 26, 1917Page 10"Mickey Mackay, as an offensive and defensive worker is, in our opinion, the class of the PCHA. He interrupts more plays in the course of a game than any other single player, not excepting the great and only Moose Johnson"
The Sunday Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Sun, Nov 4, 1917Page 26"Moose fame is well known over the ice hockey circuit"
Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Jan 9, 1918Page 10Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Jan 15, 1918Page 10The Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Fri, Jan 18, 1918Page 8Spokane Chronicle
Spokane, Washington • Thu, Jan 24, 1918Page 16The Oregon Daily Journal
Portland, Oregon • Sat, Jan 26, 1918Page 9The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Feb 6, 1918Page 8The Oregon Daily Journal
Portland, Oregon • Sat, Feb 9, 1918Page 9The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Feb 12, 1918Page 10Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Feb 12, 1918Page 10The Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Sat, Feb 23, 1918Page 8The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Mar 5, 1918Page 10The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Thu, Mar 7, 1918Page 10Unanimous all-star 1918
The Sunday Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Sun, Mar 3, 1918Page 21Moose "in a class by himself at breaking up combination players"
The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Nov 30, 1918Page 18"Has been one of the greatest defence men in the game"
The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Jan 7, 1919Page 8Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Jan 9, 1919Page 10Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Jan 21, 1919Page 10The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Jan 23, 1919Page 10The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Jan 25, 1919Page 10The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Feb 1, 1919Page 13The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Feb 5, 1919Page 12Moose has cleaned up his game, despite retaining his dominant physical style.
The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Feb 6, 1919Page 10The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Fri, Feb 7, 1919Page 10The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sun, Feb 9, 1919Page 15The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sun, Feb 23, 1919Page 15The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Feb 25, 1919Page 8The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Feb 26, 1919Page 8The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Mar 8, 1919Page 12Saskatoon Daily Star
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada • Mon, Nov 17, 1919Page 6Calgary Herald
Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Tue, Nov 18, 1919Page 5The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Dec 18, 1919Page 10The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Dec 27, 1919Page 9The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Mon, Dec 29, 1919Page 10The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Mon, Dec 29, 1919Page 8The Vancouver Sun Archive
"There is not a more popular player in the league than Johnson"
The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Dec 30, 1919Page 12Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Jan 8, 1920Page 12The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Jan 10, 1920Page 14The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Jan 13, 1920Page 8The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Jan 17, 1920Page 16The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Jan 24, 1920Page 14The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Jan 31, 1920Page 8The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Feb 10, 1920Page 8Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Feb 10, 1920Page 10The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Feb 28, 1920Page 10The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Mar 6, 1920Page 10The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Nov 18, 1920Page 10“Greatest Defence Player of All Time”
“gamest player who ever donned a pair of tubes”
“For fifteen years Johnson has been playing professional hockey and during that time he has established a reputation as being the greatest defence man in the national game.
The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Dec 15, 1920Page 13"Moose is known as the most fearless player in the world"
The Seattle Star
Seattle, Washington • Thu, Dec 23, 1920Page 12The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Dec 23, 1920Page 24"The daddy of them all"
The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Fri, Dec 24, 1920Page 10Calgary Herald
Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Tue, Dec 28, 1920Page 12The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Mon, Jan 3, 1921Page 12The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Jan 6, 1921Page 12Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Jan 29, 1921Page 14The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Feb 5, 1921Page 28Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Feb 8, 1921Page 10The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Feb 12, 1921Page 10The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Feb 17, 1921Page 20"his deadly poke check"
The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Feb 17, 1921Page 4…"the defensive brilliancy of Moose Johnson will go down in the pages of Victoria’s history.
If the Moose stopped one Seattle rush at the blueline, he stopped a hundred."
The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Feb 19, 1921Page 10"Johnson makes a spectacular rover."
"His poke check broke up the Vancouver rushes long before they assumed very dangerous proportions."
The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Feb 22, 1921Page 18Calgary Herald
Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Mon, Feb 28, 1921Page 16“The big fellow, who first started propelling a puck in the ice sport when the majority of his teammates of today were only knee high to a grasshopper, continues to reign as one of the kingpin defense men of the PCHA.”
The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Mar 3, 1921Page 10The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Mar 5, 1921Page 28The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Mar 5, 1921Page 10Incredible game report on Moose Johnson "night".
Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Mar 8, 1921Page 10The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Mar 8, 1921Page 4The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Mar 8, 1921Page 10The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Oct 29, 1921Page 18“Moose is the spectacular being in the PCHA. There is no other player in the league that approaches him for sensational effectiveness.”
The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Dec 8, 1921Page 12Seattle Union Record
Seattle, Washington • Fri, Dec 9, 1921Page 4The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Dec 10, 1921Page 12The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Dec 21, 1921Page 12Moose's dominance against the Seattle Metro's is detailed. The Mets describe how they are going to figure him out. You'll see in the next entry, what transpired.
The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Dec 22, 1921Page 12Calgary Herald
Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Sat, Dec 24, 1921Page 16Free Press Prairie Farmer
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada • Wed, Dec 28, 1921Page 34AP Garvey highlights the great season, at 37, Moose is having.
The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Jan 14, 1922Page 10The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Jan 14, 1922Page 8The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Jan 21, 1922Page 12The next few entries will focus on why Moose Johnson decided to abruptly quit the game in the middle of the 1921-22 season.
The Sunday Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Sun, Jan 22, 1922Page 23Moose responding to the questions about why he retired without notice.
The Hutchinson Gazette
Hutchinson, Kansas • Sat, Feb 18, 1922Page 2Billy Evans with a wonderful outside perspective on Johnson quitting.
Calgary Herald
Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Fri, Mar 7, 1924Page 19Fantastic article by Tony McKinley on the career of Johnson.
The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Tue, Dec 29, 1925Page 10Another reference from Alf Smith confirming Johnson developed and mastered the poke check before anyone.
Star Tribune
Minneapolis, Minnesota • Sun, Jan 16, 1927Page 22Incredible piece by Irvin Rudick highlights just how impressive the dominance of Johnson was given he lost 3 fingers on his left hand as a youngster.
As you've seen above and will continue to see below this, Johnson's famous poke check is noted and you even get to read Johnson describing why he used that style specifically.
The Minneapolis Star
Minneapolis, Minnesota • Wed, Mar 23, 1927Page 10The Sunday Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Sun, Feb 19, 1928Page 62Bobby Rowe is quoted "Moose was certainly the greatest defense man that ever played hockey anywhere. I make no exceptions."
The Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Wed, Dec 12, 1928Page 25“I love to play hockey,” said Moose. “I would rather play hockey than eat, and many a time I have.”
The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Fri, Dec 14, 1928Page 24"Johnson, probably the most famous and feared player in the league when Cyclone Taylor, Lester Patrick, Dick Irvin and many others were heroes..."
The Sault Star
Sault St. Marie, Ontario, Canada • Fri, Feb 7, 1930Page 11Toronto paper citing Johnson is "well known to fans from the coast of Canada to the other"
The Windsor Star
Windsor, Ontario, Canada • Thu, Jan 29, 1931Page 19The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Mar 3, 1931Page 11Andy Lytle, long time writer for the Sun, fondly remembering how amazing Johnson was.
The Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Thu, Jan 28, 1932Page 15The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Dec 13, 1932Page 12The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Tue, Feb 27, 1934Page 12Former teammate, Jack Marshall, in 1934 says that Moose was one of the best defensemen of his era. His only equals being Hod Stuart and Harvey Pulford.
The Atlanta Journal
Atlanta, Georgia • Sun, Jan 17, 1937Page 56Arthur Mann confirming what you've seen to date, that Moose Johnson earned the title as toughest hockey player of all time.
The Montreal Star
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Tue, Feb 8, 1938Page 21Alf Smith confirming that it was indeed Moose who originated the poke check
Calgary Herald
Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Wed, Nov 22, 1939Page 13The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Fri, May 31, 1940Page 31The Toronto Star
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Wed, Nov 19, 1941Page 14The Montreal Star
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Fri, Mar 5, 1943Page 24The Calgary Albertan
Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Thu, Apr 8, 1943Page 10The Toronto Star
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Thu, Nov 4, 1943Page 16"Moose had the fire and zest of a Clancy in the body of a Clapper"
The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Mon, Mar 27, 1944Page 9The Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Tue, Jan 2, 1945Page 15Long time Editor of the Oregonian reminiscing about Johnson's legendary career.
"Perhaps the greatest defense man ever behind a blue line"
“His hockey fame is still so great that a Montreal writer recently recalled his hook-checking feats with that long stick and spoke of him, which he certainly was, as the best hook checker in history; but he was even better with the poke check.”
The Morning Union
Springfield, Massachusetts • Sun, Feb 15, 1948Page 22The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Thu, Dec 30, 1948Page 12The Montreal Star
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Sat, Jan 8, 1949Page 20The Kingston Whig-Standard
Kingston, Ontario, Canada • Fri, Feb 11, 1949Page 10Star Weekly
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Sat, Apr 16, 1949Page 19Incredible find. Numerous all time greatest pick their historical all-star teams, by era, up until this point in time. Moose Johnson places on 2 of the "Prior to 1926" teams. Not surprisingly, you can see it's very split to those who played/operated in the west vs east during that time period. But he tied Hod Stuart w/2 mentions.
The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Nov 5, 1949Page 26“There has never been another poke check like his”
“Nine times of out of ten, the Moose would poke the puck away…”
The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Sat, Jun 24, 1950Page 9The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Dec 19, 1950Page 13Times Colonist
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Aug 19, 1952Page 6The Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Thu, Aug 21, 1952Page 25HOF citation for Johnson. In this entry and most of the rest, you'll see reference to his "famous", "unequaled" poke check.
The Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada • Mon, Nov 3, 1952Page 26The Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Thu, May 21, 1953Page 17The Montreal Star
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Mon, Feb 22, 1954Page 29The Montreal Star
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Fri, Mar 5, 1954Page 30The Sunday Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Sun, Jul 18, 1954Page 41Great feature as we hear from Bobby Rowe, remembering Johnson.
The Vancouver News-Herald
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Nov 30, 1954Page 11The Calgary Albertan
Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Thu, Feb 17, 1955Page 10The Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Fri, Oct 30, 1959Page 35The Sunday Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Sun, May 14, 1961Page 83The Sunday Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Sun, Aug 5, 1962Page 100The Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Thu, May 2, 1963Page 59Attachments
-
1740205669831.png -
1740206279410.png -
1740207456470.png -
1740207565825.png -
1740219351745.png -
1740277788514.png -
1740277827102.png -
1740277918309.png -
1740277978606.png -
1740278022355.png -
1740278047772.png -
1740278149871.png -
1740278191953.png -
1740279309915.png -
1740279488913.png -
1740370318080.png -
1740370661440.png -
1740371490940.png -
1740371535376.png -
1740379047086.png -
1740383198400.png -
1740383264039.png -
1740384679291.png -
1740394083121.png -
1740458590724.png -
1740458629183.png -
1740458657620.png -
1740459813917.png -
1740459914465.png -
1740459936518.png -
1740462037618.png -
1740462301205.png -
1740465748966.png -
1740467889733.png -
1740470818930.png -
1740471838929.png -
1740471930926.png -
1740473284840.png -
1740477193219.png -
1740531675164.png -
1740533996317.png -
1741398630233.png -
1741401434411.png
Last edited:
Boreal01
Registered User
Mitch Marner
Awards/Achievements
2x First Team All-Star (2021, 2022)
All-Star Voting: 1st (2021), 1st (2022), 3rd (2019), 5th (2020), 5th (2023), 7th (2024)
Selke Voting: 3rd (2023), 10th (2021), 14th (2019), 16th (2022), 17th (2024)
Lady Byng Voting: 4th (2022)
4 Nations Face-Off Champion (2025)
World Championship Silver Medalist (2017)
3x All-Star Game (2020, 2023, 2024)
All-Rookie Team (2017)
Statistics
Points: 4th (2021), 10th (2022), 11th (2019), 13th (2023), 19th (2020)
Assists: 4th (2019), 4th (2021), 8th (2023), 9th (2020), 11th (2022), 17th (2024)
Takeaways: 1st (2023), 4th (2018), 5th (2021), 8th (2022), 9th (2020), 10th (2017), 11th (2019)
Since entering the NHL in 2016-17 to present (2025/02/24)
Points: 8th (710)
Points/GP: 10th (1.12)
Assists: 6th (500)
Assists/GP: 5th (0.79)
PP Assists: 5th (170)
Takeaways: 2nd (623)
Takeaways/GP: 2nd (0.99)
Player Quotes
“He’s just so silky… I mean, he’s very shifty out there. Just his ability to buy time and create space and his playmaking ability, all those things. He’s just a heck of a hockey player all the way around. And his hockey IQ is off the charts.” - Sidney Crosby
“A guy that I’ve never played with before at any level, so I’m excited about that…
Reminds me a little bit of [Leon Draisaitl], he can slow the game down when he has to, and I like playing with guys like that.” - Connor McDavid
“He’s one of the smartest players in the league… When he has the puck, he sees things that other players don’t see and he always makes something out of nothing. You never quite know what he’s going to do, so it’s challenging.” - Roman Josi
“Everyone knows how good he is offensively, but the way he pays attention to the defensive zone, the way he uses his stick, he is a special player… To be able to play two-way and put up numbers that he does is pretty incredible.” - Aleksander Barkov
“I play with some of the best players in the league, and then I skate with (Marner) and he’s right up there with anyone. Especially at that Vail (Colorado) camp, there’s a lot of good players, and he’s stuck out as one of the best for sure… He’s always so impressive out there. Even just playing with him [at the 2017 Worlds], he just came off his rookie year. Unreal, just so good, so talented.” - Nathan MacKinnon
“He’s such a dangerous two-way player. He’s great on the penalty kill, he’s so smart, he’s elusive, his edgework is great, his playmaking…You know, we all talk about it as players, you play against these guys and you have an appreciation for how good they are.” - Steven Stamkos
“One of the things with him that I really notice when I watch him is he’s got that all-around complete game where he’s blocking shots, playing defence–which I never really did that much at that age…” - Patrick Kane
"They go to the net hard. He (Marner) is an unbelievable player; he's pretty underrated in my mind. He's got great speed and got his head up the whole time. They play a hard game, so it's always fun to have those kind of challenges and try to shut them down tonight." - Victor Hedman
“He brings so many things. He’s so competitive, but I think just how elusive he is. With the way he can create plays, and just being off balance, and being able to put these pucks in the right areas. Just such a competitor…Getting to play with him in the short time I did, it was just so fun. You see the way he sees the game, at such a unique level.” - Ryan O'Reilly
“I think he’s unbelievable. I think each and every day, watching him play, practising with him, the hockey sense he has, the skill he has, it’s pretty amazing to be around…(Marner) sees the ice so well. I don’t know what he’s done over his years, but he developed some very high skill level and he works, competes. He wants that puck and he wants to get it back when he loses it. You can see with his takeaways how he can pick-pocket guys. It’s really impressive.” - Patrick Marleau
“It’s exceptional. He’s got incredible hockey sense, not just with the puck but I think just with understanding the game as a whole, it’s pretty impressive. Even when we’re just trying to retrieve pucks and our adjustments we make and the things he talks about, it’s pretty impressive the way he can see it especially at a young age at this level. Obviously his ability with it, his edgework, it speaks for itself, you can see the plays that he makes on a nightly basis and it’s fun to play with.” - John Tavares
“I would take him on my team any day. The way that he plays, unbelievable teammate from what I’ve experienced.” - Mark Stone
Coach Quotes
“I’m a massive Mitch Marner fan… He's always had it [confidence and swag], but you see it in how he plays. Being able to coach him in 2017, he's always had it, but he's let it out a little bit more. But in a good way. He's not showing off. He does everything with a purpose, and he thinks the game. It's amazing how he thinks it. It's elite." - Jon Cooper
“He puts himself at that level the way he thinks the game, the way he processes the game at such a high level and high rate of speed. That’s why he’s the player he is. I’ve watched him close up, I’ve had playoff series against him, I’ve watched what he can do. There’s not too many players that can excel at power play, penalty kill, at 5-on-5 and at 3-on-3. He can do it all.” - Jon Cooper
“He is one of the best players in the league. He is so creative with the puck. He is elusive. He is really, really smart as well. The thing is that we can’t be chasing him around the rink. We have a plan to be in the structure we’re in, but in the end, you just hope to contain these guys. You are not going to completely shut them down. They are too gifted as players.” - Jon Cooper
“Marner is the whole package. He doesn’t get enough credit…the way he manages pucks and makes plays.” - Darryl Sutter
“He’s as honest a player there is. He blocks shots, kills penalties, defensively is really good.” - Peter DeBoer
“Years ago I remember Gretzky like ‘why doesn’t anybody hit that guy?’, well, it’s not that easy right… He’s a good player and he’s played well against us and obviously we need to find an answer to him.” - Bruce Cassidy
“Nothing but respect for his skill level, great hockey IQ…I just have a ton of respect for the man as a player.” - Rick Bowness
“He’s an elite player…Just watching him over the years, I think he’s a kid that cares so so much.” - Dallas Eakins
“A top penalty killer on one of the top penalty-killing units. Plays tough minutes. He’s top of the list of guys that go out when you’re defending leads, all those kinds of things, and we've had to count on him a lot in those situations this season…He's one of the top defensive or, certainly, top two-way forwards. And the defensive responsibilities that he has are right at the top of list for us. When we're in those situations, he’s the guy over the boards.” - Sheldon Keefe
“Mitch has been a real good player all year, in all areas of the game. PK, power play, 5-on-5, whatever we ask him to do, he’s doing it.” - Craig Berube
Awards/Achievements
2x First Team All-Star (2021, 2022)
All-Star Voting: 1st (2021), 1st (2022), 3rd (2019), 5th (2020), 5th (2023), 7th (2024)
Selke Voting: 3rd (2023), 10th (2021), 14th (2019), 16th (2022), 17th (2024)
Lady Byng Voting: 4th (2022)
4 Nations Face-Off Champion (2025)
World Championship Silver Medalist (2017)
3x All-Star Game (2020, 2023, 2024)
All-Rookie Team (2017)
Statistics
Points: 4th (2021), 10th (2022), 11th (2019), 13th (2023), 19th (2020)
Assists: 4th (2019), 4th (2021), 8th (2023), 9th (2020), 11th (2022), 17th (2024)
Takeaways: 1st (2023), 4th (2018), 5th (2021), 8th (2022), 9th (2020), 10th (2017), 11th (2019)
Since entering the NHL in 2016-17 to present (2025/02/24)
Points: 8th (710)
Points/GP: 10th (1.12)
Assists: 6th (500)
Assists/GP: 5th (0.79)
PP Assists: 5th (170)
Takeaways: 2nd (623)
Takeaways/GP: 2nd (0.99)
Player Quotes
“He’s just so silky… I mean, he’s very shifty out there. Just his ability to buy time and create space and his playmaking ability, all those things. He’s just a heck of a hockey player all the way around. And his hockey IQ is off the charts.” - Sidney Crosby
“A guy that I’ve never played with before at any level, so I’m excited about that…
Reminds me a little bit of [Leon Draisaitl], he can slow the game down when he has to, and I like playing with guys like that.” - Connor McDavid
“He’s one of the smartest players in the league… When he has the puck, he sees things that other players don’t see and he always makes something out of nothing. You never quite know what he’s going to do, so it’s challenging.” - Roman Josi
“Everyone knows how good he is offensively, but the way he pays attention to the defensive zone, the way he uses his stick, he is a special player… To be able to play two-way and put up numbers that he does is pretty incredible.” - Aleksander Barkov
“I play with some of the best players in the league, and then I skate with (Marner) and he’s right up there with anyone. Especially at that Vail (Colorado) camp, there’s a lot of good players, and he’s stuck out as one of the best for sure… He’s always so impressive out there. Even just playing with him [at the 2017 Worlds], he just came off his rookie year. Unreal, just so good, so talented.” - Nathan MacKinnon
“He’s such a dangerous two-way player. He’s great on the penalty kill, he’s so smart, he’s elusive, his edgework is great, his playmaking…You know, we all talk about it as players, you play against these guys and you have an appreciation for how good they are.” - Steven Stamkos
“One of the things with him that I really notice when I watch him is he’s got that all-around complete game where he’s blocking shots, playing defence–which I never really did that much at that age…” - Patrick Kane
"They go to the net hard. He (Marner) is an unbelievable player; he's pretty underrated in my mind. He's got great speed and got his head up the whole time. They play a hard game, so it's always fun to have those kind of challenges and try to shut them down tonight." - Victor Hedman
“He brings so many things. He’s so competitive, but I think just how elusive he is. With the way he can create plays, and just being off balance, and being able to put these pucks in the right areas. Just such a competitor…Getting to play with him in the short time I did, it was just so fun. You see the way he sees the game, at such a unique level.” - Ryan O'Reilly
“I think he’s unbelievable. I think each and every day, watching him play, practising with him, the hockey sense he has, the skill he has, it’s pretty amazing to be around…(Marner) sees the ice so well. I don’t know what he’s done over his years, but he developed some very high skill level and he works, competes. He wants that puck and he wants to get it back when he loses it. You can see with his takeaways how he can pick-pocket guys. It’s really impressive.” - Patrick Marleau
“It’s exceptional. He’s got incredible hockey sense, not just with the puck but I think just with understanding the game as a whole, it’s pretty impressive. Even when we’re just trying to retrieve pucks and our adjustments we make and the things he talks about, it’s pretty impressive the way he can see it especially at a young age at this level. Obviously his ability with it, his edgework, it speaks for itself, you can see the plays that he makes on a nightly basis and it’s fun to play with.” - John Tavares
“I would take him on my team any day. The way that he plays, unbelievable teammate from what I’ve experienced.” - Mark Stone
Coach Quotes
“I’m a massive Mitch Marner fan… He's always had it [confidence and swag], but you see it in how he plays. Being able to coach him in 2017, he's always had it, but he's let it out a little bit more. But in a good way. He's not showing off. He does everything with a purpose, and he thinks the game. It's amazing how he thinks it. It's elite." - Jon Cooper
“He puts himself at that level the way he thinks the game, the way he processes the game at such a high level and high rate of speed. That’s why he’s the player he is. I’ve watched him close up, I’ve had playoff series against him, I’ve watched what he can do. There’s not too many players that can excel at power play, penalty kill, at 5-on-5 and at 3-on-3. He can do it all.” - Jon Cooper
“He is one of the best players in the league. He is so creative with the puck. He is elusive. He is really, really smart as well. The thing is that we can’t be chasing him around the rink. We have a plan to be in the structure we’re in, but in the end, you just hope to contain these guys. You are not going to completely shut them down. They are too gifted as players.” - Jon Cooper
“Marner is the whole package. He doesn’t get enough credit…the way he manages pucks and makes plays.” - Darryl Sutter
“He’s as honest a player there is. He blocks shots, kills penalties, defensively is really good.” - Peter DeBoer
“Years ago I remember Gretzky like ‘why doesn’t anybody hit that guy?’, well, it’s not that easy right… He’s a good player and he’s played well against us and obviously we need to find an answer to him.” - Bruce Cassidy
“Nothing but respect for his skill level, great hockey IQ…I just have a ton of respect for the man as a player.” - Rick Bowness
“He’s an elite player…Just watching him over the years, I think he’s a kid that cares so so much.” - Dallas Eakins
“A top penalty killer on one of the top penalty-killing units. Plays tough minutes. He’s top of the list of guys that go out when you’re defending leads, all those kinds of things, and we've had to count on him a lot in those situations this season…He's one of the top defensive or, certainly, top two-way forwards. And the defensive responsibilities that he has are right at the top of list for us. When we're in those situations, he’s the guy over the boards.” - Sheldon Keefe
“Mitch has been a real good player all year, in all areas of the game. PK, power play, 5-on-5, whatever we ask him to do, he’s doing it.” - Craig Berube
Boreal01
Registered User
Marian Hossa
Awards/Achievements
1x Second Team All-Star (2009)
All-Star Voting (RW): 2nd (2009), 3rd (2003), 3rd (2004), 3rd (2007), 4th (2012), 6th (2006), 11th (2014), 11th (2015), 12th (2008), 15th (2013)
All-Star Voting (LW): 9th (2009), 12th (2001), 15th (2012)
Selke Voting: 5th (2014), 7th (2015), 10th (2013), 12th (2009), 14th (2001), 14th (2006), 14th (2017), 16th (2012)
Hart Voting: 10th (2003), 10th (2007), 18th (2004)
Lady Byng Voting: 4th (2017), 5th (2003), 11th (2012), 18th (2007)
3x Stanley Cup Champion (2010, 2013, 2015)
5x All-Star Game (2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2012)
All-Rookie Team (1999)
Statistics
Points: 5th (2004), 6th (2007), 11th (2006), 12th (2012), 14th (2003)
Goals: 4th (2003), 5th (2007), 5th (2009), 6th (2004), 12th (2006), 16th (2014), 19th (2000)
Assists: 12th (2007), 14th (2012), 15th (2004)
Takeaways: 2nd (2007), 3rd (2013), 5th (2012), 7th (2006), 9th (2015), 10th (2008), 16th (2004), 17th (2002)
Player Quotes
“He’s got great hockey sense…To be able to skate the way he does at his age isn’t easy either. He’s a great player and he’s proven that for a really long time.” - Sidney Crosby
“The one thing that I know from playing with him is I didn't realize how good defensively he was…I think you watch him back check, there's nobody that back checks harder than him in the league. As a defenseman, you get a real good appreciation for a guy like that who back checks that hard and blocks shots and does all those things and still is good offensively and doesn't cheat for his offense. He plays the right way.” - Duncan Keith
“He just flies on the backcheck. There’s a lot of guys that skate a lot faster going forward than they do coming back to their own end, and he’s not that way…He’s so good at stripping the puck. He’s also good in these one-on-one battles where more often than not you’re going to see him coming away with the puck.” - Patrick Kane
“Teams would be transitioning the other way and he would come from behind and pick the guy, and then all of a sudden you got an odd-man rush or 2-on-1 break the other way…But you definitely see the effect that has on the team and the game, and you try to do that as well. And it gets you into the game when you do something like that.” - Patrick Kane
“He’s just the ultimate hockey player, the ultimate teammate, the ultimate human being. He’s everything you want in a person… He’s one of those guys that if you watch him every night and you watch other games around the League you’d say, ‘Hey, why isn’t this guy up for a Selke Trophy?’” - Patrick Kane
"[He's one] of best teammates I ever played with… He's a very good guy. He speaks a little Russian. He understands. He's a top player. He works every shift. We all wanted him to stay." - Evgeni Malkin
“Marian’s professionalism stands out the most. He leads by example and will do anything to help the team win. Not far behind is his calming and funny demeanor that rubs off on his teammates. Every team wishes they had a Marian to put in the ice.” - Daniel Alfredsson
“I had a couple of chances to play with him in Ottawa and Atlanta. Marian is a very likeable guy in the locker room. Every coach in the National Hockey League would like to have a Marian Hossa in their lineup. He’s an unbelievable player. I don’t know any other way to describe him as a player. To have a chance to play with him on the same line, that was amazing. I wish in my career I was a little younger, and we could have been linemates regularly for a few seasons. I would have definitely benefited from his presence on the ice.” - Peter Bondra
“It was great to play with a player of the highest level, always driven to score a goal and turn the game. He also did not hesitate to work on defense. He was pleasant and positive in communication, a good person, a family man.” - Pavel Datsyuk
“His speed was amazing…If you think about it, he was so powerful and strong on his skates, he was like a horse. So hard to knock him [off] the puck. One of those guys that you’re going to have to be really in the perfect position to make sure he’s not taking advantage of you. Otherwise [he’s] either going to skate by you or use his body to protect the puck, and you’re not going to get anything.” - Sergei Gonchar
“And next thing you know, Hossa’s coming back and he’s lifting the stick and grabbing the puck and going [the other] direction… It’s how fast he was, but also how dedicated he was to [doing] the back checks and [helping] people on the defensive side.” - Sergei Gonchar
“He has explosiveness, speed, and he’s got great hands to go with his speed…It gives our team another dimension, adding a player of his caliber.” - Nicklas Lidstrom
“He was a horse. You could not intimidate him, he was a very honest, clean player but skilled and hardworking. Anything you threw at him, he just took it and did his job. He was a great leader, a great teammate.” - Chris Chelios
“I knew he was a really good player when he got here, but I didn’t realize that he was this good...I mean, he’s so strong on the puck, even just going against him in practice, it’s amazing how strong he is.” - Niklas Kronwall
“If you give him a second in the slot, he’s going to make a great play…” - Kris Letang
“He’s a guy you want on the ice in all situations…seems like he comes up with loose pucks 100% of the time, which is odd in today’s game.” - Patrick Sharp
“He was electric…there [were] times in the league that he was the best player in the NHL, and I’m saying hands down. He would dominate games for weeks on end. The way he skated, the power that he had and not a guy that did a lot of dangling but just the way he held onto the puck, so powerful.” - Marc Savard
““Until I got here, I didn’t realize how good he is all around, on the puck, defensively, what a force he is in every zone…That’s why he’s been to five [Cup] Finals in his career. It’s crazy.” - Brad Richards
“Scored many goals but backchecked and stripped pucks even better!” - Brad Richards
Coach Quotes
“When I think of Marian Hossa, I think of the perfect hockey player – no maintenance, smart, comes to play every night, plays the right way, plays in all situations.” - Joel Quenneville
“He’s one of the fastest in the game on the defensive side of the puck because he’s always around it…Those instincts are always there. Always there. He just plays the right way. How well he checks, puck possession, puck protection, denying those guys rush opportunities — his positioning is just A-1, as far as perfect.” - Joel Quenneville
“Defensively and offensively he’s got a great thought process… Game in, game out, you use him in all situations. He’s a very useful player.” - Joel Quenneville
“The way he competes, the way he plays both sides of the puck, I don’t think there’s been a player as consistent. I think he’s the whole package…” - Joel Quenneville
“At his age, [Hossa] is still a dominant player in the game. Plays the whole game, the whole package, the three zones, both sides of the puck. Been a very effective player, great player, for a long time and you look at the teams he's been on that have had success — he's a big part of it.” - Darryl Sutter
“I coached against him when he was like [Peter] Forsberg, when he could literally just go around the rink with the puck and nobody could check him…When he was with the [Senators], he was completely dominant. Now, he’s smart-dominant. This is a perfect example of the professionalism of a player. He has such a good mind for the game, and sense of timing, that until the day he hangs it up…he’s just going to be a good player all the way.” - Ken Hitchcock
“Back when he was with Ottawa, he was dominant speed-wise. Really a dominant player. And he has been able to keep up that pace, which is really impressive.” - Ken Hitchcock
“Marian Hossa is the ultimate pro. He doesn't get enough respect. He's one of the most complete players. For him to score 500 goals, as a coach who saw him play 17 years close and personal in big moments, big moments that have hurt us, he has been one of the most complete players under the radar for a long, long time. There's no flash in his game. Just a ton of substance.” - Barry Trotz
“The first time I saw [Hossa] was at the 1997 World Juniors…I came back and told our general manager in Spokane that we needed to get him, but we weren’t willing to pay the 50 grand to get him. Portland got him and he played there and they won the Memorial Cup. I’ve followed him ever since and he’s just gotten better and better. He’s a great two-way player who makes plays and is a big body. He played well with us with the Red Wings, but we had to make financial decisions, as you know you have to. He’s went to a good team and plays real well with [Jonathan] Toews.” - Mike Babcock
“Hossa was great at coming back hard and stealing pucks and restarting an attack.” - Jacques Martin
“He played the game with such a great conscience on the defensive side of things that it led to so many opportunities for him offensively…And then his skill would just take over from there.” - Mike Yeo
“He was big, and I remember him using [it] and protecting the puck while using his body…[He had] those skills, and then he had vision and the shot and everything else that went with it.” - Todd McLellan
“When I played against him, then watching him, coaching against him and obviously broadcasting, he’s just always been a two-way player. Him and [Jonathan Toews] are wired a lot alike. They know when to take chances offensively. There’s a time and a place, and both those guys understand that and they’re not going to error on the side of aggression, like they’re not unless it warrants it. You’re down two goals or whatever, that kind of stuff is just common sense. They play on the side of the puck that needs to be.” - Eddie Olczyk
“I’ll always remember then-Atlanta head coach Bob Hartley talking about Marian Hossa in warmly glowing terms after Hossa had arrived in Atlanta as part of the Dany Heatley trade, often likening Hossa to Hall of Famer Joe Sakic whom Hartley coached in Colorado and with whom he won a Stanley Cup. So good every zone, Hartley would opine on Hossa.” - Scott Burnside
“This guy is 215 pounds and he’s getting up and down the ice like lightning. It’s scary how good he is, how strong he is...” - Jamie Kompon
Awards/Achievements
1x Second Team All-Star (2009)
All-Star Voting (RW): 2nd (2009), 3rd (2003), 3rd (2004), 3rd (2007), 4th (2012), 6th (2006), 11th (2014), 11th (2015), 12th (2008), 15th (2013)
All-Star Voting (LW): 9th (2009), 12th (2001), 15th (2012)
Selke Voting: 5th (2014), 7th (2015), 10th (2013), 12th (2009), 14th (2001), 14th (2006), 14th (2017), 16th (2012)
Hart Voting: 10th (2003), 10th (2007), 18th (2004)
Lady Byng Voting: 4th (2017), 5th (2003), 11th (2012), 18th (2007)
3x Stanley Cup Champion (2010, 2013, 2015)
5x All-Star Game (2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2012)
All-Rookie Team (1999)
Statistics
Points: 5th (2004), 6th (2007), 11th (2006), 12th (2012), 14th (2003)
Goals: 4th (2003), 5th (2007), 5th (2009), 6th (2004), 12th (2006), 16th (2014), 19th (2000)
Assists: 12th (2007), 14th (2012), 15th (2004)
Takeaways: 2nd (2007), 3rd (2013), 5th (2012), 7th (2006), 9th (2015), 10th (2008), 16th (2004), 17th (2002)
Player Quotes
“He’s got great hockey sense…To be able to skate the way he does at his age isn’t easy either. He’s a great player and he’s proven that for a really long time.” - Sidney Crosby
“The one thing that I know from playing with him is I didn't realize how good defensively he was…I think you watch him back check, there's nobody that back checks harder than him in the league. As a defenseman, you get a real good appreciation for a guy like that who back checks that hard and blocks shots and does all those things and still is good offensively and doesn't cheat for his offense. He plays the right way.” - Duncan Keith
“He just flies on the backcheck. There’s a lot of guys that skate a lot faster going forward than they do coming back to their own end, and he’s not that way…He’s so good at stripping the puck. He’s also good in these one-on-one battles where more often than not you’re going to see him coming away with the puck.” - Patrick Kane
“Teams would be transitioning the other way and he would come from behind and pick the guy, and then all of a sudden you got an odd-man rush or 2-on-1 break the other way…But you definitely see the effect that has on the team and the game, and you try to do that as well. And it gets you into the game when you do something like that.” - Patrick Kane
“He’s just the ultimate hockey player, the ultimate teammate, the ultimate human being. He’s everything you want in a person… He’s one of those guys that if you watch him every night and you watch other games around the League you’d say, ‘Hey, why isn’t this guy up for a Selke Trophy?’” - Patrick Kane
"[He's one] of best teammates I ever played with… He's a very good guy. He speaks a little Russian. He understands. He's a top player. He works every shift. We all wanted him to stay." - Evgeni Malkin
“Marian’s professionalism stands out the most. He leads by example and will do anything to help the team win. Not far behind is his calming and funny demeanor that rubs off on his teammates. Every team wishes they had a Marian to put in the ice.” - Daniel Alfredsson
“I had a couple of chances to play with him in Ottawa and Atlanta. Marian is a very likeable guy in the locker room. Every coach in the National Hockey League would like to have a Marian Hossa in their lineup. He’s an unbelievable player. I don’t know any other way to describe him as a player. To have a chance to play with him on the same line, that was amazing. I wish in my career I was a little younger, and we could have been linemates regularly for a few seasons. I would have definitely benefited from his presence on the ice.” - Peter Bondra
“It was great to play with a player of the highest level, always driven to score a goal and turn the game. He also did not hesitate to work on defense. He was pleasant and positive in communication, a good person, a family man.” - Pavel Datsyuk
“His speed was amazing…If you think about it, he was so powerful and strong on his skates, he was like a horse. So hard to knock him [off] the puck. One of those guys that you’re going to have to be really in the perfect position to make sure he’s not taking advantage of you. Otherwise [he’s] either going to skate by you or use his body to protect the puck, and you’re not going to get anything.” - Sergei Gonchar
“And next thing you know, Hossa’s coming back and he’s lifting the stick and grabbing the puck and going [the other] direction… It’s how fast he was, but also how dedicated he was to [doing] the back checks and [helping] people on the defensive side.” - Sergei Gonchar
“He has explosiveness, speed, and he’s got great hands to go with his speed…It gives our team another dimension, adding a player of his caliber.” - Nicklas Lidstrom
“He was a horse. You could not intimidate him, he was a very honest, clean player but skilled and hardworking. Anything you threw at him, he just took it and did his job. He was a great leader, a great teammate.” - Chris Chelios
“I knew he was a really good player when he got here, but I didn’t realize that he was this good...I mean, he’s so strong on the puck, even just going against him in practice, it’s amazing how strong he is.” - Niklas Kronwall
“If you give him a second in the slot, he’s going to make a great play…” - Kris Letang
“He’s a guy you want on the ice in all situations…seems like he comes up with loose pucks 100% of the time, which is odd in today’s game.” - Patrick Sharp
“He was electric…there [were] times in the league that he was the best player in the NHL, and I’m saying hands down. He would dominate games for weeks on end. The way he skated, the power that he had and not a guy that did a lot of dangling but just the way he held onto the puck, so powerful.” - Marc Savard
““Until I got here, I didn’t realize how good he is all around, on the puck, defensively, what a force he is in every zone…That’s why he’s been to five [Cup] Finals in his career. It’s crazy.” - Brad Richards
“Scored many goals but backchecked and stripped pucks even better!” - Brad Richards
Coach Quotes
“When I think of Marian Hossa, I think of the perfect hockey player – no maintenance, smart, comes to play every night, plays the right way, plays in all situations.” - Joel Quenneville
“He’s one of the fastest in the game on the defensive side of the puck because he’s always around it…Those instincts are always there. Always there. He just plays the right way. How well he checks, puck possession, puck protection, denying those guys rush opportunities — his positioning is just A-1, as far as perfect.” - Joel Quenneville
“Defensively and offensively he’s got a great thought process… Game in, game out, you use him in all situations. He’s a very useful player.” - Joel Quenneville
“The way he competes, the way he plays both sides of the puck, I don’t think there’s been a player as consistent. I think he’s the whole package…” - Joel Quenneville
“At his age, [Hossa] is still a dominant player in the game. Plays the whole game, the whole package, the three zones, both sides of the puck. Been a very effective player, great player, for a long time and you look at the teams he's been on that have had success — he's a big part of it.” - Darryl Sutter
“I coached against him when he was like [Peter] Forsberg, when he could literally just go around the rink with the puck and nobody could check him…When he was with the [Senators], he was completely dominant. Now, he’s smart-dominant. This is a perfect example of the professionalism of a player. He has such a good mind for the game, and sense of timing, that until the day he hangs it up…he’s just going to be a good player all the way.” - Ken Hitchcock
“Back when he was with Ottawa, he was dominant speed-wise. Really a dominant player. And he has been able to keep up that pace, which is really impressive.” - Ken Hitchcock
“Marian Hossa is the ultimate pro. He doesn't get enough respect. He's one of the most complete players. For him to score 500 goals, as a coach who saw him play 17 years close and personal in big moments, big moments that have hurt us, he has been one of the most complete players under the radar for a long, long time. There's no flash in his game. Just a ton of substance.” - Barry Trotz
“The first time I saw [Hossa] was at the 1997 World Juniors…I came back and told our general manager in Spokane that we needed to get him, but we weren’t willing to pay the 50 grand to get him. Portland got him and he played there and they won the Memorial Cup. I’ve followed him ever since and he’s just gotten better and better. He’s a great two-way player who makes plays and is a big body. He played well with us with the Red Wings, but we had to make financial decisions, as you know you have to. He’s went to a good team and plays real well with [Jonathan] Toews.” - Mike Babcock
“Hossa was great at coming back hard and stealing pucks and restarting an attack.” - Jacques Martin
“He played the game with such a great conscience on the defensive side of things that it led to so many opportunities for him offensively…And then his skill would just take over from there.” - Mike Yeo
“He was big, and I remember him using [it] and protecting the puck while using his body…[He had] those skills, and then he had vision and the shot and everything else that went with it.” - Todd McLellan
“When I played against him, then watching him, coaching against him and obviously broadcasting, he’s just always been a two-way player. Him and [Jonathan Toews] are wired a lot alike. They know when to take chances offensively. There’s a time and a place, and both those guys understand that and they’re not going to error on the side of aggression, like they’re not unless it warrants it. You’re down two goals or whatever, that kind of stuff is just common sense. They play on the side of the puck that needs to be.” - Eddie Olczyk
“I’ll always remember then-Atlanta head coach Bob Hartley talking about Marian Hossa in warmly glowing terms after Hossa had arrived in Atlanta as part of the Dany Heatley trade, often likening Hossa to Hall of Famer Joe Sakic whom Hartley coached in Colorado and with whom he won a Stanley Cup. So good every zone, Hartley would opine on Hossa.” - Scott Burnside
“This guy is 215 pounds and he’s getting up and down the ice like lightning. It’s scary how good he is, how strong he is...” - Jamie Kompon
jigglysquishy
Registered User
David Pastrnak
Awards/Achievements
2x First Team All-Star (2020, 2023), 1x Second Team All-Star (2024)
All-Star Voting: 1st (2020), 1st (2023), 2nd (2024), 5th (2018), 5th (2021), 5th (2022),
Hart Voting: 2nd (2023), 4th (2020), 8th (2024)
Golden Hockey Stick (top Czech Player) - 7x (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024)
World Championship Gold Medalist (2024)
World Championship Bronze Medalist (2022)
4x All-Star Game (2019, 2020, 2023, 2024)
All-Star Game MVP - 2020
Statistics
Points: 3rd (2020), 4th (2023), 5th (2024)
Goals: 1st (2020), 2nd (2023), 7th (2024)
Assists: 10th (2024)
Since entering prime (start of 2019-20 NHL season) (data as of February 26, 2025)
Points: 5th (515)
Goals: 3rd (246)
Select Quotes
Coach Jim Montgomery - Leader-Post, April 12, 2023
Awards/Achievements
2x First Team All-Star (2020, 2023), 1x Second Team All-Star (2024)
All-Star Voting: 1st (2020), 1st (2023), 2nd (2024), 5th (2018), 5th (2021), 5th (2022),
Hart Voting: 2nd (2023), 4th (2020), 8th (2024)
Golden Hockey Stick (top Czech Player) - 7x (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024)
World Championship Gold Medalist (2024)
World Championship Bronze Medalist (2022)
4x All-Star Game (2019, 2020, 2023, 2024)
All-Star Game MVP - 2020
Statistics
Points: 3rd (2020), 4th (2023), 5th (2024)
Goals: 1st (2020), 2nd (2023), 7th (2024)
Assists: 10th (2024)
Since entering prime (start of 2019-20 NHL season) (data as of February 26, 2025)
Points: 5th (515)
Goals: 3rd (246)
Select Quotes
Coach Jim Montgomery - Leader-Post, April 12, 2023
Coach Bruce Cassidy - February 10, 2020
Steve Simmons - Leader-Post, March 9, 2023
Aaron Vickers - Future Considerations - August 2013
Bill Placzek - Future Considerations - August 2013
ImporterExporter
"You're a boring old man"
Duncan "Mickey" MacKay
The Oregon Daily Journal
Portland, Oregon • Sun, Jan 3, 1915Page 32Daily News Advertiser
Vancouver, Metro Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Jan 30, 1915PageThe Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Jan 30, 1915Page 6The Gazette
Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Feb 6, 1915Page 2The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Feb 13, 1915Page 9The Oregon Daily Journal
Portland, Oregon • Sun, Feb 28, 1915Page 18The Gazette
Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Mar 6, 1915Page 1The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington • Sun, Mar 7, 1915Page 28The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Fri, Mar 19, 1915Page 5The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Mar 23, 1915Page 4The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Fri, Aug 6, 1915Page 9Daily News Advertiser
Vancouver, Metro Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada • Sun, Oct 24, 1915Page 12The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Nov 17, 1915Page 6Daily News Advertiser
Vancouver, Metro Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Nov 23, 1915Page 6The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Dec 4, 1915Page 10The Oregon Daily Journal
Portland, Oregon • Sat, Dec 11, 1915Page 10Daily News Advertiser
Vancouver, Metro Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Dec 15, 1915Page 6Daily News Advertiser
Vancouver, Metro Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada • Sun, Dec 19, 1915Page 16Daily News Advertiser
Vancouver, Metro Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Dec 25, 1915Page 6Daily News Advertiser
Vancouver, Metro Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Dec 30, 1915Page 6The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Mon, Jan 3, 1916Page 10The Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Thu, Jan 6, 1916Page 14The Montreal Star
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Fri, Jan 7, 1916Page 7The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Jan 19, 1916Page 6The Sunday Oregonian
Portland, Oregon • Sun, Jan 30, 1916Page 21Calgary Herald
Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Mon, Jan 31, 1916Page 10The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Feb 2, 1916Page 9Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Nov 16, 1916Page 12The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Mon, Dec 4, 1916Page 10The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Dec 27, 1916Page 10The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Jan 10, 1917Page 6The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Jan 13, 1917Page 12Daily News Advertiser
Vancouver, Metro Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada • Sun, Jan 21, 1917Page 14Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Mon, Feb 12, 1917Page 10Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Mon, Feb 26, 1917Page 10Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Mar 3, 1917Page 14
The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Mon, Mar 26, 1917Page 10The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Mon, Mar 26, 1917Page 6The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Jan 5, 1918Page 13Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Jan 29, 1918Page 10The Edmonton Bulletin
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada • Fri, Feb 1, 1918Page 9The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Feb 28, 1918Page 12The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Thu, Mar 7, 1918Page 10The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Mar 12, 1918Page 10Edmonton Journal
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada • Tue, Mar 12, 1918Page 14Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Mar 12, 1918Page 10The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Mar 14, 1918Page 10The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Mar 21, 1918Page 10Calgary Herald
Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Thu, Mar 21, 1918Page 12The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Mon, Mar 25, 1918Page 10Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Apr 6, 1918Page 14The Toronto Star
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Fri, Apr 12, 1918Page 24The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Dec 17, 1918Page 12The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Jan 28, 1919Page 10The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Feb 4, 1919Page 8Edmonton Journal
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada • Fri, Feb 14, 1919Page 17The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Feb 25, 1919Page 8Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Feb 27, 1919Page 10The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Mar 1, 1919Page 18The Calgary Albertan
Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Tue, Mar 4, 1919Page 6The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Mar 4, 1919Page 10The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Mar 12, 1919Page 8The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Mar 13, 1919Page 10Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Fri, Mar 21, 1919Page 12Calgary Herald
Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Tue, Nov 25, 1919Page 16The Edmonton Bulletin
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada • Fri, Dec 26, 1919Page 5The Calgary Albertan
Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Wed, Dec 31, 1919Page 8Edmonton Journal
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada • Sat, Jan 10, 1920Page 22Calgary Herald
Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Mon, Jan 26, 1920Page 14Edmonton Journal
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada • Sat, Jan 31, 1920Page 20The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Oct 30, 1920Page 26The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Dec 21, 1920Page 24The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Dec 28, 1920Page 4The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Jan 13, 1921Page 20The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Jan 18, 1921Page 4The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Jan 18, 1921Page 18The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Feb 8, 1921Page 4The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Feb 22, 1921Page 4The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Mar 1, 1921Page 4Edmonton Journal
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada • Tue, Mar 29, 1921Page 17The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Mar 29, 1921Page 10Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Mar 29, 1921Page 10Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Fri, Nov 11, 1921Page 12The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Dec 20, 1921Page 8The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Jan 3, 1922Page 20The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Jan 7, 1922Page 14The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Jan 10, 1922Page 19Calgary Herald
Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Tue, Jan 17, 1922Page 17The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Jan 17, 1922Page 20The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Jan 24, 1922Page 8The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Jan 31, 1922Page 8Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Jan 31, 1922Page 10The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Mon, Feb 12, 1923Page 8The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Feb 25, 1922Page 8The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Feb 25, 1922Page 15The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Feb 25, 1922Page 12The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Mar 4, 1922Page 8The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Mar 7, 1922Page 8The Leader-Post
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada • Thu, Mar 9, 1922Page 1The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Oct 19, 1922Page 14The Victoria Daily Times
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Nov 18, 1922Page 10The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Dec 14, 1922Page 8The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Dec 19, 1922Page 22The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sun, Feb 4, 1923Page 18Vancouver Daily World
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Sat, Feb 10, 1923Page 10The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Feb 14, 1923Page 20The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Mar 13, 1923Page 12The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Mar 13, 1923Page 8The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Mar 20, 1923Page 18The Calgary Albertan
Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Tue, Dec 4, 1923Page 10Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Fri, Feb 15, 1929Page 28The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Fri, May 17, 1929Page 18The Sun Times
Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada • Fri, Mar 7, 1930Page 10The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Tue, Aug 12, 1930Page 12The Calgary Albertan
Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Fri, Dec 6, 1935Page 7The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Wed, Dec 1, 1937Page 14The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Fri, May 31, 1940Page 31The Leader-Post
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada · Saturday, June 01, 1940The Leader-Post
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada • Sat, Jun 1, 1940Page 13The Gazette
Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Jun 6, 1940Page 1The Edmonton Bulletin
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada • Fri, Apr 30, 1943Page 6The Kingston Whig-Standard
Kingston, Ontario, Canada • Fri, Feb 23, 1945Page 8The Toronto Star
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Sat, Jun 1, 1940Page 10Star Weekly
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Sat, Apr 16, 1949Page 19The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Mon, Mar 27, 1950Page 15The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Wed, Aug 20, 1952Page 18The Gazette
Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Aug 21, 1952Page 1The Gazette
Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada • Thu, Feb 3, 1955Page 3Attachments
Last edited:
Boreal01
Registered User
Roman Josi
Awards/Achievements
3x First Team All-Star (2020, 2022, 2024)
1x Norris Trophy (2020)
All-Star Voting: 1st (2020), 2nd (2022), 2nd (2024), 5th (2015), 5th (2016), 7th (2018), 7th (2019), 10th (2017), 15th (2021), 20th (2023)
Norris Voting: 1st (2020), 2nd (2022), 2nd (2024), 5th (2015), 5th (2016), 7th (2018), 7th (2019), 11th (2017), 14th (2021)
Hart Voting: 6th (2022), 7th (2020), 10th (2024)
4x All-Star Game (2016, 2019, 2020, 2022)
3x World Championship Silver Medalist (2013, 2018, 2024)
1x World Championship MVP (2013)
2x World Championship Best Defenceman (2013, 2024)
2016 World Cup of Hockey Finalist
Statistics
Points (Defencemen): 1st (2022), 2nd (2020), 3rd (2024), 4th (2016), 5th (2015), 9th (2019), 11th (2017), 13th (2023), 14th (2018), 17th (2021)
Goals (Defencemen): 1st (2024), 2nd (2020), 2nd (2022), 3rd (2023), 6th (2015), 7th (2019), 10th (2014), 10th (2018), 11th (2016), 13th (2017), 13th (2021)
Assists (Defencemen): 1st (2022), 2nd (2020), 5th (2016), 5th (2024), 10th (2015), 10th (2017), 12th (2019), 17th (2018), 19th (2023)
PP Goals (Defencemen): 1st (2018), 1st (2022), 1st (2023), 1st (2024), 5th (2017), 8th (2016), 9th (2020)
PP Assists (Defencemen): 4th (2022), 5th (2020), 7th (2024), 9th (2016), 11th (2021), 17th (2023)
Player Quotes
“Josi doesn’t get the points of a Karlsson or a Burns, but he’s a complete player on both ends. I think he’s still underrated. He doesn’t leap off the screen unless you’re watching Nashville all the time, because his game is to be positionally sound and just funnel you into a bad situation on the ice. To me, the defensemen who are the most frustrating to play against are the ones who are always in your face, keeping a really tight gap. When you see open ice, even for just two seconds, that’s when you’re licking your chops. When I’m playing against Josi, I’m seeing his yellow jersey in my face every single second — and if I’m in front of the net, then there’s a good chance he’s cross-checking me in the ribs.” - Mark Scheifele
“We need him every night to be our best player, if not our top-two best players…He’s so consistent in that regard, which is hard to do in this league. It’s a credit to him and the way he takes care of himself and the way he prepares for each game to go out and be the best player.” - Ryan McDonagh
“You appreciate it more and more, [I’m] now in my second year with him…The guy just plays the game so well. He’s so competitive, he just anticipates the play so well. And the big thing with him is he steps up in big moments and he’s so consistent. He was so counted on for offense and defense, playing a ton of minutes and put the team on his shoulders this year when we needed him to in the middle of the season. He played some unbelievable hockey.” - Ryan McDonagh
“I haven’t been on too many teams with a D-man that contributes this much offense, it's crazy… It's amazing how much he does and how elusive he is on the ice, that for sure he should be in contention. He's been a big piece of why we've had success this year and a big part of our offensive production. It's amazing what he's done, and not just putting [the puck] in, but the big goals he’s scored for us too and the big plays he's made for us. It's definitely very impressive.” - Ryan O'Reilly
“It's nice I'm not going to be chasing him around anymore, like the last few years… He [gave me a] lot of issues. But to finally be playing with him, we've known each other for many years now, and he's such an incredible guy and incredible player. Such a great leader, too. I’m excited to follow him and have success and bring a Cup here.” - Ryan O'Reilly
“[Asked who is the most underrated player in the NHL] "I think Roman Josi. We only play against them twice a year so we don’t see much of them. I was able to skate with him a couple weeks ago for four or five days in Florida. He’s a guy that probably doesn’t get as much credit as he deserves even being the captain for Nashville. Just being on the ice against him, being on the ice with him, he’s a really special player and he does it all out there." - Auston Matthews
“I played with him, so [Josi’s point total] wasn’t very quiet to me. He’s great. I don’t know how people don’t know about him.” - Shea Weber
“I didn’t really know Roman as a player that well, and he really opened my eyes with his ability and the way he can skate and can make plays…I don’t think people maybe recognized how talented he was playing in Nashville.” - John Tavares
“He’s been unbelievable...even at the start of [the] season, maybe he didn't put up the numbers that everyone's used to him doing, but the way he's been playing all year for us has been awesome. And the way he is in the room is just so inspiring. We're lucky to have him for sure, and it's good that he should be in the [Hart Trophy] conversation and the Norris conversation. He could probably be in a couple more conversations too and nobody would argue.” - Filip Forsberg
“He doesn’t really have a weakness…He’s sound defensively and obviously does well in the offensive zone.” - Mattias Ekholm
“One of the best players in this generation…” - Quinn Hughes
“Honestly, he's leading by example…I think he goes out there and leaves it all out there and he tries to pull guys with him on the ice. I would say he's not the most vocal guy, but obviously he speaks up when he has to. Overall, his work ethic and the way he plays on the ice, that's what makes him stand out as a great captain. You listen when he talks. There's a lot of great leaders in this locker room but obviously he's the captain, and when he speaks up you definitely listen.” - Nino Niederreiter
“He's one of the best defenders in the NHL. It's just fun playing with him and not against him. I'm really happy he's here. We obviously have a huge advantage if he's on the ice.” - Nico Hischier
“When he starts moving, he is tough to contain. He’s really hard to forecheck and he also plays really hard in his own end. He’s really good at breaking up cycles.” - Andrew Cogliano
Coach Quotes
“I don’t know about the league (recognition) but we realize how valuable Roman is… He can play at both ends; he can change a game offensively. He’s one of the better puck-moving defencemen in the league, not just moving the puck, but his body as well. Always has his head up and makes good plays.” - Peter Laviolette
“Would Roman Josi be considered a No. 1 on any other team? Absolutely. He’s one of the top defenders in the league. He goes into a mix with six or eight or 10 others. Top-notch defencemen…” - Peter Laviolette
“I think he’s earning the respect around the league based on the way he plays the game...A lot of times his offense is very noticeable. He collects points, he figures into nice plays and scores goals, sets up goals. He’s probably a little more underrated defensively, with how good he is defensively.” - Peter Laviolette
“The thing about Roman is he’s always been exceptionally talented in terms of the skating and hockey I.Q…But what’s been underrated, I think, is that he’s in the Nashville market and he’s been overshadowed by bigger names. To me, he’s a top-five defenceman in the league, for sure.” - Barry Trotz
“There’s no question that when Shea departed, Roman took up a bigger role. Any loose ends that Shea was a part of during his time, Roman has picked them up, whether it’s as a leader on or off the ice. He’s filled that void. The rest of the league is finding out just how good of a player he is.” - Barry Trotz
“A guy like Roman Josi is probably the Erik Karlsson of the Western Conference…Like Erik Karlsson, he’s got to be watched because he likes to carry the mail, he’s part of the offence, he’s dynamic. He’s going to be, just as Shea is over there, a Norris Trophy candidate for the next number of years.” - Barry Trotz
“Roman, he’s always so good with the puck and his skating ability and he never gets tired…But what you notice over time is his ability to defend: His stick detail, his one-on-one play is much better than it was. His strength on the puck in battles is much better as he’s gotten older and stronger.” - Barry Trotz
“His offensive instincts are really impressive. He's one of those players that sees plays that other guys don't and also has the ability to make plays that other guys can't, just at a consistent level…The other thing is for a guy that's as offensive as he is, he cares about both sides of the puck. The reason he's such an elite player, he has the ability to be an elite player, but I think it's the consistency level, night in and night out, that he can impact the game in multiple ways.” - John Hynes
“The best defenceman in the game…I'm not so sure that there's a player that impacts their team and their organization the way that Roman does.” - John Hynes
“He just takes your team on his back and goes. And all the talk that he's getting is more than deserved. I’ve said this a few times, but I think we kind of get spoiled with him and we take him for granted.” - Andrew Brunette
“I think his body of work over his career is probably overlooked, and he's probably a little underrated…” - Andrew Brunette
“I hate coaching against him. I love the guy and watching him play. He’s worth the price of admission… He leads the rush. Most defencemen are giving that first pass, he wants the second pass and he wants to go. He’s an elite player, an elite skater. It’s the top line you better be aware of. But Roman drives the bus back there, man. He’s a special player.” - Rick Bowness
“The defensive part of his game, ever since he was paired with Shea Weber a couple of years ago, it took a giant leap forward...Those were the guys getting the big minutes and facing the big lines. He’s done a tremendous job. It’s his mobility. He gets back to pucks first, has a plan and can break a forecheck so easily. That’s what frustrates teams the most. They can’t slow him down.” - Phil Housley
“Roman was an incredible captain.” - Patrick Fischer
Awards/Achievements
3x First Team All-Star (2020, 2022, 2024)
1x Norris Trophy (2020)
All-Star Voting: 1st (2020), 2nd (2022), 2nd (2024), 5th (2015), 5th (2016), 7th (2018), 7th (2019), 10th (2017), 15th (2021), 20th (2023)
Norris Voting: 1st (2020), 2nd (2022), 2nd (2024), 5th (2015), 5th (2016), 7th (2018), 7th (2019), 11th (2017), 14th (2021)
Hart Voting: 6th (2022), 7th (2020), 10th (2024)
4x All-Star Game (2016, 2019, 2020, 2022)
3x World Championship Silver Medalist (2013, 2018, 2024)
1x World Championship MVP (2013)
2x World Championship Best Defenceman (2013, 2024)
2016 World Cup of Hockey Finalist
Statistics
Points (Defencemen): 1st (2022), 2nd (2020), 3rd (2024), 4th (2016), 5th (2015), 9th (2019), 11th (2017), 13th (2023), 14th (2018), 17th (2021)
Goals (Defencemen): 1st (2024), 2nd (2020), 2nd (2022), 3rd (2023), 6th (2015), 7th (2019), 10th (2014), 10th (2018), 11th (2016), 13th (2017), 13th (2021)
Assists (Defencemen): 1st (2022), 2nd (2020), 5th (2016), 5th (2024), 10th (2015), 10th (2017), 12th (2019), 17th (2018), 19th (2023)
PP Goals (Defencemen): 1st (2018), 1st (2022), 1st (2023), 1st (2024), 5th (2017), 8th (2016), 9th (2020)
PP Assists (Defencemen): 4th (2022), 5th (2020), 7th (2024), 9th (2016), 11th (2021), 17th (2023)
Player Quotes
“Josi doesn’t get the points of a Karlsson or a Burns, but he’s a complete player on both ends. I think he’s still underrated. He doesn’t leap off the screen unless you’re watching Nashville all the time, because his game is to be positionally sound and just funnel you into a bad situation on the ice. To me, the defensemen who are the most frustrating to play against are the ones who are always in your face, keeping a really tight gap. When you see open ice, even for just two seconds, that’s when you’re licking your chops. When I’m playing against Josi, I’m seeing his yellow jersey in my face every single second — and if I’m in front of the net, then there’s a good chance he’s cross-checking me in the ribs.” - Mark Scheifele
“We need him every night to be our best player, if not our top-two best players…He’s so consistent in that regard, which is hard to do in this league. It’s a credit to him and the way he takes care of himself and the way he prepares for each game to go out and be the best player.” - Ryan McDonagh
“You appreciate it more and more, [I’m] now in my second year with him…The guy just plays the game so well. He’s so competitive, he just anticipates the play so well. And the big thing with him is he steps up in big moments and he’s so consistent. He was so counted on for offense and defense, playing a ton of minutes and put the team on his shoulders this year when we needed him to in the middle of the season. He played some unbelievable hockey.” - Ryan McDonagh
“I haven’t been on too many teams with a D-man that contributes this much offense, it's crazy… It's amazing how much he does and how elusive he is on the ice, that for sure he should be in contention. He's been a big piece of why we've had success this year and a big part of our offensive production. It's amazing what he's done, and not just putting [the puck] in, but the big goals he’s scored for us too and the big plays he's made for us. It's definitely very impressive.” - Ryan O'Reilly
“It's nice I'm not going to be chasing him around anymore, like the last few years… He [gave me a] lot of issues. But to finally be playing with him, we've known each other for many years now, and he's such an incredible guy and incredible player. Such a great leader, too. I’m excited to follow him and have success and bring a Cup here.” - Ryan O'Reilly
“[Asked who is the most underrated player in the NHL] "I think Roman Josi. We only play against them twice a year so we don’t see much of them. I was able to skate with him a couple weeks ago for four or five days in Florida. He’s a guy that probably doesn’t get as much credit as he deserves even being the captain for Nashville. Just being on the ice against him, being on the ice with him, he’s a really special player and he does it all out there." - Auston Matthews
“I played with him, so [Josi’s point total] wasn’t very quiet to me. He’s great. I don’t know how people don’t know about him.” - Shea Weber
“I didn’t really know Roman as a player that well, and he really opened my eyes with his ability and the way he can skate and can make plays…I don’t think people maybe recognized how talented he was playing in Nashville.” - John Tavares
“He’s been unbelievable...even at the start of [the] season, maybe he didn't put up the numbers that everyone's used to him doing, but the way he's been playing all year for us has been awesome. And the way he is in the room is just so inspiring. We're lucky to have him for sure, and it's good that he should be in the [Hart Trophy] conversation and the Norris conversation. He could probably be in a couple more conversations too and nobody would argue.” - Filip Forsberg
“He doesn’t really have a weakness…He’s sound defensively and obviously does well in the offensive zone.” - Mattias Ekholm
“One of the best players in this generation…” - Quinn Hughes
“Honestly, he's leading by example…I think he goes out there and leaves it all out there and he tries to pull guys with him on the ice. I would say he's not the most vocal guy, but obviously he speaks up when he has to. Overall, his work ethic and the way he plays on the ice, that's what makes him stand out as a great captain. You listen when he talks. There's a lot of great leaders in this locker room but obviously he's the captain, and when he speaks up you definitely listen.” - Nino Niederreiter
“He's one of the best defenders in the NHL. It's just fun playing with him and not against him. I'm really happy he's here. We obviously have a huge advantage if he's on the ice.” - Nico Hischier
“When he starts moving, he is tough to contain. He’s really hard to forecheck and he also plays really hard in his own end. He’s really good at breaking up cycles.” - Andrew Cogliano
Coach Quotes
“I don’t know about the league (recognition) but we realize how valuable Roman is… He can play at both ends; he can change a game offensively. He’s one of the better puck-moving defencemen in the league, not just moving the puck, but his body as well. Always has his head up and makes good plays.” - Peter Laviolette
“Would Roman Josi be considered a No. 1 on any other team? Absolutely. He’s one of the top defenders in the league. He goes into a mix with six or eight or 10 others. Top-notch defencemen…” - Peter Laviolette
“I think he’s earning the respect around the league based on the way he plays the game...A lot of times his offense is very noticeable. He collects points, he figures into nice plays and scores goals, sets up goals. He’s probably a little more underrated defensively, with how good he is defensively.” - Peter Laviolette
“The thing about Roman is he’s always been exceptionally talented in terms of the skating and hockey I.Q…But what’s been underrated, I think, is that he’s in the Nashville market and he’s been overshadowed by bigger names. To me, he’s a top-five defenceman in the league, for sure.” - Barry Trotz
“There’s no question that when Shea departed, Roman took up a bigger role. Any loose ends that Shea was a part of during his time, Roman has picked them up, whether it’s as a leader on or off the ice. He’s filled that void. The rest of the league is finding out just how good of a player he is.” - Barry Trotz
“A guy like Roman Josi is probably the Erik Karlsson of the Western Conference…Like Erik Karlsson, he’s got to be watched because he likes to carry the mail, he’s part of the offence, he’s dynamic. He’s going to be, just as Shea is over there, a Norris Trophy candidate for the next number of years.” - Barry Trotz
“Roman, he’s always so good with the puck and his skating ability and he never gets tired…But what you notice over time is his ability to defend: His stick detail, his one-on-one play is much better than it was. His strength on the puck in battles is much better as he’s gotten older and stronger.” - Barry Trotz
“His offensive instincts are really impressive. He's one of those players that sees plays that other guys don't and also has the ability to make plays that other guys can't, just at a consistent level…The other thing is for a guy that's as offensive as he is, he cares about both sides of the puck. The reason he's such an elite player, he has the ability to be an elite player, but I think it's the consistency level, night in and night out, that he can impact the game in multiple ways.” - John Hynes
“The best defenceman in the game…I'm not so sure that there's a player that impacts their team and their organization the way that Roman does.” - John Hynes
“He just takes your team on his back and goes. And all the talk that he's getting is more than deserved. I’ve said this a few times, but I think we kind of get spoiled with him and we take him for granted.” - Andrew Brunette
“I think his body of work over his career is probably overlooked, and he's probably a little underrated…” - Andrew Brunette
“I hate coaching against him. I love the guy and watching him play. He’s worth the price of admission… He leads the rush. Most defencemen are giving that first pass, he wants the second pass and he wants to go. He’s an elite player, an elite skater. It’s the top line you better be aware of. But Roman drives the bus back there, man. He’s a special player.” - Rick Bowness
“The defensive part of his game, ever since he was paired with Shea Weber a couple of years ago, it took a giant leap forward...Those were the guys getting the big minutes and facing the big lines. He’s done a tremendous job. It’s his mobility. He gets back to pucks first, has a plan and can break a forecheck so easily. That’s what frustrates teams the most. They can’t slow him down.” - Phil Housley
“Roman was an incredible captain.” - Patrick Fischer
Jack Campbell
I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again- I believe there is a good chance that Jack Campbell was the first star in hockey’s history. He jumps off the page like very few players did in the 1881-1909 timeframe, and the fact that this is the case with such sparse coverage is nothing short of extraordinary. He had that star power, as some around the ATD and HoH like to describe it.
As the stats and quotes (below) show, Jack Campbell was an offensive force. His level of offensive dominance as a defender is likely unmatched until Eddie Shore or even Bobby Orr. And as I hope the quotes show, he was more than just an offensive dynamo- there are plenty of quotes suggesting that he was a plus defender as well.
I know not everybody likes to read pages of quotes, so I’ll just pull out my 5 favorite and drop them up front (though I do encourage people to read the whole thing… its interesting!):
“Campbell, the finest hockey player in Montreal at present”
“Had the Victorias been a little harder pressed perhaps their play would not have appeared so brilliant and dashing, but such play as Campbell showed can only be characterized as wonderful. His speed and his cleverness at dodging are worth going a long way to see”
“Campbell, at coverpoint, as usual, however, was a whole team in himself, and it was chiefly due to his fine play that some of the combined rushes of the M.A.A.A. men lost their effectiveness for scoring”
“On the Vic side, as usual, Campbell carried off the honors. He seemed the only one who could withstand the rushes of W. Hodgson successfully, and when he would up as fine a run as ever was seen in a hockey match by getting the puck past Paton and scoring he was rewarded by the unstinted applause of the spectators”
“The most prominent and striking feature of the match was the dashing and brilliant play of Campbell, of the Vics, who to-day stands unequaled”
Quotes
1885- 1 game with Montreal Football Club in the Montreal Carnival
Nothing noteworthy
1887- 10 games with the Montreal Victorias
“Campbell, the finest hockey player in Montreal at present, who was the Vics cover-point, was hurt early in the game and did not play in half his usual style”
“ Campbell and J. Arnton, usually the stars on the team, were under the weather, the bulk of the work falling to Shearer, who worked hard”
“The players who particularly distinguished themselves were, for the Victorias, Messrs. Campbell, Kinghorn, Stevenson, Arnton and Shearer”
“Jack Campbell got in two good runs in this half hour, and perhaps with quicker backing might have scored for the Victorias”
“On the Victoria team Campbell and Muir showed their long heads by playing well up to their forwards”
“on the Vics’ side Campbell, Shearer, Craven and Swift showing up the oftenest”
“The playing of Myles, Currier and Lowe, of the Ottawas, and Swift, Campbell and Arnton, of the Victorias, was immense”
“For the Vics Campbell played a magnificent game, as did ‘Baxter’ and Jack Arnton”
“J. Campbell was a stone wall, and behind him J. Muir or T. Arnton were thoroughly able to second him”
“All round the Vics’ team played a splendid combination game, Campbell being the most prominent”
“Campbell was conspicuous for the fine runs he made at times, making his way through all the players, and when it was thought he would wind up by scoring his best efforts would be frustrated by the fine goal keeping of Norris”
“On the Crystal team, Norris, McDonald and Elliott, and Jack Arnton, Campbell, and Barlow for the Victorias, played a grand game. Swift showed up well in the second half”
“...the play of Messrs. Swift and Campbell, of the Vics, and McDonald and Dowd for the Crystals was very fine”
“After about 15 minutes play Campbell, by one of the grandest runs and prettiest pieces of dodging ever witnessed…”
“It was admitted by all that never in a hockey match was finer play witnessed than that shown by Messrs. Campbell, Swift, Craven and Barlow last evening, while the goal keeping of Messrs. Arnton and Paton was much admired”
“For the Vics the players who distinguished themselves were Shearer, Swift, Campbell and Barlow”
“For the Victorias, the play of E. Barlow was grand, and Craven, Campbell and Shearer also played a fine game”
“Here J. Campbell made one of his sweeping rushes down field, passing several men until he was stopped by Lang”
“Arnton, Campbell, Shearer, and Barlow for the Vics distinguishing themselves”
“Campbell was brilliant and cool, as usual”
1888- 9 games with the Montreal Victorias
“Had the Victorias been a little harder pressed perhaps their play would not have appeared so brilliant and dashing, but such play as Campbell showed can only be characterized as wonderful. His speed and his cleverness at dodging are worth going a long way to see; in a couple of instances he wriggled through the whole McGill team and only stopped at the goal-keeper, while the puck seemed to be magnetically attracted by his stick”
“J. Campbell again played a marvellous game and was ably seconded by E. Barlow and J. Kinghorn, who both played well. Crathern also kept goal well”
“J. Campbell’s playing was work going a long way to see”
“For the winners, Elliott, Drysdale and Norris played well, as did Kinhorne, Barlow and Campbell for the Victorias, the last-named playing a magnificent game and a long way ahead of anyone else on the ice”
“The Vics forwards, with the exception of Barlow, were never where they were most needed, and only for the strong defence of Harris and Campbell, who were always on hand, it is hard to say what the ultimate result might have been”
“For the winners, Campbell as usual played brilliantly at cover point and Crathern in goal was invaluable”
“At last T. Walsh headed a rush for liberty, ably backed up by Jamieson, but J. Campbell stopped them, and getting possession of the puck, ran down the side of the rink”
“”T. Walsh, his brother and Lucas about this time distinguished themselves, but Campbell was too much for them, for getting to puck a trifle ahead of them, just after Lucas had hit it hard, he smartly dodged T. Walsh and Holden in rapid succession, then avoiding a check of Jamieson’s by a clever turn”
“Campbell, Ashe and Barlow (the latter especially) played a rushing and plucky game all thorough”
“Virtue tried to score but Campbell foiled him in his endeavor”
“...but owing to the magnificent play of Campbell they were kept at bay”
“For the victors all played well, especially Campbell, Ashe, Shearer and Barlow”
“On the winners side all played well, but the play of Barlow, Campbell, Kinghorn and Harris, and the goal keeping of Crathern was very fine. Campbell made some brilliant runs and Harris worked ‘the lift’ to great advantage.”
“Down came A. Hodgson with the puck at the end of his stick. A heavy check from Campbell and there was a scrimmage”
“One of those grand runs for which Campbell was famous was spoiled by a hard check from Hodgson, Campbell’s wrist being struck and he losing his stick; it seemed a certainty of goal for the Vics”
“The M.A.A. men seemed flushed with victory and immediately started their rushing tactics, but to no purpose, Campbell and Arnton could not be passed”
“Campbell at last made on of the runs for which he is now so famous, and taking the puck the full length of the ice put it through the posts”
“After a long spell of defence Campbell got the puck from almost in front of goal, saw an opening, and started on one of those phenomenal runs of his. He dodged everybody that came in his way…”
“The men who did particularly good work were Davidson, H. Scott, Renfrew and Patton for Quebec, and T. Arnton, Campbell and Ashe for the Vics”
“For the Vics, who won the match by three goals to two, Campbell, Barlow, Kinghorn and Shearer played well, and for the losers McQuisten, Elliott and Lee”
“Campbell, at coverpoint, as usual, however, was a whole team in himself, and it was chiefly due to his fine play that some of the combined rushes of the M.A.A.A. men lost their effectiveness for scoring”
“On the Vic side, as usual, Campbell carried off the honors. He seemed the only one who could withstand the rushes of W. Hodgson successfully, and when he would up as fine a run as ever was seen in a hockey match by getting the puck past Paton and scoring he was rewarded by the unstinted applause of the spectators”
“Campbell, of the Victorias, certainly took the honors, and his run with the puck, dodging Lowe, Hodgson, Virtue, Cameron, and Stewart and winding up with getting the puck past Paton through the goal post was one of the finest things ever witnessed on ice”
“J. Campbell, at cover-point, bring down loud applause by frequent clever runs clean through his opponents.”
“...although the Victorias came out the winners they did so not by means of the forwards as we anticipated, but more by the very able back division consisting of Campbell, Harris and Crathern. These three proved a nut that was hard to crack”
“Campbell played the most unselfish game he has ever done, and it was mainly this fact that enabled the Victorias to raise the siege so often”
“Campbell made many exceptionally fine runs and thus removed all danger temporarily”
“At last Campbell got an opening and starting from behind shot across the ice, dodged Lowe, then feinting at A. Hodson, shot puck under that brilliant young player’s legs, again dodged Lowe, stalled off a rush by Cameron who spun round onto the ice, then shooting puck against the rink caught it on the round before W. Hodson could get to him, and going on wound up a brilliant run by passing Stewart, but that player turned so quickly that he was able to intercept Campbell’s shot”
“Campbell retaliated by another grand run clean through every one of his opponents, who he either knocked over or cleverly dodged by the excellence of his head work, till at last he was opposite Paton. Then came his chance to ‘pass’ but preferring to score off his own stick he shot at goal; puck being magnificently stopped by that phenomenal goal-keeper Paton”
“...but after Campbell had once more made a brilliant if somewhat selfish run…”
“Jack Campbell and Shearer, for the Vics, and H. Scott and Davidson, for Quebec, working like trojans, and were constantly within an ace of scoring, both goal-keepers putting in some capital work. A most brilliant run by Campbell, the whole length of the rink, shortly afterwards turned out successful”
“H. Scott and Davidson then did some pretty passing and almost scored for the Quebec team, but Shearer and Campbell could not be passed”
McCable and Elliott in turn ran puck down nearly as far as J. Arnton, but Campbell stopped them”
“Campbell was instrumental in first breaking the attack by one of his dodgy runs”
“Campbell and J. Arnton were always on the alert, however shing equally as outposts, as did Norris and McDonnell on the other side”
“...which resulted in the ball being sent over the Vic’s heads to Campbell, the latter put in one of his serpentine runs”
1889- 5 games with the Montreal Victorias
“There were two or three brilliant bits of play in this game, made by Campbell, Cameron, Hodgson and Lowe”
“Campbell made several fine attempts, but he was too closely attended to by Hodgson to do anything effective”
“Campbell was in his element, and was always cool and exact in his checking; he seemed to be satisfied with long shots and seldom tried running, but he made some wonderful stops”
“Of course Arnton was doing fine work at point; so was Campbell a little in advance of him, but the latter player was too closely watched- having two men on him- to get in any of his old-time runs”
“Cameron took up the running and was beginning to look dangerous when he was intercepted by Campbell, who took the puck away from him”
“Hodgson made a rush, but was stopped by Campbell”
“...although Arnton and Campbell were doing all they could to stave off the rushes of the MAAA boys”
1890- 7 games with the Montreal Victorias
“but Campbell proved to be a regular stone wall. Nothing passed him”
“Of course, the match last night did not furnish much criterion for Campbell proved time and again that he was able to play most of the opposing team”
“Up to this stage of the game those who were doing heroic service for their teams were Campbell, Warden and Barlow for the Vics; Cameron, McNaughton and Elliott for the Montrealers. The latter were thoroughly roused up, and with a few exceptions playing a fine game, but Jones was simply doing wonders for the Vics. He stopped shot after shot which appeared to be impossible, and in fact he was the only support Campbell had during the first half. Campbell, who throughout played the best individual game…”
“The spectators were very often raised to a high pitch of enthusiasm through the dashing play of Campbell, who certainly played a magnificent game”
“The most prominent and striking feature of the match was the dashing and brilliant play of Campbell, of the Vics, who to-day stands unequaled”
1891- 1 game with the Montreal Victorias
“Barry, Campbell and Barlow played a fine game for the Vics. Campbell was closely watched and whenever he showed a disposition to make one of his flying trips up the ice two or three of the Ottawa men jumped on him at once.”
“Too much, however, was expected of Campbell, as he was not in condition, and then he met men who bothered him considerably, but for all that he played a splendid game”
Nothing noteworthy
1887- 10 games with the Montreal Victorias
“Campbell, the finest hockey player in Montreal at present, who was the Vics cover-point, was hurt early in the game and did not play in half his usual style”
“ Campbell and J. Arnton, usually the stars on the team, were under the weather, the bulk of the work falling to Shearer, who worked hard”
“The players who particularly distinguished themselves were, for the Victorias, Messrs. Campbell, Kinghorn, Stevenson, Arnton and Shearer”
“Jack Campbell got in two good runs in this half hour, and perhaps with quicker backing might have scored for the Victorias”
“On the Victoria team Campbell and Muir showed their long heads by playing well up to their forwards”
“on the Vics’ side Campbell, Shearer, Craven and Swift showing up the oftenest”
“The playing of Myles, Currier and Lowe, of the Ottawas, and Swift, Campbell and Arnton, of the Victorias, was immense”
“For the Vics Campbell played a magnificent game, as did ‘Baxter’ and Jack Arnton”
“J. Campbell was a stone wall, and behind him J. Muir or T. Arnton were thoroughly able to second him”
“All round the Vics’ team played a splendid combination game, Campbell being the most prominent”
“Campbell was conspicuous for the fine runs he made at times, making his way through all the players, and when it was thought he would wind up by scoring his best efforts would be frustrated by the fine goal keeping of Norris”
“On the Crystal team, Norris, McDonald and Elliott, and Jack Arnton, Campbell, and Barlow for the Victorias, played a grand game. Swift showed up well in the second half”
“...the play of Messrs. Swift and Campbell, of the Vics, and McDonald and Dowd for the Crystals was very fine”
“After about 15 minutes play Campbell, by one of the grandest runs and prettiest pieces of dodging ever witnessed…”
“It was admitted by all that never in a hockey match was finer play witnessed than that shown by Messrs. Campbell, Swift, Craven and Barlow last evening, while the goal keeping of Messrs. Arnton and Paton was much admired”
“For the Vics the players who distinguished themselves were Shearer, Swift, Campbell and Barlow”
“For the Victorias, the play of E. Barlow was grand, and Craven, Campbell and Shearer also played a fine game”
“Here J. Campbell made one of his sweeping rushes down field, passing several men until he was stopped by Lang”
“Arnton, Campbell, Shearer, and Barlow for the Vics distinguishing themselves”
“Campbell was brilliant and cool, as usual”
1888- 9 games with the Montreal Victorias
“Had the Victorias been a little harder pressed perhaps their play would not have appeared so brilliant and dashing, but such play as Campbell showed can only be characterized as wonderful. His speed and his cleverness at dodging are worth going a long way to see; in a couple of instances he wriggled through the whole McGill team and only stopped at the goal-keeper, while the puck seemed to be magnetically attracted by his stick”
“J. Campbell again played a marvellous game and was ably seconded by E. Barlow and J. Kinghorn, who both played well. Crathern also kept goal well”
“J. Campbell’s playing was work going a long way to see”
“For the winners, Elliott, Drysdale and Norris played well, as did Kinhorne, Barlow and Campbell for the Victorias, the last-named playing a magnificent game and a long way ahead of anyone else on the ice”
“The Vics forwards, with the exception of Barlow, were never where they were most needed, and only for the strong defence of Harris and Campbell, who were always on hand, it is hard to say what the ultimate result might have been”
“For the winners, Campbell as usual played brilliantly at cover point and Crathern in goal was invaluable”
“At last T. Walsh headed a rush for liberty, ably backed up by Jamieson, but J. Campbell stopped them, and getting possession of the puck, ran down the side of the rink”
“”T. Walsh, his brother and Lucas about this time distinguished themselves, but Campbell was too much for them, for getting to puck a trifle ahead of them, just after Lucas had hit it hard, he smartly dodged T. Walsh and Holden in rapid succession, then avoiding a check of Jamieson’s by a clever turn”
“Campbell, Ashe and Barlow (the latter especially) played a rushing and plucky game all thorough”
“Virtue tried to score but Campbell foiled him in his endeavor”
“...but owing to the magnificent play of Campbell they were kept at bay”
“For the victors all played well, especially Campbell, Ashe, Shearer and Barlow”
“On the winners side all played well, but the play of Barlow, Campbell, Kinghorn and Harris, and the goal keeping of Crathern was very fine. Campbell made some brilliant runs and Harris worked ‘the lift’ to great advantage.”
“Down came A. Hodgson with the puck at the end of his stick. A heavy check from Campbell and there was a scrimmage”
“One of those grand runs for which Campbell was famous was spoiled by a hard check from Hodgson, Campbell’s wrist being struck and he losing his stick; it seemed a certainty of goal for the Vics”
“The M.A.A. men seemed flushed with victory and immediately started their rushing tactics, but to no purpose, Campbell and Arnton could not be passed”
“Campbell at last made on of the runs for which he is now so famous, and taking the puck the full length of the ice put it through the posts”
“After a long spell of defence Campbell got the puck from almost in front of goal, saw an opening, and started on one of those phenomenal runs of his. He dodged everybody that came in his way…”
“The men who did particularly good work were Davidson, H. Scott, Renfrew and Patton for Quebec, and T. Arnton, Campbell and Ashe for the Vics”
“For the Vics, who won the match by three goals to two, Campbell, Barlow, Kinghorn and Shearer played well, and for the losers McQuisten, Elliott and Lee”
“Campbell, at coverpoint, as usual, however, was a whole team in himself, and it was chiefly due to his fine play that some of the combined rushes of the M.A.A.A. men lost their effectiveness for scoring”
“On the Vic side, as usual, Campbell carried off the honors. He seemed the only one who could withstand the rushes of W. Hodgson successfully, and when he would up as fine a run as ever was seen in a hockey match by getting the puck past Paton and scoring he was rewarded by the unstinted applause of the spectators”
“Campbell, of the Victorias, certainly took the honors, and his run with the puck, dodging Lowe, Hodgson, Virtue, Cameron, and Stewart and winding up with getting the puck past Paton through the goal post was one of the finest things ever witnessed on ice”
“J. Campbell, at cover-point, bring down loud applause by frequent clever runs clean through his opponents.”
“...although the Victorias came out the winners they did so not by means of the forwards as we anticipated, but more by the very able back division consisting of Campbell, Harris and Crathern. These three proved a nut that was hard to crack”
“Campbell played the most unselfish game he has ever done, and it was mainly this fact that enabled the Victorias to raise the siege so often”
“Campbell made many exceptionally fine runs and thus removed all danger temporarily”
“At last Campbell got an opening and starting from behind shot across the ice, dodged Lowe, then feinting at A. Hodson, shot puck under that brilliant young player’s legs, again dodged Lowe, stalled off a rush by Cameron who spun round onto the ice, then shooting puck against the rink caught it on the round before W. Hodson could get to him, and going on wound up a brilliant run by passing Stewart, but that player turned so quickly that he was able to intercept Campbell’s shot”
“Campbell retaliated by another grand run clean through every one of his opponents, who he either knocked over or cleverly dodged by the excellence of his head work, till at last he was opposite Paton. Then came his chance to ‘pass’ but preferring to score off his own stick he shot at goal; puck being magnificently stopped by that phenomenal goal-keeper Paton”
“...but after Campbell had once more made a brilliant if somewhat selfish run…”
“Jack Campbell and Shearer, for the Vics, and H. Scott and Davidson, for Quebec, working like trojans, and were constantly within an ace of scoring, both goal-keepers putting in some capital work. A most brilliant run by Campbell, the whole length of the rink, shortly afterwards turned out successful”
“H. Scott and Davidson then did some pretty passing and almost scored for the Quebec team, but Shearer and Campbell could not be passed”
McCable and Elliott in turn ran puck down nearly as far as J. Arnton, but Campbell stopped them”
“Campbell was instrumental in first breaking the attack by one of his dodgy runs”
“Campbell and J. Arnton were always on the alert, however shing equally as outposts, as did Norris and McDonnell on the other side”
“...which resulted in the ball being sent over the Vic’s heads to Campbell, the latter put in one of his serpentine runs”
1889- 5 games with the Montreal Victorias
“There were two or three brilliant bits of play in this game, made by Campbell, Cameron, Hodgson and Lowe”
“Campbell made several fine attempts, but he was too closely attended to by Hodgson to do anything effective”
“Campbell was in his element, and was always cool and exact in his checking; he seemed to be satisfied with long shots and seldom tried running, but he made some wonderful stops”
“Of course Arnton was doing fine work at point; so was Campbell a little in advance of him, but the latter player was too closely watched- having two men on him- to get in any of his old-time runs”
“Cameron took up the running and was beginning to look dangerous when he was intercepted by Campbell, who took the puck away from him”
“Hodgson made a rush, but was stopped by Campbell”
“...although Arnton and Campbell were doing all they could to stave off the rushes of the MAAA boys”
1890- 7 games with the Montreal Victorias
“but Campbell proved to be a regular stone wall. Nothing passed him”
“Of course, the match last night did not furnish much criterion for Campbell proved time and again that he was able to play most of the opposing team”
“Up to this stage of the game those who were doing heroic service for their teams were Campbell, Warden and Barlow for the Vics; Cameron, McNaughton and Elliott for the Montrealers. The latter were thoroughly roused up, and with a few exceptions playing a fine game, but Jones was simply doing wonders for the Vics. He stopped shot after shot which appeared to be impossible, and in fact he was the only support Campbell had during the first half. Campbell, who throughout played the best individual game…”
“The spectators were very often raised to a high pitch of enthusiasm through the dashing play of Campbell, who certainly played a magnificent game”
“The most prominent and striking feature of the match was the dashing and brilliant play of Campbell, of the Vics, who to-day stands unequaled”
1891- 1 game with the Montreal Victorias
“Barry, Campbell and Barlow played a fine game for the Vics. Campbell was closely watched and whenever he showed a disposition to make one of his flying trips up the ice two or three of the Ottawa men jumped on him at once.”
“Too much, however, was expected of Campbell, as he was not in condition, and then he met men who bothered him considerably, but for all that he played a splendid game”
Statistics
In case the selection of quotes didn’t convince you of Jack Campbell’s dominance, I’ve isolated the stats for defenders who played in 1885 and 1887-1891 (the year’s Campbell played Senior hockey). These stats only include games where I can confirm a player played point or coverpoint, and they include not only official AHAC games but Montreal Carnival games, the 1888 AHAC championship game, and other games I’ve collected between two Senior AHAC teams. As always, I’d like to note that names get tricky- different spellings, sometimes there are typos with initials, etc. I’ve done my best to account for these variations, but there is a definite, non-zero chance that I have erred in places. I’ll be happy to correct any mistakes people find.
Since this was the earliest days of hockey, coverage still isn’t great; there are substantial amounts of UNK goals, and assists are practically non-existent. In any case, to date, I’ve tracked 66 players who I can confirm played point and/or coverpoint in the above-mentioned timeframe. Those 66 players totalled 283 games at point and/or coverpoint, resulting in 40.66 goals, 6 assists, which is good for 46.66 points. Of those totals, Jack Campbell contributed 31 games, 19.5 goals, 3 assists, 22.5 points. In other words, Jack Campbell counted for 10.95% of games, 47.96% of goals, 50% of assists, and 48.22% of points for all points and coverpoints in 1885 and 1887-1891.
To put it another way, here are ALL the points/coverpoints who registered points during this timeframe:
No one comes close. Even on a per-game basis, no player with 2 or more games played at point and/or coverpoint approaches Jack Campbell; here are the per-game metrics for the players with 2 or more games played:
I can go on and on about his offensive prowess, but I'll stop here for now.
Since this was the earliest days of hockey, coverage still isn’t great; there are substantial amounts of UNK goals, and assists are practically non-existent. In any case, to date, I’ve tracked 66 players who I can confirm played point and/or coverpoint in the above-mentioned timeframe. Those 66 players totalled 283 games at point and/or coverpoint, resulting in 40.66 goals, 6 assists, which is good for 46.66 points. Of those totals, Jack Campbell contributed 31 games, 19.5 goals, 3 assists, 22.5 points. In other words, Jack Campbell counted for 10.95% of games, 47.96% of goals, 50% of assists, and 48.22% of points for all points and coverpoints in 1885 and 1887-1891.
To put it another way, here are ALL the points/coverpoints who registered points during this timeframe:
| Name | Games at P/CP | Goals at P/CP | Assists at P/CP | Points at P/CP |
| Jack Campbell | 31 | 19.5 | 3 | 22.5 |
| Jack Arnton | 15 | 4.5 | 0 | 4.5 |
| J. McDonald | 18 | 3.16 | 0 | 3.16 |
| C. Ellard | 11 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Allan Cameron | 31 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| R. Laing | 5 | 1.5 | 0 | 1.5 |
| Billy Hodgson | 1 | 1.5 | 0 | 1.5 |
| F. Lucas | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| R. Walsh | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Frank Jenkins | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| W. Small | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Clapperton | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Archie Hodgson | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Archie McNaughton | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Richie | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| F. Walsh | 1 | .5 | 0 | .5 |
No one comes close. Even on a per-game basis, no player with 2 or more games played at point and/or coverpoint approaches Jack Campbell; here are the per-game metrics for the players with 2 or more games played:
| Name | Games | Goals/Game | Assists/Game | Points/Game |
| Jack Campbell | 31 | 0.63 | 0.10 | 0.73 |
| Archie Hodgson | 2 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 0.50 |
| Frank Jenkins | 3 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 0.33 |
| Jack Arnton | 15 | 0.30 | 0.00 | 0.30 |
| R. Laing | 5 | 0.30 | 0.00 | 0.30 |
| C. Ellard | 11 | 0.18 | 0.09 | 0.27 |
| W. Small | 4 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 0.25 |
| Clapperton | 4 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 0.25 |
| J. McDonald | 18 | 0.18 | 0.00 | 0.18 |
| F. Lucas | 6 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 0.17 |
| R. Walsh | 6 | 0.00 | 0.17 | 0.17 |
| Allan Cameron | 31 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.06 |
I can go on and on about his offensive prowess, but I'll stop here for now.
Career-Length
Last year (and during the Pre-Consolidation project), there was some concern that Campbell had a short career. I’ve gone through my files and totaled up the numbers for all the players who debuted in the East pre-AHAC, as well as those who debuted in the AHAC. There are a couple things I’d like to note- first, this almost certainly undercounts non-Montreal players. Quebec HC and Ottawa HC didn’t play in the AHAC every year in the earliest years, so I don’t have those results. Second, the usual concern about names. Third, players who left the AHAC to play for other leagues are problematic. Luckily it didn’t happen frequently (at least, at the Senior level), but I expect that this probably undercounts a couple players. How much is hard to say, but my gut instinct is that it doesn’t noticeably impact the results given the size of this data set.
Alright, I have records of 107 players who debuted in 1886 or earlier (again, only looking at the Eastern teams/players). The average career length for the whole group was 3.32 seasons. If we take out the outliers (all the 1-season players at the low end, Dolly Swift at the high end), the average climbs to 4.29. If we keep the high-end mark and still get rid of the 1-season players, the average rises again to 4.45. And if we keep the high-end mark and get rid of both the 1-season and 2-season players, the average climbs to 5.52 seasons. In chart form:
My preference is to take that bottom number- 5.52 - as the best estimate of the average career-length for pre-AHAC players. On a historical scale, I don’t think it is appropriate to count 1 or 2 season players when trying to figure out how long regulars played.
Jack Campbell’s 6 year career is perfectly average by this metric, and, therefore, not something I believe we should be concerned about.
For players who debuted in the AHAC (I have 200 names), here is the table:
Again, I think the bottom number is the most appropriate. Interestingly, the numbers don’t change all that much- 5.5 to 6 seasons seems to be about right for the average career-length for the first 15-ish years of organized hockey.
I haven’t had the time yet to do a similar review for CAHL and ECAHA players, and I don’t know if I will- due to the boom in leagues and players playing beyond 1909, that is going to be a pretty heavy lift. I think it is safe to say CAHL and ECAHA players had longer average careers. I’d contend this was likely due to hockey becoming a revenue stream for players, meaning they had more of an incentive to play longer.
Alright, I have records of 107 players who debuted in 1886 or earlier (again, only looking at the Eastern teams/players). The average career length for the whole group was 3.32 seasons. If we take out the outliers (all the 1-season players at the low end, Dolly Swift at the high end), the average climbs to 4.29. If we keep the high-end mark and still get rid of the 1-season players, the average rises again to 4.45. And if we keep the high-end mark and get rid of both the 1-season and 2-season players, the average climbs to 5.52 seasons. In chart form:
| Average | 3.22 |
| Average minus Outliers | 4.29 |
| Average minus 1's | 4.45 |
| Average minus 1's and 2's | 5.52 |
My preference is to take that bottom number- 5.52 - as the best estimate of the average career-length for pre-AHAC players. On a historical scale, I don’t think it is appropriate to count 1 or 2 season players when trying to figure out how long regulars played.
Jack Campbell’s 6 year career is perfectly average by this metric, and, therefore, not something I believe we should be concerned about.
For players who debuted in the AHAC (I have 200 names), here is the table:
| Average | 3.40 |
| Average minus Outliers | 4.46 |
| Average minus 1's | 4.60 |
| Average minus 1's and 2's | 5.49 |
Again, I think the bottom number is the most appropriate. Interestingly, the numbers don’t change all that much- 5.5 to 6 seasons seems to be about right for the average career-length for the first 15-ish years of organized hockey.
I haven’t had the time yet to do a similar review for CAHL and ECAHA players, and I don’t know if I will- due to the boom in leagues and players playing beyond 1909, that is going to be a pretty heavy lift. I think it is safe to say CAHL and ECAHA players had longer average careers. I’d contend this was likely due to hockey becoming a revenue stream for players, meaning they had more of an incentive to play longer.
Last edited:
Shirley Davidson
I realize I probably could have waited to draft Shirley Davidson, and then tried to convince you all that he is a valid third liner and I got a steal. That would have been the smart move if I was trying to win the ATD. But I’m more concerned with historical accuracy at this point. Since I think Davidson is (at least) a good third liner in a draft this size, I drafted him in an appropriate round.
Shirley Davidson was, in my opinion, the best forward of the 1890s. Other forwards may have scored more, but I don’t believe any garnered the same level of consistent praise that Davidson received. Additionally, I argue that, as reconstructed assists are still pretty few and far between in the 1890s, the set-up guys are inherently at a disadvantage… and make no mistake, Davidson was most likely the premier set-up man of his day. According to the (already acknowledged as imperfect) reconstructed assists, Shirley Davidson ended his career as the all-time assist leader.
A speedy skater (at one point mentioned as the “fastest skater playing hockey”), the game summaries show that Davidson was an effective player both offensively and defensively. Another positive to Davidson was that he was a noted gentlemanly player- he won’t be putting the team shorthanded very often.
In case people don’t want to read through all the quotes, here are a couple I think provide a glimpse into the type of praise Shirley Davidson received during and after his career.
“Shirley Davidson, who is considered by many to be the bright particular star of the Victorias’ forward line, comes from good athletic stock… The subject of this sketch was born in Montreal in 1875. He is 5 ft. 6 in. in height and weighs 150 pounds. At a casual glance it would not be thought that he was so heavy a man, but he ‘strips’ well and is always in the pink…. For the past four years he has figured on the seniors, and it can be honestly said that he has not played a poor game in all that time. When his play was varied it has simply been more brilliant on some occasions than on others. He is an exceedingly rapid skate, dodges well, has perfect control of the puck and shoots with accuracy and swiftness. He is an adept in breaking his opponents combinations, the one point in which his fellow forwards are most decidedly weak.”
“Cam Davidson has had the cloak of his brother fall upon him, and in a very short time he will probably have a bigger name in the hockey world, although this is saying a great deal, for there are few the equal of Shirley”
"London Advertiser: It is customary these days to refer to Tom Phillips as the greatest forward Canadian hockey has ever produced. With the possible exception of Frank McGee, of Ottawa, the Kenora captain undoubtedly surpasses any other forward playing the game to-day, but old-time fans who recall the stars of a decade ago will not agree that he has anything on Shirley Davidson, Bob McDougall, Harry Trihey or Dan Bain. These names are practically unknown to the younger generation of hockey followers. Davidson, who was a midget compared to Phillips, was a wonderful left wing, not showy, but always plugging, and a wonderful judge of instance and speed. His favorite play was down the rink at top speed close to the side, and caroming the puck as he was checked. McDougall was a more spectacular player, but a sensational stickhandler, while Trihey and Bain, when at their best, were whirlwinds, whether on the wings, down the centre, or any other old way”
"And before I leave hockey I must say a word about Shirley Davidson. He has at last passed out of the fascinating game of which he has been one of its greatest stars for years. On Thursday night a train pulled out of Montreal, and he was one of its passengers. By this time he is being rocked in the cradle of the deep, probably thinking of his thousands of friends in Montreal, and giving up all hopes of ever eating another meal. Hockey, football, and yachting circles will miss him badly. He has been one of their leading exponents for years, and was as much liked for his thorough sportsmanlike and gentlemanly demeanor as for the success he made at them. His departure marks the beginning of the end of the peerless team that the Victoria Hockey Club has had on the ice for the past four years. With Shirley Davidson off the forward line it will be like the play of Hamlet with Hamlet left out. With what a host of brilliant victories has his name been connected! Gordon Lewis, too, has allowed the team to appear without him. Good-natured ‘Gordie,’ with his pads, which share with his great ability the honor of making many wonderful stops, will be sorely missed. But it is an ungrateful world. It does not allow a man to be remembered long. Where one steps out there are ten to step in. The King is dead. Long live the King!”
Quotes
1893- 6 games with the Montreal Victorias
“In the next game young Davidson made some fine runs and promises to be another Jack Campbell for dashing play”
“ Davidson and Rankin were the two best men on the losing side”
“Drinkwater and Davidson doing yeoman service for the Vics, while the Kirby brothers and Bradley show up well for the Ottawas”
“Things might have been different for the Vics had it not been that the usual excellence of Davidson’s play was not capable of being brought into requisition at any time he was on skates, but Rankin filled the bill in good style”
“Davidson played a splendid game all through the match for the Vics”
1894- 9 games with the Montreal Victorias
“For the Victorias R. McDougall and Davidson did some excellent play”
“The two particular stars at this stage of the game were Davidson and Barlow”
“The Davidson brothers are remarkable fine players”
“Wallace at centre and S. Davidson were the most conspicuous rushers on the ice”
“The bulk of the work fell to Davidson, McDougall and Rankin, and they acquitted themselves in grand style”
1895- 8 games with the Montreal Victorias
“Davidson and Rankin, of the Vics, made some wonderfully clever rushes, and to them goes most of the credit for the victory of their team”
“Russell, on the left wing, was not quite sharp enough for Shirley Davidson, and as he did not use his body much, the lighter man got down that side of the rink time after time with dangerous runs. Davidson and R. Macdougall played a superb forward game for the Vics., their dashes seeming irresistible”
“Davidson, McDougall and Capt. Grant of the Vics were conspicuous for their good work”
“Next to him came Shirley Davidson of the Vics. He played marvelously”
“There was no weak point on the Vics team, but the work of Fenwick, Davidson, MacDougall and Drinkwater deserves special mention”
“Shirley Davidson made one of the magnificent runs which have gone so far as to establish him as one of the half-dozen best players in Canada”
“MacDougall played a hard but ineffective game. Rankin was decidedly off. Of the forward line Davidson alone was sure, yet even he lost his head in the second half and tried to get even with Cameron by fouling him. The provocation was undoubtedly great, but the referee had his eye on Cameron, and Davidson’s record of clean play is so good that he should not part with it easily”
“Grant’s unfailing coolness and Davidson’s phenomenal sprinting were the features of the game”
“It was a treat to watch Davidson and Barlow. Both men play as fast, clean hockey as could be found anywhere, though on Saturday Barlow was hardly in as good form as usual”
“Davidson, whose game throughout was as clean and clever as ever, did as pretty a piece of work as Crystal rink ever saw”
1896- 9 games with the Montreal Victorias
“Shirley Davidson, Macdougall and Drinkwater were in good trim and played well.”
“Shirley Davidson, said to be the fastest skater playing hockey to-day”
“The Vics one and all played a grand game, their defence was strong, cool and steady from first to last, their forwards lightning, especially Shirley Davidson”
“Davidson was splendid; Flett and Armitage showed great combination tactics, and Howard showed himself a hard checker”
“Shirley Davidson played the game for the home team; he was the life of the forward line, and never let up a moment”
“Shirley Davidson’s work left nothing to be desired, though he showed occasional roughness, which is unusual with him”
“The two Davidsons did some remarkably clever work together”
“Shirley Davidson’s work on the forward line was simply wonderful. He missed nothing that came his way and his different rushes deserved every bit of the applause which greeted them”
“Davidson, Drinkwater and McLea did some astonishing individual work”
“Davidson was the bright particular star of the forward line”
1897- 7 games with the Montreal Victorias
“Shirley Davidson, who is considered by many to be the bright particular star of the Victorias’ forward line, comes from good athletic stock… The subject of this sketch was born in Montreal in 1875. He is 5 ft. 6 in. in height and weighs 150 pounds. At a casual glance it would not be thought that he was so heavy a man, but he ‘strips’ well and is always in the pink…. For the past four years he has figured on the seniors, and it can be honestly said that he has not played a poor game in all that time. When his play was varied it has simply been more brilliant on some occasions than on others. He is an exceedingly rapid skate, dodges well, has perfect control of the puck and shoots with accuracy and swiftness. He is an adept in breaking his opponents combinations, the one point in which his fellow forwards are most decidedly weak.”
“Davidson’s head work was much admired”
“Drinkwater was not up to his usual standard, and this weakened the Vics’ forward line somewhat; but McLea, Macdougall and Davidson played a rattling game”
“Apparently the champions felt very comfortable in their prowess, and two of their best players, Shirley Davidson and Graham Drinkwater, were not on the team. They were very much missed, too, especially in the first half, when the men in green had decidedly the best of play”
“The lion’s share of the forward work fell to Harry Westwick and he put up the finest play seen in any match in Ottawa this year, excepting possibly the play of Shirley Davidson among his opponents Saturday night.”
“For the visitors perhaps Davidson performed the hardest work on the forward line, but all were magnificent”
“the forwards did not play the combination game that one expects from men like MacDougall, Davidson and McLea”
“For instance in the last fifteen minutes Shirley Davidson seemed to completely lose his head and slashed at everything that came his way. Alf. Smith was one individual whom Davidson treated to a little of his dirty work and when Smith upset the Montreal man half a dozen times the crowd thought he was getting even in great style”
“Davidson’s rushing was the finest ever seen on Montreal ice, and he took the puck into Montreal territory as often as any other two men, but he rarely held on too long, always sending the puck to centre before reaching the point man, and often before reaching cover point”
“McLea and Davidson filled their position excellently. They are both fast skaters, and the way in which they handled their sticks showed them to be men well worthy of the position they occupied”
“Young Cam Davidson was almost the equal of his brilliant brother Shirley”
“Davidson carried off the honors. His play was brilliant and unselfish, and he was well entitled to the applause, which he received from time to time”
1898- 3 games with the Montreal Victorias
“The Victorias’ forward line sadly missed the services of Shirley Davidson, although at times they put on their old time dash and swept down the rink four abreast in a way as hard to stop as a cavalry charge. Still there was not that old time combination and confidence in each other which marked the team’s play last season”
“Shirley Davidson, Bob Macdougall, McLea, and Drinkwater worked unceasingly and kept up a continual attack that told in the end. The men were in fine fettle and their victory was well deserved”
“It was said that Shirley Davidson would not figure on the team, but he was out and played in his usual good style”
“Cam Davidson has had the cloak of his brother fall upon him, and in a very short time he will probably have a bigger name in the hockey world, although this is saying a great deal, for there are few the equal of Shirley”
“Such a man in front as Shirley Davidson would naturally be missed; but even that loss was not altogether forgotten, for there were telegrams coming from about the region where there is a tropic of Capricorn and they wished the boys at home good luck”
“Shirley Davidson played through the second half with one hand practically useless, but he played a brilliant game”
“Cam Davidson, who was a wonder, greatly reminding the spectators of his brother Shirley’s play, but lacking his judgment, while excelling his brilliancy”
“The work of Cam. Davidson was surprisingly good. He is Shirley over again, with the difference that he shows promise of being even better than his elder brother, if such a thing were possible”
"And before I leave hockey I must say a word about Shirley Davidson. He has at last passed out of the fascinating game of which he has been one of its greatest stars for years. On Thursday night a train pulled out of Montreal, and he was one of its passengers. By this time he is being rocked in the cradle of the deep, probably thinking of his thousands of friends in Montreal, and giving up all hopes of ever eating another meal. Hockey, football, and yachting circles will miss him badly. He has been one of their leading exponents for years, and was as much liked for his thorough sportsmanlike and gentlemanly demeanor as for the success he made at them. His departure marks the beginning of the end of the peerless team that the Victoria Hockey Club has had on the ice for the past four years. With Shirley Davidson off the forward line it will be like the play of Hamlet with Hamlet left out. With what a host of brilliant victories has his name been connected! Gordon Lewis, too, has allowed the team to appear without him. Good-natured ‘Gordie,’ with his pads, which share with his great ability the honor of making many wonderful stops, will be sorely missed. But it is an ungrateful world. It does not allow a man to be remembered long. Where one steps out there are ten to step in. The King is dead. Long live the King!”
“In the next game young Davidson made some fine runs and promises to be another Jack Campbell for dashing play”
“ Davidson and Rankin were the two best men on the losing side”
“Drinkwater and Davidson doing yeoman service for the Vics, while the Kirby brothers and Bradley show up well for the Ottawas”
“Things might have been different for the Vics had it not been that the usual excellence of Davidson’s play was not capable of being brought into requisition at any time he was on skates, but Rankin filled the bill in good style”
“Davidson played a splendid game all through the match for the Vics”
1894- 9 games with the Montreal Victorias
“For the Victorias R. McDougall and Davidson did some excellent play”
“The two particular stars at this stage of the game were Davidson and Barlow”
“The Davidson brothers are remarkable fine players”
“Wallace at centre and S. Davidson were the most conspicuous rushers on the ice”
“The bulk of the work fell to Davidson, McDougall and Rankin, and they acquitted themselves in grand style”
1895- 8 games with the Montreal Victorias
“Davidson and Rankin, of the Vics, made some wonderfully clever rushes, and to them goes most of the credit for the victory of their team”
“Russell, on the left wing, was not quite sharp enough for Shirley Davidson, and as he did not use his body much, the lighter man got down that side of the rink time after time with dangerous runs. Davidson and R. Macdougall played a superb forward game for the Vics., their dashes seeming irresistible”
“Davidson, McDougall and Capt. Grant of the Vics were conspicuous for their good work”
“Next to him came Shirley Davidson of the Vics. He played marvelously”
“There was no weak point on the Vics team, but the work of Fenwick, Davidson, MacDougall and Drinkwater deserves special mention”
“Shirley Davidson made one of the magnificent runs which have gone so far as to establish him as one of the half-dozen best players in Canada”
“MacDougall played a hard but ineffective game. Rankin was decidedly off. Of the forward line Davidson alone was sure, yet even he lost his head in the second half and tried to get even with Cameron by fouling him. The provocation was undoubtedly great, but the referee had his eye on Cameron, and Davidson’s record of clean play is so good that he should not part with it easily”
“Grant’s unfailing coolness and Davidson’s phenomenal sprinting were the features of the game”
“It was a treat to watch Davidson and Barlow. Both men play as fast, clean hockey as could be found anywhere, though on Saturday Barlow was hardly in as good form as usual”
“Davidson, whose game throughout was as clean and clever as ever, did as pretty a piece of work as Crystal rink ever saw”
1896- 9 games with the Montreal Victorias
“Shirley Davidson, Macdougall and Drinkwater were in good trim and played well.”
“Shirley Davidson, said to be the fastest skater playing hockey to-day”
“The Vics one and all played a grand game, their defence was strong, cool and steady from first to last, their forwards lightning, especially Shirley Davidson”
“Davidson was splendid; Flett and Armitage showed great combination tactics, and Howard showed himself a hard checker”
“Shirley Davidson played the game for the home team; he was the life of the forward line, and never let up a moment”
“Shirley Davidson’s work left nothing to be desired, though he showed occasional roughness, which is unusual with him”
“The two Davidsons did some remarkably clever work together”
“Shirley Davidson’s work on the forward line was simply wonderful. He missed nothing that came his way and his different rushes deserved every bit of the applause which greeted them”
“Davidson, Drinkwater and McLea did some astonishing individual work”
“Davidson was the bright particular star of the forward line”
1897- 7 games with the Montreal Victorias
“Shirley Davidson, who is considered by many to be the bright particular star of the Victorias’ forward line, comes from good athletic stock… The subject of this sketch was born in Montreal in 1875. He is 5 ft. 6 in. in height and weighs 150 pounds. At a casual glance it would not be thought that he was so heavy a man, but he ‘strips’ well and is always in the pink…. For the past four years he has figured on the seniors, and it can be honestly said that he has not played a poor game in all that time. When his play was varied it has simply been more brilliant on some occasions than on others. He is an exceedingly rapid skate, dodges well, has perfect control of the puck and shoots with accuracy and swiftness. He is an adept in breaking his opponents combinations, the one point in which his fellow forwards are most decidedly weak.”
“Davidson’s head work was much admired”
“Drinkwater was not up to his usual standard, and this weakened the Vics’ forward line somewhat; but McLea, Macdougall and Davidson played a rattling game”
“Apparently the champions felt very comfortable in their prowess, and two of their best players, Shirley Davidson and Graham Drinkwater, were not on the team. They were very much missed, too, especially in the first half, when the men in green had decidedly the best of play”
“The lion’s share of the forward work fell to Harry Westwick and he put up the finest play seen in any match in Ottawa this year, excepting possibly the play of Shirley Davidson among his opponents Saturday night.”
“For the visitors perhaps Davidson performed the hardest work on the forward line, but all were magnificent”
“the forwards did not play the combination game that one expects from men like MacDougall, Davidson and McLea”
“For instance in the last fifteen minutes Shirley Davidson seemed to completely lose his head and slashed at everything that came his way. Alf. Smith was one individual whom Davidson treated to a little of his dirty work and when Smith upset the Montreal man half a dozen times the crowd thought he was getting even in great style”
“Davidson’s rushing was the finest ever seen on Montreal ice, and he took the puck into Montreal territory as often as any other two men, but he rarely held on too long, always sending the puck to centre before reaching the point man, and often before reaching cover point”
“McLea and Davidson filled their position excellently. They are both fast skaters, and the way in which they handled their sticks showed them to be men well worthy of the position they occupied”
“Young Cam Davidson was almost the equal of his brilliant brother Shirley”
“Davidson carried off the honors. His play was brilliant and unselfish, and he was well entitled to the applause, which he received from time to time”
1898- 3 games with the Montreal Victorias
“The Victorias’ forward line sadly missed the services of Shirley Davidson, although at times they put on their old time dash and swept down the rink four abreast in a way as hard to stop as a cavalry charge. Still there was not that old time combination and confidence in each other which marked the team’s play last season”
“Shirley Davidson, Bob Macdougall, McLea, and Drinkwater worked unceasingly and kept up a continual attack that told in the end. The men were in fine fettle and their victory was well deserved”
“It was said that Shirley Davidson would not figure on the team, but he was out and played in his usual good style”
“Cam Davidson has had the cloak of his brother fall upon him, and in a very short time he will probably have a bigger name in the hockey world, although this is saying a great deal, for there are few the equal of Shirley”
“Such a man in front as Shirley Davidson would naturally be missed; but even that loss was not altogether forgotten, for there were telegrams coming from about the region where there is a tropic of Capricorn and they wished the boys at home good luck”
“Shirley Davidson played through the second half with one hand practically useless, but he played a brilliant game”
“Cam Davidson, who was a wonder, greatly reminding the spectators of his brother Shirley’s play, but lacking his judgment, while excelling his brilliancy”
“The work of Cam. Davidson was surprisingly good. He is Shirley over again, with the difference that he shows promise of being even better than his elder brother, if such a thing were possible”
"And before I leave hockey I must say a word about Shirley Davidson. He has at last passed out of the fascinating game of which he has been one of its greatest stars for years. On Thursday night a train pulled out of Montreal, and he was one of its passengers. By this time he is being rocked in the cradle of the deep, probably thinking of his thousands of friends in Montreal, and giving up all hopes of ever eating another meal. Hockey, football, and yachting circles will miss him badly. He has been one of their leading exponents for years, and was as much liked for his thorough sportsmanlike and gentlemanly demeanor as for the success he made at them. His departure marks the beginning of the end of the peerless team that the Victoria Hockey Club has had on the ice for the past four years. With Shirley Davidson off the forward line it will be like the play of Hamlet with Hamlet left out. With what a host of brilliant victories has his name been connected! Gordon Lewis, too, has allowed the team to appear without him. Good-natured ‘Gordie,’ with his pads, which share with his great ability the honor of making many wonderful stops, will be sorely missed. But it is an ungrateful world. It does not allow a man to be remembered long. Where one steps out there are ten to step in. The King is dead. Long live the King!”
Stats
1893: 5th in goals, 7th in points
1894: 6th in goals, 6th in points
1895: 11th in goals, 4th in assists, 5th in points
1896: 9th in goals, 1st in assists, 2nd in points
1897: 11th in goals, 1st in assists, 5th in points
1898: Incomplete season
Taking all of the AHAC seasons into account (1887-1898), Shirley Davidson finished 8th in points, 1st in assists, and 3rd points.
1894: 6th in goals, 6th in points
1895: 11th in goals, 4th in assists, 5th in points
1896: 9th in goals, 1st in assists, 2nd in points
1897: 11th in goals, 1st in assists, 5th in points
1898: Incomplete season
Taking all of the AHAC seasons into account (1887-1898), Shirley Davidson finished 8th in points, 1st in assists, and 3rd points.
Bob MacDougall
If Shirley Davidson was the best forward of the 1890s, then Bob MacDougall (alternate spellings: McDougall, Macdougall) was the best scorer of that decade. Over his six year career (5 in the AHAC, 1 in the CAHL), MacDougall led the league in goals and points 3 times, finished second in each category another year, and finished 2nd in assists twice and 3rd twice. Considering the short average career for AHAC players, these are remarkable points finishes. Indeed, from 1887-1909, only Russell Bowie has a greater goals/assists/points record (only looking at AHAC/CAHL/ECAHA players- I haven’t figured out a way to realistically translate results from other leagues yet).
In addition to his scoring prowess, he gets praise for his rushes, skating, and stickhandling. Oh, and his nickname for at least one season was “Demon”, which is pretty cool.
Like with my previous bios from this year, I realize that people may not be interested in reading pages of quotes, so here are a couple I think stand out:
“Bob McDougall, another Montrealer born, is only 20 years of age. He is 5 feet 6 ½ inches and weighs 158 pounds… but in the meantime he is putting up just such a game of hockey as the gods delight to see. He is quick as a flash, and is very sure footed. His shooting is accurate and he perhaps scores more often in a season than any man on the Victoria team. He has played for three years with the seniors, and has always retained his place on the team”
“The Vics seemed to have lost their combination tactics; they could play a good game, and they did, but there was apparently a very important factor missing; the factor was McDougall”
“Bob MacDougall was quite in his old form again. His skating was excellent and passing accurate”
“The victory of the Victorias may fairly be credited to Bob Mcdougall, ‘the demon’. At the end of the first half he announced terse and emphatically, if not politely, that he was not going to pass the puck to any one, but was going to play a lone hand. He did so. He flicked all over the ice like a lambent flame, made impossible shots, skated as he seldom skated before, and altogether played such an astonishing game that even Tom Wall gave a ghost of a cheer”
“Drinkwater should make a great point. McLea and Bob McDougall are both well known to the Winnipeg men. McDougall, in shape, McCulloch considers the best forward playing. “
Quotes
1894:
“For the Victorias R. McDougall and Davidson did some excellent play”
“R. McDougall did great work on the forward line”
“The bulk of the work fell to Davidson, McDougall and Rankin, and they acquitted themselves in grand style”
“Davidson, McDougall and Elliott put up a good fast game on the forward line of the visiting team”
1895:
“Davidson and R. Macdougall played a superb forward game for the Vics., their dashes seeming irresistible”
“Davidson, McDougall and Capt. Grant of the Vics were conspicuous for their good work.”
“There was no weak point on the Vics team, but the work of Fenwick, Davidson, MacDougall and Drinkwater deserves special mention”
“MacDougall made one of his famous runs”
“Bob MacDougall showed his strength early in the game with a brilliant run, but he was badly supported”
“Grant at point and MacDougall in the flags earned enthusiastic applause by their repeated clever work”
“MacDougall played a hard but ineffective game”
“MacDougall’s work all through was flawless”
1896:
“The Victorias missed very much the services of MacDougall, and they will have a very hard row to hoe if he is not soon able to take his place on the team”
“The Vics seemed to have lost their combination tactics; they could play a good game, and they did, but there was apparently a very important factor missing; the factor was McDougall”
“The Vics were short of the services of Bob Macdougall, and that may help to account for their defeat”
“Bob MacDougall was quite in his old form again. His skating was excellent and passing accurate”
“It was pointed out that the champions were short Bob MacDougall- the king-pin of the forward combination. That this loss effected them very seriously there can be of no doubt”
“McLea, who took his [MacDougall’s] place put up a hard, aggressive game, but the famous combination work of the whole Victoria forward line was absolutely wanting. The two Davidsons did some remarkably clever work together, assisted occasionally by Drinkwater, but the latter seemed at times to be lost without his ‘wicked’ partner”
“Though Bob MacDougall’s hand had by no means lost its cunning on account of the injured wrist, which has kept him home for a couple of weeks, yet his shooting was not so accurate as it has been”
“MacDougall, however, by his excellent work, did much to equal matters.”
1897:
“Bob McDougall, another Montrealer born, is only 20 years of age. He is 5 feet 6 ½ inches and weighs 158 pounds… but in the meantime he is putting up just such a game of hockey as the gods delight to see. He is quick as a flash, and is very sure footed. His shooting is accurate and he perhaps scores more often in a season than any man on the Victoria team. He has played for three years with the seniors, and has always retained his place on the team”
“MacDougall of Montreal is playing a star game”
“Macdougall’s snaky runs and some of McLea’s shots were very serviceable indeed”
“The Victoria’s played their usual combination game, but the major part of the forward game was done by Macdougall, who was in fine form”
“Drinkwater and Macdougall were the pick of the forwards. Their shooting was brilliant, and together they exhibited some grand hockey. It can be fairly stated they have no peers in Canada as stickhandlers”
“MacDougall got the rubber, glided through the green shirts like a ghost through a graveyard and sent in a shot which might have come from a cannon”
“M’Dougall’s great game”
“It was the demon MacDougall who broke the back of the Quebec defence in the second half”
“Of the Victorias, McLea played by far the more aggressive game, but his play lacks the finesse of MacDougall’s, who contribution of five games to the team’s score is an eloquent tribute to the excellence of his work”
“MacDougall’s shooting was particularly swift and accurate”
“In the first half the Victorias forwards did the work. Davidson carried off the honors. His play was brilliant and unselfish, and he was well entitled to the applause, which he received from time to time. MacDougall and he played together like twin brothers”
“The victory of the Victorias may fairly be credited to Bob Mcdougall, ‘the demon’. At the end of the first half he announced terse and emphatically, if not politely, that he was not going to pass the puck to any one, but was going to play a lone hand. He did so. He flicked all over the ice like a lambent flame, made impossible shots, skated as he seldom skated before, and altogether played such an astonishing game that even Tom Wall gave a ghost of a cheer”
1898:
“Shirley Davidson, Bob Macdougall, McLea, and Drinkwater worked unceasingly and kept up a continual attack that told in the end.”
“Bob Macdougall did all the hard work of the line, and when he went down toward the enemy’s goal it was always safe to prophesy trouble for the other people”
“Bob Macdougall was in fine fettle, and played a superb game”
“Only R. Macdougall, of the Victoria forwards, showed up to his best advantage in the first half, his stick handling and speed being superb”
“ Bob Macdougall was the star forward of the two teams”
“Bob Macdougall got in some of his famous hair-raising runs, and his ability to shoot was largely accountable for the big score”
“Bob Macdougall was the same as ever. He got through the opposing line beautifully and scored nearly all the games. Bob never overworks himself, but when he has the puck something happens”
“Just to show that they were not ‘has beens’ Graham Drinkwater and Bob Macdougall, the two forwards who have been longest on the team, kept all the scoring to themselves, the former fooling Collins once and the latter three times”
“Bob Macdougall travelled down the ice with his zig zag movement that delights the crowd- and, by the way, Bob worked harder on Saturday than at any previous time this season-...”
1899:
“Davidson played a star game on the forward line, and so did Bob McDougall”
“Bob McDougall played a good game, and stood the pace better than could have been expected after such short training as he has had. He did some remarkably clever work at times”
“The Vics’ forward line missed the swift centre and wing players, McDougall and McLea”
“McDougall, on the forward line, and Grant and Drinkwater, and point and cover, were in perfect settle and invincible”
“On the Victorias there did not seem to be a weak spot, and Davidson and Bob McDougall certainly played star games on the forward line”
“Drinkwater should make a great point. McLea and Bob McDougall are both well known to the Winnipeg men. McDougall, in shape, McCulloch considers the best forward playing. Cam. Davidson and Bowie are new men”
“‘Bob’ McDougall of the Montreal Victorias was the most talked about hockeyist in Canada tis week, consequent upon his fouling of Gingras. McDougall is the oldest player on the forward line, and one of its stars”
“One man was looked after in great style, and that was Bob Macdougall. Whenever Macdougall got into the vicinity of the Winnipeg goal, something happened that spoiled his chances. He was either sandwiched, or bodied, or his stick went flying into space, but whatever it was he got but slight chance to distinguish himself. But for all that he managed to be on hand at all times and got around in time to score one of the goals”
“The Vics missed the reliability of MacDougall and the rushing power of McLea”
“MacDougall’s runs and Drinkwater’s checking were features of this part of the game”
“For the Victorias R. McDougall and Davidson did some excellent play”
“R. McDougall did great work on the forward line”
“The bulk of the work fell to Davidson, McDougall and Rankin, and they acquitted themselves in grand style”
“Davidson, McDougall and Elliott put up a good fast game on the forward line of the visiting team”
1895:
“Davidson and R. Macdougall played a superb forward game for the Vics., their dashes seeming irresistible”
“Davidson, McDougall and Capt. Grant of the Vics were conspicuous for their good work.”
“There was no weak point on the Vics team, but the work of Fenwick, Davidson, MacDougall and Drinkwater deserves special mention”
“MacDougall made one of his famous runs”
“Bob MacDougall showed his strength early in the game with a brilliant run, but he was badly supported”
“Grant at point and MacDougall in the flags earned enthusiastic applause by their repeated clever work”
“MacDougall played a hard but ineffective game”
“MacDougall’s work all through was flawless”
1896:
“The Victorias missed very much the services of MacDougall, and they will have a very hard row to hoe if he is not soon able to take his place on the team”
“The Vics seemed to have lost their combination tactics; they could play a good game, and they did, but there was apparently a very important factor missing; the factor was McDougall”
“The Vics were short of the services of Bob Macdougall, and that may help to account for their defeat”
“Bob MacDougall was quite in his old form again. His skating was excellent and passing accurate”
“It was pointed out that the champions were short Bob MacDougall- the king-pin of the forward combination. That this loss effected them very seriously there can be of no doubt”
“McLea, who took his [MacDougall’s] place put up a hard, aggressive game, but the famous combination work of the whole Victoria forward line was absolutely wanting. The two Davidsons did some remarkably clever work together, assisted occasionally by Drinkwater, but the latter seemed at times to be lost without his ‘wicked’ partner”
“Though Bob MacDougall’s hand had by no means lost its cunning on account of the injured wrist, which has kept him home for a couple of weeks, yet his shooting was not so accurate as it has been”
“MacDougall, however, by his excellent work, did much to equal matters.”
1897:
“Bob McDougall, another Montrealer born, is only 20 years of age. He is 5 feet 6 ½ inches and weighs 158 pounds… but in the meantime he is putting up just such a game of hockey as the gods delight to see. He is quick as a flash, and is very sure footed. His shooting is accurate and he perhaps scores more often in a season than any man on the Victoria team. He has played for three years with the seniors, and has always retained his place on the team”
“MacDougall of Montreal is playing a star game”
“Macdougall’s snaky runs and some of McLea’s shots were very serviceable indeed”
“The Victoria’s played their usual combination game, but the major part of the forward game was done by Macdougall, who was in fine form”
“Drinkwater and Macdougall were the pick of the forwards. Their shooting was brilliant, and together they exhibited some grand hockey. It can be fairly stated they have no peers in Canada as stickhandlers”
“MacDougall got the rubber, glided through the green shirts like a ghost through a graveyard and sent in a shot which might have come from a cannon”
“M’Dougall’s great game”
“It was the demon MacDougall who broke the back of the Quebec defence in the second half”
“Of the Victorias, McLea played by far the more aggressive game, but his play lacks the finesse of MacDougall’s, who contribution of five games to the team’s score is an eloquent tribute to the excellence of his work”
“MacDougall’s shooting was particularly swift and accurate”
“In the first half the Victorias forwards did the work. Davidson carried off the honors. His play was brilliant and unselfish, and he was well entitled to the applause, which he received from time to time. MacDougall and he played together like twin brothers”
“The victory of the Victorias may fairly be credited to Bob Mcdougall, ‘the demon’. At the end of the first half he announced terse and emphatically, if not politely, that he was not going to pass the puck to any one, but was going to play a lone hand. He did so. He flicked all over the ice like a lambent flame, made impossible shots, skated as he seldom skated before, and altogether played such an astonishing game that even Tom Wall gave a ghost of a cheer”
1898:
“Shirley Davidson, Bob Macdougall, McLea, and Drinkwater worked unceasingly and kept up a continual attack that told in the end.”
“Bob Macdougall did all the hard work of the line, and when he went down toward the enemy’s goal it was always safe to prophesy trouble for the other people”
“Bob Macdougall was in fine fettle, and played a superb game”
“Only R. Macdougall, of the Victoria forwards, showed up to his best advantage in the first half, his stick handling and speed being superb”
“ Bob Macdougall was the star forward of the two teams”
“Bob Macdougall got in some of his famous hair-raising runs, and his ability to shoot was largely accountable for the big score”
“Bob Macdougall was the same as ever. He got through the opposing line beautifully and scored nearly all the games. Bob never overworks himself, but when he has the puck something happens”
“Just to show that they were not ‘has beens’ Graham Drinkwater and Bob Macdougall, the two forwards who have been longest on the team, kept all the scoring to themselves, the former fooling Collins once and the latter three times”
“Bob Macdougall travelled down the ice with his zig zag movement that delights the crowd- and, by the way, Bob worked harder on Saturday than at any previous time this season-...”
1899:
“Davidson played a star game on the forward line, and so did Bob McDougall”
“Bob McDougall played a good game, and stood the pace better than could have been expected after such short training as he has had. He did some remarkably clever work at times”
“The Vics’ forward line missed the swift centre and wing players, McDougall and McLea”
“McDougall, on the forward line, and Grant and Drinkwater, and point and cover, were in perfect settle and invincible”
“On the Victorias there did not seem to be a weak spot, and Davidson and Bob McDougall certainly played star games on the forward line”
“Drinkwater should make a great point. McLea and Bob McDougall are both well known to the Winnipeg men. McDougall, in shape, McCulloch considers the best forward playing. Cam. Davidson and Bowie are new men”
“‘Bob’ McDougall of the Montreal Victorias was the most talked about hockeyist in Canada tis week, consequent upon his fouling of Gingras. McDougall is the oldest player on the forward line, and one of its stars”
“One man was looked after in great style, and that was Bob Macdougall. Whenever Macdougall got into the vicinity of the Winnipeg goal, something happened that spoiled his chances. He was either sandwiched, or bodied, or his stick went flying into space, but whatever it was he got but slight chance to distinguish himself. But for all that he managed to be on hand at all times and got around in time to score one of the goals”
“The Vics missed the reliability of MacDougall and the rushing power of McLea”
“MacDougall’s runs and Drinkwater’s checking were features of this part of the game”
Stats
Goal Finishes: 1st (1896), 1st (1897), 1st (1898), 2nd (1895), 8th (1899), 10th (1894)
Assist Finishes: 2nd (1897), 2nd (1898), 3rd (1895), 3rd (1896)
Points Finishes: 1st (1896), 1st (1897), (1898), 2nd (1895), 8th (1899), 12th (1894)
AHAC Career Leader in goals and points, second in assists
Combined AHAC-CAHL leader in goals and points through 1902 (three years post retirement; passed by Russell Bowie).
Second in top 3 goal/assists/points finishes for the AHAC/CAHL/ECAHA (1887-1909)
Assist Finishes: 2nd (1897), 2nd (1898), 3rd (1895), 3rd (1896)
Points Finishes: 1st (1896), 1st (1897), (1898), 2nd (1895), 8th (1899), 12th (1894)
AHAC Career Leader in goals and points, second in assists
Combined AHAC-CAHL leader in goals and points through 1902 (three years post retirement; passed by Russell Bowie).
Second in top 3 goal/assists/points finishes for the AHAC/CAHL/ECAHA (1887-1909)
Boreal01
Registered User
Jaccob Slavin
Awards/Achievements
2x Lady Byng Trophy (2021, 2024)
Norris Voting: 5th (2020), 9th (2022), 14th (2021), 14th (2024), 16th (2019), 17th (2023), 18th (2018), 20th (2017)
All-Star Voting: 5th (2020), 10th (2022), 13th (2019), 14th (2024), 15th (2023), 16th (2018), 16th (2021)
Lady Byng Voting: 1st (2021), 1st (2024), 2nd (2022), 4th (2023)
All-Star Game (2020)
4 Nations Face-Off Finalist (2025)
Statistics
Since entering the NHL in 2015-16 to present (2025/03/10)
Takeaways: 2nd overall, 1st among defencemen (687)
Takeaways (Playoffs): 4th overall, 1st among defencemen (82)
Takeaways/GP: 4th overall, 1st among defencemen (0.94)
Takeaways/GP (Playoffs): 3rd overall, 1st among defencemen (1.15)
SH Assists: 6th overall, 1st among defencemen (13)
Plus/Minus: 6th overall, 5th among defencemen (+167)
Plus/Minus (Playoffs): 3rd overall, 1st among defencemen (+34)
Player Quotes
“He’s, in my opinion, the best defensive defenceman in the league. I’ve never seen a stick like his, the amount of plays he breaks up, shots that he blocks and still able to make great passes out of [the defensive zone]. The amount of ice that he covers is pretty incredible.” - Auston Matthews
“I know everyone in the league that plays against him knows he’s a special player. He does so much on the ice with his stick work, his body work. Taking away shot lanes, taking away passing lanes, making it very hard to get through him. It’s always a challenge going against him, you gotta just try to be a step ahead of him and that’s always hard to do.” - Mitch Marner
“He's super tough to play against. I'm a D and I don't go against him a lot… The way he is in the way, the way he breaks pucks up and is such a great skater.” - Victor Hedman
“To see [Slavin] up close, I definitely didn’t realize it, the details of his game and how good he is.” - Brent Burns
“Probably one of the best defensive defensemen in the league but he can also play with the puck… Sometimes people forget. I watched the game last night and he was the best d-man out there for both teams. Just tells you how good and smart of a player he is.” - Mikko Rantanen
“It was the first or second shift and he stood me up on the blueline…Everyone here knows how good he is. Obviously now with a little bit of a bigger platform, everyone sees him. Best-on-best and he did a pretty damn good job shutting those guys down. He's an unbelievable d-man and we're so lucky to have him.” - Sebastian Aho
“It’s quite remarkable what he can do with that stick and how he defends and how he just transitions our group. He creates a defensive moment into an offensive ‘let’s go’ kind of moment… He’s definitely a backbone. He is defensively one of the best if not the best defenseman I’ve ever seen.” - Jordan Staal
“He takes away stuff before it ever happens…It never has time to develop, and he just reads the game so well and is so smart. I'm sure those goalies in Carolina love playing for him.” - Jake Oettinger
“He's not flashy. He's not going to be someone that you're seeing on Instagram every night… But when it comes to winning hockey games, he's the kind of guy you want…” - Vincent Trocheck
“He's incredible defensively and does a lot of little things that are hard to notice… Just his stick. He breaks up so many plays that are hard to break up. He's a great skater; he's always gapping up and limiting an opponent's time and space. He's one of the best in the game at it.” - Noah Hanifin
“You can stick him with anyone and he’ll make them look like an all-star…” - Brett Pesce
“He's so underrated and he's honestly one of my favorite players to watch...He just flies under the radar and makes great plays. He's so solid defensively and such a great skater. It's the sort of attribute I want in my game someday.” - Jake Sanderson
Coach Quotes
“He might be one of the best defensemen ever to play that position the way he plays it…Everyone raises their eyes at me that don’t watch us every night. But at the defending, I haven’t seen anyone better.” - Rod Brind'Amour
“He’s a phenomenal player. Defender, yeah, but just [an] all around player. He can score, he can get up in the rush, he can make plays if we ask him. The role he’s in, he doesn’t even play on the power play, he’s not getting those [assists] that other guys get and yet you watch night in and night out, he’s making plays. I can’t say enough good things.” - Rod Brind'Amour
“[Slavin] covers a lot of ground…So if there’s mistakes, he can make up for them. No matter who we’ve played with [Slavin] the last few years, he’s elevated the game for that pair. - Rod Brind'Amour
“Jaccob Slavin might be one of the best defending defensemen in the league, bar none…” - Mike Sullivan
“Jaccob's a guy that, in my mind, is one of the best defenders and one of the best defending defensemen in the league...His size, his mobility, his reach, his ability to read plays, he closes on people, how strong he is in the battle areas. I don't know if there's a defenseman in the league who defends the rush more aggressively or better than Jaccob does.” - Mike Sullivan
“He's been a big part of our group's ability to be stingy defensively…He's a huge part of our penalty kill. He helps us at our net front. Those are the types of skill sets or complementary skill sets we were looking for when we were putting this group together.” - Mike Sullivan
“He’s an excellent defender, he’s a great defenceman. Great stick, high IQ, he’s a tough guy to go against for sure. He played great for the USA team and he’s been a great player here for a long time with Carolina.” - Craig Berube
“His size, his skating, his competitive nature, his stick detail… The commitment that he plays the game with. Shift in shift out. Plays hard minutes for us. He’s in our top shutdown pair, top penalty kill.” - John Hynes
“He’s always asking questions. He wants to get the details right… Whether it’s in meetings, after meetings, one-on-one, on the bench, he’s so in tune with doing things the right way and making sure that he’s got it down the way that it needs to be done. That to me, combined with his talent level, to me I’ve been so impressed with him in those two areas.” - John Hynes
“He brings a lot to our team, and I’m talking about all aspects of the game, especially defensively… He has a quick 1-2-3 step that he can recover on or beat guys to pucks on. He has one of the better sticks I’ve seen in a long time, his skating is a huge part of his game, and he’s a quiet leader. But at times he’s vocal, which helps. You can throw him out at any time of the game and he’ll be relied upon in that situation.” - Tim Gleason
“Obviously Lidstrom’s a Hall of Famer, but there’s a comparison there for sure… I throw [Slavin] in that category because he’s that good all-around. He knocks down so many pucks, especially on the penalty kill. And the good part about it is that he brings it every single day, and that’s what being a pro is all about.” - Tim Gleason
Awards/Achievements
2x Lady Byng Trophy (2021, 2024)
Norris Voting: 5th (2020), 9th (2022), 14th (2021), 14th (2024), 16th (2019), 17th (2023), 18th (2018), 20th (2017)
All-Star Voting: 5th (2020), 10th (2022), 13th (2019), 14th (2024), 15th (2023), 16th (2018), 16th (2021)
Lady Byng Voting: 1st (2021), 1st (2024), 2nd (2022), 4th (2023)
All-Star Game (2020)
4 Nations Face-Off Finalist (2025)
Statistics
Since entering the NHL in 2015-16 to present (2025/03/10)
Takeaways: 2nd overall, 1st among defencemen (687)
Takeaways (Playoffs): 4th overall, 1st among defencemen (82)
Takeaways/GP: 4th overall, 1st among defencemen (0.94)
Takeaways/GP (Playoffs): 3rd overall, 1st among defencemen (1.15)
SH Assists: 6th overall, 1st among defencemen (13)
Plus/Minus: 6th overall, 5th among defencemen (+167)
Plus/Minus (Playoffs): 3rd overall, 1st among defencemen (+34)
Player Quotes
“He’s, in my opinion, the best defensive defenceman in the league. I’ve never seen a stick like his, the amount of plays he breaks up, shots that he blocks and still able to make great passes out of [the defensive zone]. The amount of ice that he covers is pretty incredible.” - Auston Matthews
“I know everyone in the league that plays against him knows he’s a special player. He does so much on the ice with his stick work, his body work. Taking away shot lanes, taking away passing lanes, making it very hard to get through him. It’s always a challenge going against him, you gotta just try to be a step ahead of him and that’s always hard to do.” - Mitch Marner
“He's super tough to play against. I'm a D and I don't go against him a lot… The way he is in the way, the way he breaks pucks up and is such a great skater.” - Victor Hedman
“To see [Slavin] up close, I definitely didn’t realize it, the details of his game and how good he is.” - Brent Burns
“Probably one of the best defensive defensemen in the league but he can also play with the puck… Sometimes people forget. I watched the game last night and he was the best d-man out there for both teams. Just tells you how good and smart of a player he is.” - Mikko Rantanen
“It was the first or second shift and he stood me up on the blueline…Everyone here knows how good he is. Obviously now with a little bit of a bigger platform, everyone sees him. Best-on-best and he did a pretty damn good job shutting those guys down. He's an unbelievable d-man and we're so lucky to have him.” - Sebastian Aho
“It’s quite remarkable what he can do with that stick and how he defends and how he just transitions our group. He creates a defensive moment into an offensive ‘let’s go’ kind of moment… He’s definitely a backbone. He is defensively one of the best if not the best defenseman I’ve ever seen.” - Jordan Staal
“He takes away stuff before it ever happens…It never has time to develop, and he just reads the game so well and is so smart. I'm sure those goalies in Carolina love playing for him.” - Jake Oettinger
“He's not flashy. He's not going to be someone that you're seeing on Instagram every night… But when it comes to winning hockey games, he's the kind of guy you want…” - Vincent Trocheck
“He's incredible defensively and does a lot of little things that are hard to notice… Just his stick. He breaks up so many plays that are hard to break up. He's a great skater; he's always gapping up and limiting an opponent's time and space. He's one of the best in the game at it.” - Noah Hanifin
“You can stick him with anyone and he’ll make them look like an all-star…” - Brett Pesce
“He's so underrated and he's honestly one of my favorite players to watch...He just flies under the radar and makes great plays. He's so solid defensively and such a great skater. It's the sort of attribute I want in my game someday.” - Jake Sanderson
Coach Quotes
“He might be one of the best defensemen ever to play that position the way he plays it…Everyone raises their eyes at me that don’t watch us every night. But at the defending, I haven’t seen anyone better.” - Rod Brind'Amour
“He’s a phenomenal player. Defender, yeah, but just [an] all around player. He can score, he can get up in the rush, he can make plays if we ask him. The role he’s in, he doesn’t even play on the power play, he’s not getting those [assists] that other guys get and yet you watch night in and night out, he’s making plays. I can’t say enough good things.” - Rod Brind'Amour
“[Slavin] covers a lot of ground…So if there’s mistakes, he can make up for them. No matter who we’ve played with [Slavin] the last few years, he’s elevated the game for that pair. - Rod Brind'Amour
“Jaccob Slavin might be one of the best defending defensemen in the league, bar none…” - Mike Sullivan
“Jaccob's a guy that, in my mind, is one of the best defenders and one of the best defending defensemen in the league...His size, his mobility, his reach, his ability to read plays, he closes on people, how strong he is in the battle areas. I don't know if there's a defenseman in the league who defends the rush more aggressively or better than Jaccob does.” - Mike Sullivan
“He's been a big part of our group's ability to be stingy defensively…He's a huge part of our penalty kill. He helps us at our net front. Those are the types of skill sets or complementary skill sets we were looking for when we were putting this group together.” - Mike Sullivan
“He’s an excellent defender, he’s a great defenceman. Great stick, high IQ, he’s a tough guy to go against for sure. He played great for the USA team and he’s been a great player here for a long time with Carolina.” - Craig Berube
“His size, his skating, his competitive nature, his stick detail… The commitment that he plays the game with. Shift in shift out. Plays hard minutes for us. He’s in our top shutdown pair, top penalty kill.” - John Hynes
“He’s always asking questions. He wants to get the details right… Whether it’s in meetings, after meetings, one-on-one, on the bench, he’s so in tune with doing things the right way and making sure that he’s got it down the way that it needs to be done. That to me, combined with his talent level, to me I’ve been so impressed with him in those two areas.” - John Hynes
“He brings a lot to our team, and I’m talking about all aspects of the game, especially defensively… He has a quick 1-2-3 step that he can recover on or beat guys to pucks on. He has one of the better sticks I’ve seen in a long time, his skating is a huge part of his game, and he’s a quiet leader. But at times he’s vocal, which helps. You can throw him out at any time of the game and he’ll be relied upon in that situation.” - Tim Gleason
“Obviously Lidstrom’s a Hall of Famer, but there’s a comparison there for sure… I throw [Slavin] in that category because he’s that good all-around. He knocks down so many pucks, especially on the penalty kill. And the good part about it is that he brings it every single day, and that’s what being a pro is all about.” - Tim Gleason
Weldy Young
I contend that Weldy Young, not Mike Grant, was the best player at point and/or coverpoint over the course of the 1890s. As the quotes below show, Young received countless praise in the game summaries, both for his offensive abilities (rushes and lifts) and his defensive prowess (breaking up rushes, physical play), and was often-referred to as the best coverpoint in Canada. And for what it is worth, for the 5 years (1894-1898) Weldy Young and Harvey Pulford shared the ice for Ottawa HC, it was not Pulford, but Young, that was the star.
I think the game summaries and stats indicate that Young was an all-around player- he gets a lot of praise for his offensive abilities, but also for breaking up rushes and bodychecking. On the downside, there are also concerns that he would play too rough/outside the rules; he’s similar to Hod Stuart or Sprague Cleghorn in this respect. Additionally, I am under the impression that Young was injured more than other players… or, that he faked injuries (“Why don’t you faint” was reportedly shouted at Young from the stands at one point).
Anyway, I think the quotes speak better than I ever could; as with the other bios, I list a couple of my favorite here at the top, though I encourage everyone to go through what is in the spoiler:
“At cover-point Weldy Young as usual was everywhere when wanted and strengthened the opinion that is now pretty general that he is the best defence player in Canada. He is the key of the Ottawa team”
“Young played a capital game and sustained his reputation as the best coverpoint in Canada”
“Weldy Young after the first three games rushed forward and took chances he never would have done had he not known the game to be a foregone conclusion. The way he caught the Crystals on their off-side play time after time and the way they fell into the trap and took the puck back was well worth seeing”
“Weld. Young and Chaunce Kirby showed that they are probably the two best hockey players in Canada. It was they who bore the great brunt of the fierce onslaughts of the Montreal besiegers. Their checking was grand, and could not be improved upon. Not only did they stand firm to stop the rush of the heavy Montreal line which gathered greater impetus as they swept along the keen ice, but often did Ottawa’s white-shirted players charge also. And it wasn’t the white shirts that gave away the most times in these collisions, for often they would not only repel the onslaught, but take the puck and attack in return”
“Weldy Young was undoubtedly the ‘star’ of the Ottawas. He fully sustained his reputation as the best cover-point in Canada”
'When it came to scientific body checkin, 'Calk' had it on 'em all'.”
Quotes
1890
Nothing Noteworthy
1891
“For the Ottawas Morrel, Young and Kirby played a brilliant game”
“For the winning team, Young played a faultless game at cover point”
“while Smith, Kirby, Morel, Young and Kerr did wonders for the Ottawas”
1892
“Young at cover point was playing a star game”
“Of the home team, Morel played a splendid game in goal, and Young was faultless at cover, except that in one of two instances he showed the error, rare with him, of unnecessarily holding or dodging the puck”
“Young, though unwell, played his usual splendid game at cover point, while Russell and Morel were a sure defence”
“The Ottawas were playing a much rougher game, especially Young and little Kirby”
“Who put up the best individual game is hard to say, but probably Young of the Ottawas carried off the palm, his headwork saving many goals to his side”
“Young was superb at cover point”
1893
“...in spite of brilliant work by Kerr, W. Young and H. Kirby, who throughout the game played a brilliant game”
“Weld. Young Halder Kirby and Jack Kerr were brilliant for the home team”
“The brilliant play of Weldy Young was all that could be desired. He accepted every chance and played all the game for Ottawa”
“Sick or not Weldy Young at times owned the ice and it was a sight to see him time and again get away with the puck and send it up the side”
“Weldon Young was the bright star of the evening. He repelled many a fierce attack and his rushes were brilliant”
“Young, however, was a bad man for even this phalanx to run up against, and time and again its rush was checked and the play turned in the opposite direction by the brilliant coverpoint in white”
“Bradley, Chauncey Kirby and Young played magnificently for Ottawa”
“... several times the Ottawa flags were threatened, but not dangerously, as Russell and Young did their work like pieces of machinery. Young made a few long rushes and gave Jones more work than he expected”
“Bradley, Young and C. Kirby were the stars for the Ottawas”
“On the Ottawa side, Young played a marvellous game, covering the ice in inimitable style”
“The Ottawas were at their best from the goals to centre rush. Bradley and Young, as usual, showed up prominently”
“Weldy Young after the first three games rushed forward and took chances he never would have done had he not known the game to be a foregone conclusion. The way he caught the Crystals on their off-side play time after time and the way they fell into the trap and took the puck back was well worth seeing”
‘There’s a hockey player’, said a Montreal man as Weld. Young made one of his phenomenal rushes, dodging everybody, after successfully checking an opposing forward. The Crystal forwards never could get past Weld.”
“Young played a capital game and sustained his reputation as the best coverpoint in Canada”
“Weldy Young, Chaunce and Halder Kirby, and Bradley shone”
“Young, on the Ottawa defence, plays a magnificent game. His returning was splendid, and the Quebec defence, outside of Patton, might with advantage learn from his play”
1894
“For the Ottawas Young, Kirby, Russell and Morel played well”
“Young as reliable as ever at coverpoint”
“ Young was no doubt the star of his team and constantly sent the rubber towards his opponents goals”
“The Ottawa defence was kept busy throughout, but they fought off the enemy in a rattling manner, the burden of the work being attended to by Weldy Young and Pulford”
“Weldon Young as reliable and brilliant as ever at cover”
“At cover-point Weldy Young as usual was everywhere when wanted and strengthened the opinion that is now pretty general that he is the best defence player in Canada. He is the key of the Ottawa team”
“Weldy Young, who had been playing magnificently for Ottawa, here received a severe check in the stomach, and for a time it was thought he could not resume, but he did so and continued his splendid defence”
“Weldy Young earned great Kudos by his play as cover-point, which was almost flawless”
“Up to within an hour of the match it was doubtful whether Weldy Young could play, as he had been ill all week from the blow in the stomach received in the Victoria match in Ottawa. However, Brown gave him a great rub-down, and Halder Kirby swathed him in a bandage, and Weldy played his best game”
“On the defense Morel and Young were grand. Young especially distinguished himself by his coolness and good judgment. He never missed a chance.”
“Young certainly was a host in assisting to repel the determined attack”
“Most of the battle was as usual fought by Young and Pulford, but the odds against them were too great to effect the result.”
“Weld. Young and Chaunce Kirby showed that they are probably the two best hockey players in Canada. It was they who bore the great brunt of the fierce onslaughts of the Montreal besiegers. Their checking was grand, and could not be improved upon. Not only did they stand firm to stop the rush of the heavy Montreal line which gathered greater impetus as they swept along the keen ice, but often did Ottawa’s white-shirted players charge also. And it wasn’t the white shirts that gave away the most times in these collisions, for often they would not only repel the onslaught, but take the puck and attack in return”
“Young was just now playing a great game. Time and again he joined the Ottawa rush line. It was dangerous, but by hard work he always managed to be back in time”
“Weldy Young was undoubtedly the ‘star’ of the Ottawas. He fully sustained his reputation as the best cover-point in Canada”
“[p]robably most of their [Ottawa’s] success was due to Young, who again showed that he has no equal in his position. His quick and fine returns of the puck many times from even the Quebec team’s territory saved the forwards a great deal of tiresome skating, owing to the bad condition of the ice, and the latter when called upon were consequently able to more than cope with the fast and sturdy rushers of the Ancient Captial’s team, who were not thus saved by their cover point. Weld. did so much of the playing that he weakened himself and fell exhausted. He is as ‘gritty’ a player as he is good, however, and as soon as he was on his feet again he played with unabated vigor”
“Young’s artistic stops”
“Captain Young, whose plucky play had won the admiration of friend and foe alike, was stretchered out on the floor in a faint”.
“the play of Young and Kirby was simply phenomenal. Young in the opinion of many put up the finest defence game ever witnessed in hockey. He was everywhere and always in the right place; nothing could pass him if he had half a chance at it, and apparently throughout the game he never missed or misplaced a lift”
“Weldy Young, of the Ottawa team, played the star game of his side. He worked hard and brilliantly, playing altogether remarkably well”
1895
“it was only the excellent work of Young that prevented a bigger score against them”
“Weldy Young put up his usual splendid game for the Ottawas until he was hurt”
“Young’s tactics were, as usual, very clever and very effective, and towards the end of the game he did a great deal of rushing”
“Finally Young, who was putting up his usual clever game at cover point, made a fine lift”
“Young played his usual fine game at cover”
“Young outlifted Cameron of the Montrealers and twice nearly scored. He also made brilliant rushes. To his splendid work much of the victory was due”
“Young played a steady, headdy game that helped materially to lessen the dangers threatening the Ottawa flags”
“Had it not been for the grand lifting abilities of Young and Pulford and other splendid stops of Chittick the score for the Victorias would have been much larger”
“On the Ottawa side Young, if anything, played too anxious a game. When Ottawa was getting the best of it at times and yet could not score, he was once in a while apt to be up among the forwards, a dangerous place against such a wonderfully fast rush as the Vic. He did a splendid lot of work though from start to finish”
“All the Ottawa forwards in turn then came within an ace of scoring, and Ottawa were getting considerably the best of the game. Young kept them well fed”
“Smith made an effort that will go down into hockey history as one of the bravest attempts of a hockey player. Captain Young, too, seeing that it was best, left his position and threw himself into the breach with the last desperate attempt of a man who knows he has got to do or die. And it was grand, aye, sublime, the hockey these two men put up in the eventful minutes.”
“Young, the coverpoint of the Ottawa team, was badly injured. Two of his ribs were broken in the same rink a week ago. He played with his usual skill, and while executing a movement directed against the enemy, he fell on the ice”
“The most serious part of his [Young’s] injuries were probably fakes, as usual with him, for a worse faker never lived. He looked a couple of times as if he was going to get off his famous ‘ stage faint’ act”
“Pulford stopped many but he was very weak in his lifting. Young played like a demon”
1896
“Weldy Young was as tricky as ever”
“Wieldy Young played the same old game, tricky, but he almost always got the rubber when it came his way. In the course of his hockey career Weldy has learned a few things. He never faints now, for instance; but Weldy ought to learn the fact that the rules of the game forbid tripping. Perhaps if he had known of this wise rule he would not have figured among the spectators at one stage of the game”
“There can be little doubt that the best team won, although the game throughout was a toss up, and the unruly tempers of Smith and Young had considerable to do with their team’s defeat”
“When Young was on he played as brilliantly as usual, and there is no doubt that the three defence men of the Ottawas compose a back division that is the strongest in Canada”
“On the defence Young was, as ever, the best of coverpoints”
“Weldy Young did yeoman work for Ottawa at cover point, which was the more effective on account of the almost entire absence of his tricky habits”
“There were no flies on the defence, but nevertheless one of Weldie Young’s ambitious rushes cost Ottawa the first goal. The M.A.A.A. men scored before he could get back to cover from the other end of the rink”
“Young at point made no mistakes and he and Pulford both indulged in runs up the ice”
“Young, Pulford and Chittick did not make one mistake”
“For the fifth year in succession the Ottawa hockey team has wound up second in the championship race. However nobody will argue that there is a Jonah aboard, for the only man who has played on the team clear through the five years is the justly-celebrated Weldy”
“Weldie Young was a veritable stonewall at cover”
“Young’s game at cover was faultless, except for the little incidentals which led to his decorating the side of the rink”
1897
“Pulford and Young as in past seasons proved strong on the defence”
“Weldy’ Young showed that he has not forgotten how to play, filling his position in a most credible manner”
“‘Weldy’ Young was slightly off in his play, and also committed an inexcusable foul in the first half. He played splendidly in the second.”
“Barlow and McKerrow broke through the attack several times, but always lost to Young or Pulford”
“Young had his work cut out for him, but he was equal to the occasion”
“Young and Pulford did a lot of good defence work, but did not seem to be able to use their bodies as effectively as usual”
“ Only the splendid work by Ottawas’ defense and particularly by Weldy Young at cover point prevented the score from being much larger”
“Despite the fact that Weldy Young gave his attention all last week to other club business and was unable to practise he played splendidly, and was perhaps the hardest worked man on the ice. He did the biggest amount of defence work and whenever an opportunity showed itself got out and gave the forward line assistance”
“ ‘Mike’ Grant showed that he is almost the equal of ‘Weldy’ Young at cover-point”
“Young, Pulford, and Chittick worked splendidly”
“Contrary to general expectation Weldy Young appeared on the ice and played an excellent game”
“Weldy Young went on and played at cover point, but his knees were in too poor condition to permit him to play anything like his usual game”
“... the rubber did not get any further down the ice than to Ottawas redoubtable cover-point, Weldy Young. He nipped several promising rushes in the bud and fed the visiting forward line persistently. It was only by excellent play that the home defense kept the Senators from scoring”
“Young, as of yore, showed some great defence work until he was obliged to retire some ten minutes before the end of the match, having fallen and sprained his wrist. Both he and Pulford did some hard rushing and often got a considerable way down the ice, a species of ‘forlorn hope’ game for which Young is noted
1898
“Young’s excellent play on the defence made the Shamrock attack weary for his lifts were always put in in the right time and he never lost his head. He could keep a whole forward line guessing where he was at, and all of a sudden the puck would slip away from his stick and be out of danger. This was what saved the Senators goals several times”
“The match was a good exhibition, and at times some beautiful work was done by both teams, but when the ice got heavy and the pace slackened up, but even then there was plenty of excitement for the spectators by reason of the heavy checking indulged in. Young and Pulford were the leaders in this style of play and were not very particular how they stopped an opposing forward as long as they saved a score”
“The Ottawas defence put up a great game all the way through. Young and Pulford stopped the rushes well and lifted the puck with a great deal of judgment”
“For some reason or other, too, the crowd seemed particularly down on Weldie Young. Why, it is difficult to say, unless because, in spite of his being out of condition, he played the star game of the night for Ottawa”
“Young and Pulford on the defence put up their usually strong games. Young played particularly well in the second half, and his rushes to help the forward line were always good”
“Weldy Young played with a dash and vim for a while, but he looked as if he had been gathering flesh lately and was rather weak by the time the match ended”
“Young was the only one who played well”
“Young showed up as well as ever, though indulging in quite a lot of his old time very neat tripping. His rushes as of old were decidedly dangerous”
“Gillespie worked hard, but some of his runs were too individual and every time Young would check him heavily and send him flying on his back. Strange to say, though Young has deadly enemies amongst the Quebecers, Gillespie, who is a new man, was the only one who dared tackle him. Watson and Swift were paralyzed simply at Young’s running across their way”
“Weldy Young and Pulford used their bodies with as much effect as usual”
“Pulford and Young are strong defence men, but they play a dirty game that should receive better attention from the referee”
“Young was himself, only a little more so, as he soon discovered that the referee had one eye on the Vics and the other eye closed. His two greatest achievements were thoroughly characteristic of him. Once he skated behind Cam Davidson when the puck was not near him, lifted Davidson’s feet from the ice, bringing the game little played to the ice with a force that stunned him. Young then skated back, and in a hypocritical way, expressed sorrow that Davidson was hurt, and asked how it happened. At another stage in the game he climbed over three or four tiers of seats and struck a twelve or fourteen-year old boy in the face with his stick”
“Weldy Young came in for a reprimand as usual for his nastiness”
1899
“It was the steadiness and strength of the Ottawa’s defence which won Saturday night’s match. Weldy Young was in his old-time form and played splendidly”
“Weldy Young seems to be as good as ever, and played a great game, although his lifting at times was a little off color”
“Young did some excellent interference, and sent many a Shamrock man to the ice with his body. He overdid it once or twice and was cautioned by the referee”
“Chalk Young used excellent judgment”
“Weldy Young was ruled off five minutes for fouling Moran. Young played a rough game. He was warned several times for using his body unduly severely”
“Weldy Young played his usual good game at cover point. His lifts into the Quebec goals were a feature of the match”
“‘Chalk’ Young played his old-time game at cover point. He perhaps was a little uncertain of the result on account of the novices around him. Every time any of the Quebecers came his way he set himself and waited for the worst. But the strangest part of it was that the other fellow always got the worst of it. When Chalk could not successfully stop him with his stick he brought his body into play in characteristic style. Few indeed passed him, as the ‘jolts’ that Young was dishing up were too tart for the ‘Ancients’”
“For Ottawa, Young and Kirby as old timer showed up well, and were the only thing who could make a stand against the Montreal forwards”
“Young at cover point up to the time that he met with the accident [reported dislocated shoulder] played splendidly.”
“Of the Ottawa team, Young was unquestionably the star. His work at times was phenomenal. He repeatedly went up the ice through the Montreal crowd with apparent ease. ‘Chalk’ was up to all Howard and Horsfall’s tricks, and the two speedy Montreal forwards were fooled many a time. Every Montrealer laid for Young, and gave him as much dirt as possible. He was tripped, struck of the legs, body-checked and knocked about generally, but Chalk always came up serenly, and was in the game until his shoulder was dislocated”
“Young is still in the game. And he is the most scientific rusher of the seven”
“Young, for the visitors, from whom a good game is always expected, seemed off colour, and was not supported strongly enough to make many ventures against such veterans as the Vics. His absence in an assault on the Victoria’s flags was very weakening to their forward line”
“Young played a marvelous game, and in addition to going the full length of the ice, looked after several of the Montreal forwards, and time and again saved the flags. Macdonald was as cool as ever, and in the play-off, when he went out to cover point, he proved conclusively that he could fill that position satisfactorily. His lifting was a feature of the game, and under Young’s tuition Bert now uses good judgment”
“The defense played well and Young’s assistance to the forwards, particularly in the first half, had a lot to do with winning the game”
“There were three men on the Ottawa team who seemed to be about equal to the occasion. They were Henry, Stewart and Young. The latter came in for his usual share of disapprobation from the spectators, but Weldy did not seem to mind it a little bit and continued to play good hockey and check as hard as his weight would allow”
“Young played a fierce game at cover point. He was ruled off for catching Moran and using his body with too much effect on every opponent who came his way”
“Both defences were strong. Chittick in goal and Weddy Young at cover saved their goals a good many times, and Young led some pretty rushes on their opponents’ goal”
Post career quotes:
“'Chalk Young had more tricks on the ice than all the rest of the players combined', remarked Harvey Pulford, a well known hockey player, the other day.
'When it came to scientific body checkin, 'Calk' had it on 'em all'.” (Vancouver Daily World, 23 December 1907 Page 26)
“Weldy Young informed a Journal representative last night that he had decided to get out of sport and would not be with the Ottawas on Saturday night against Quebec. If Young sticks to his decision it will weaken the Ottawas considerably, as he is playing gilt-edged hockey this season, and his superior at cover point never played the game” (Ottawa Journal, 12 January 1899 Page 6)
“A few years ago there was no better known young man in Ottawa sporting circles than Weldon C. Young, now of the Yukon Weldie as he was familiarly called played about every known game starting out with Baseball. Then he played Lacrosse with the old Ottawa Lacrosse Club and Hockey and Football also with the Ottawas. He was cover point and captain of the Hockey team and many claim his equal has never been seen in this position” (Montreal Star, 15 April 1902 Page 2)
“There was Weldy Young, who since he had made a reputation for wonderful hockey playing, which even the best players of the present time find it hard to equal…” (Montreal Star, 13 December 1909)
Nothing Noteworthy
1891
“For the Ottawas Morrel, Young and Kirby played a brilliant game”
“For the winning team, Young played a faultless game at cover point”
“while Smith, Kirby, Morel, Young and Kerr did wonders for the Ottawas”
1892
“Young at cover point was playing a star game”
“Of the home team, Morel played a splendid game in goal, and Young was faultless at cover, except that in one of two instances he showed the error, rare with him, of unnecessarily holding or dodging the puck”
“Young, though unwell, played his usual splendid game at cover point, while Russell and Morel were a sure defence”
“The Ottawas were playing a much rougher game, especially Young and little Kirby”
“Who put up the best individual game is hard to say, but probably Young of the Ottawas carried off the palm, his headwork saving many goals to his side”
“Young was superb at cover point”
1893
“...in spite of brilliant work by Kerr, W. Young and H. Kirby, who throughout the game played a brilliant game”
“Weld. Young Halder Kirby and Jack Kerr were brilliant for the home team”
“The brilliant play of Weldy Young was all that could be desired. He accepted every chance and played all the game for Ottawa”
“Sick or not Weldy Young at times owned the ice and it was a sight to see him time and again get away with the puck and send it up the side”
“Weldon Young was the bright star of the evening. He repelled many a fierce attack and his rushes were brilliant”
“Young, however, was a bad man for even this phalanx to run up against, and time and again its rush was checked and the play turned in the opposite direction by the brilliant coverpoint in white”
“Bradley, Chauncey Kirby and Young played magnificently for Ottawa”
“... several times the Ottawa flags were threatened, but not dangerously, as Russell and Young did their work like pieces of machinery. Young made a few long rushes and gave Jones more work than he expected”
“Bradley, Young and C. Kirby were the stars for the Ottawas”
“On the Ottawa side, Young played a marvellous game, covering the ice in inimitable style”
“The Ottawas were at their best from the goals to centre rush. Bradley and Young, as usual, showed up prominently”
“Weldy Young after the first three games rushed forward and took chances he never would have done had he not known the game to be a foregone conclusion. The way he caught the Crystals on their off-side play time after time and the way they fell into the trap and took the puck back was well worth seeing”
‘There’s a hockey player’, said a Montreal man as Weld. Young made one of his phenomenal rushes, dodging everybody, after successfully checking an opposing forward. The Crystal forwards never could get past Weld.”
“Young played a capital game and sustained his reputation as the best coverpoint in Canada”
“Weldy Young, Chaunce and Halder Kirby, and Bradley shone”
“Young, on the Ottawa defence, plays a magnificent game. His returning was splendid, and the Quebec defence, outside of Patton, might with advantage learn from his play”
1894
“For the Ottawas Young, Kirby, Russell and Morel played well”
“Young as reliable as ever at coverpoint”
“ Young was no doubt the star of his team and constantly sent the rubber towards his opponents goals”
“The Ottawa defence was kept busy throughout, but they fought off the enemy in a rattling manner, the burden of the work being attended to by Weldy Young and Pulford”
“Weldon Young as reliable and brilliant as ever at cover”
“At cover-point Weldy Young as usual was everywhere when wanted and strengthened the opinion that is now pretty general that he is the best defence player in Canada. He is the key of the Ottawa team”
“Weldy Young, who had been playing magnificently for Ottawa, here received a severe check in the stomach, and for a time it was thought he could not resume, but he did so and continued his splendid defence”
“Weldy Young earned great Kudos by his play as cover-point, which was almost flawless”
“Up to within an hour of the match it was doubtful whether Weldy Young could play, as he had been ill all week from the blow in the stomach received in the Victoria match in Ottawa. However, Brown gave him a great rub-down, and Halder Kirby swathed him in a bandage, and Weldy played his best game”
“On the defense Morel and Young were grand. Young especially distinguished himself by his coolness and good judgment. He never missed a chance.”
“Young certainly was a host in assisting to repel the determined attack”
“Most of the battle was as usual fought by Young and Pulford, but the odds against them were too great to effect the result.”
“Weld. Young and Chaunce Kirby showed that they are probably the two best hockey players in Canada. It was they who bore the great brunt of the fierce onslaughts of the Montreal besiegers. Their checking was grand, and could not be improved upon. Not only did they stand firm to stop the rush of the heavy Montreal line which gathered greater impetus as they swept along the keen ice, but often did Ottawa’s white-shirted players charge also. And it wasn’t the white shirts that gave away the most times in these collisions, for often they would not only repel the onslaught, but take the puck and attack in return”
“Young was just now playing a great game. Time and again he joined the Ottawa rush line. It was dangerous, but by hard work he always managed to be back in time”
“Weldy Young was undoubtedly the ‘star’ of the Ottawas. He fully sustained his reputation as the best cover-point in Canada”
“[p]robably most of their [Ottawa’s] success was due to Young, who again showed that he has no equal in his position. His quick and fine returns of the puck many times from even the Quebec team’s territory saved the forwards a great deal of tiresome skating, owing to the bad condition of the ice, and the latter when called upon were consequently able to more than cope with the fast and sturdy rushers of the Ancient Captial’s team, who were not thus saved by their cover point. Weld. did so much of the playing that he weakened himself and fell exhausted. He is as ‘gritty’ a player as he is good, however, and as soon as he was on his feet again he played with unabated vigor”
“Young’s artistic stops”
“Captain Young, whose plucky play had won the admiration of friend and foe alike, was stretchered out on the floor in a faint”.
“the play of Young and Kirby was simply phenomenal. Young in the opinion of many put up the finest defence game ever witnessed in hockey. He was everywhere and always in the right place; nothing could pass him if he had half a chance at it, and apparently throughout the game he never missed or misplaced a lift”
“Weldy Young, of the Ottawa team, played the star game of his side. He worked hard and brilliantly, playing altogether remarkably well”
1895
“it was only the excellent work of Young that prevented a bigger score against them”
“Weldy Young put up his usual splendid game for the Ottawas until he was hurt”
“Young’s tactics were, as usual, very clever and very effective, and towards the end of the game he did a great deal of rushing”
“Finally Young, who was putting up his usual clever game at cover point, made a fine lift”
“Young played his usual fine game at cover”
“Young outlifted Cameron of the Montrealers and twice nearly scored. He also made brilliant rushes. To his splendid work much of the victory was due”
“Young played a steady, headdy game that helped materially to lessen the dangers threatening the Ottawa flags”
“Had it not been for the grand lifting abilities of Young and Pulford and other splendid stops of Chittick the score for the Victorias would have been much larger”
“On the Ottawa side Young, if anything, played too anxious a game. When Ottawa was getting the best of it at times and yet could not score, he was once in a while apt to be up among the forwards, a dangerous place against such a wonderfully fast rush as the Vic. He did a splendid lot of work though from start to finish”
“All the Ottawa forwards in turn then came within an ace of scoring, and Ottawa were getting considerably the best of the game. Young kept them well fed”
“Smith made an effort that will go down into hockey history as one of the bravest attempts of a hockey player. Captain Young, too, seeing that it was best, left his position and threw himself into the breach with the last desperate attempt of a man who knows he has got to do or die. And it was grand, aye, sublime, the hockey these two men put up in the eventful minutes.”
“Young, the coverpoint of the Ottawa team, was badly injured. Two of his ribs were broken in the same rink a week ago. He played with his usual skill, and while executing a movement directed against the enemy, he fell on the ice”
“The most serious part of his [Young’s] injuries were probably fakes, as usual with him, for a worse faker never lived. He looked a couple of times as if he was going to get off his famous ‘ stage faint’ act”
“Pulford stopped many but he was very weak in his lifting. Young played like a demon”
1896
“Weldy Young was as tricky as ever”
“Wieldy Young played the same old game, tricky, but he almost always got the rubber when it came his way. In the course of his hockey career Weldy has learned a few things. He never faints now, for instance; but Weldy ought to learn the fact that the rules of the game forbid tripping. Perhaps if he had known of this wise rule he would not have figured among the spectators at one stage of the game”
“There can be little doubt that the best team won, although the game throughout was a toss up, and the unruly tempers of Smith and Young had considerable to do with their team’s defeat”
“When Young was on he played as brilliantly as usual, and there is no doubt that the three defence men of the Ottawas compose a back division that is the strongest in Canada”
“On the defence Young was, as ever, the best of coverpoints”
“Weldy Young did yeoman work for Ottawa at cover point, which was the more effective on account of the almost entire absence of his tricky habits”
“There were no flies on the defence, but nevertheless one of Weldie Young’s ambitious rushes cost Ottawa the first goal. The M.A.A.A. men scored before he could get back to cover from the other end of the rink”
“Young at point made no mistakes and he and Pulford both indulged in runs up the ice”
“Young, Pulford and Chittick did not make one mistake”
“For the fifth year in succession the Ottawa hockey team has wound up second in the championship race. However nobody will argue that there is a Jonah aboard, for the only man who has played on the team clear through the five years is the justly-celebrated Weldy”
“Weldie Young was a veritable stonewall at cover”
“Young’s game at cover was faultless, except for the little incidentals which led to his decorating the side of the rink”
1897
“Pulford and Young as in past seasons proved strong on the defence”
“Weldy’ Young showed that he has not forgotten how to play, filling his position in a most credible manner”
“‘Weldy’ Young was slightly off in his play, and also committed an inexcusable foul in the first half. He played splendidly in the second.”
“Barlow and McKerrow broke through the attack several times, but always lost to Young or Pulford”
“Young had his work cut out for him, but he was equal to the occasion”
“Young and Pulford did a lot of good defence work, but did not seem to be able to use their bodies as effectively as usual”
“ Only the splendid work by Ottawas’ defense and particularly by Weldy Young at cover point prevented the score from being much larger”
“Despite the fact that Weldy Young gave his attention all last week to other club business and was unable to practise he played splendidly, and was perhaps the hardest worked man on the ice. He did the biggest amount of defence work and whenever an opportunity showed itself got out and gave the forward line assistance”
“ ‘Mike’ Grant showed that he is almost the equal of ‘Weldy’ Young at cover-point”
“Young, Pulford, and Chittick worked splendidly”
“Contrary to general expectation Weldy Young appeared on the ice and played an excellent game”
“Weldy Young went on and played at cover point, but his knees were in too poor condition to permit him to play anything like his usual game”
“... the rubber did not get any further down the ice than to Ottawas redoubtable cover-point, Weldy Young. He nipped several promising rushes in the bud and fed the visiting forward line persistently. It was only by excellent play that the home defense kept the Senators from scoring”
“Young, as of yore, showed some great defence work until he was obliged to retire some ten minutes before the end of the match, having fallen and sprained his wrist. Both he and Pulford did some hard rushing and often got a considerable way down the ice, a species of ‘forlorn hope’ game for which Young is noted
1898
“Young’s excellent play on the defence made the Shamrock attack weary for his lifts were always put in in the right time and he never lost his head. He could keep a whole forward line guessing where he was at, and all of a sudden the puck would slip away from his stick and be out of danger. This was what saved the Senators goals several times”
“The match was a good exhibition, and at times some beautiful work was done by both teams, but when the ice got heavy and the pace slackened up, but even then there was plenty of excitement for the spectators by reason of the heavy checking indulged in. Young and Pulford were the leaders in this style of play and were not very particular how they stopped an opposing forward as long as they saved a score”
“The Ottawas defence put up a great game all the way through. Young and Pulford stopped the rushes well and lifted the puck with a great deal of judgment”
“For some reason or other, too, the crowd seemed particularly down on Weldie Young. Why, it is difficult to say, unless because, in spite of his being out of condition, he played the star game of the night for Ottawa”
“Young and Pulford on the defence put up their usually strong games. Young played particularly well in the second half, and his rushes to help the forward line were always good”
“Weldy Young played with a dash and vim for a while, but he looked as if he had been gathering flesh lately and was rather weak by the time the match ended”
“Young was the only one who played well”
“Young showed up as well as ever, though indulging in quite a lot of his old time very neat tripping. His rushes as of old were decidedly dangerous”
“Gillespie worked hard, but some of his runs were too individual and every time Young would check him heavily and send him flying on his back. Strange to say, though Young has deadly enemies amongst the Quebecers, Gillespie, who is a new man, was the only one who dared tackle him. Watson and Swift were paralyzed simply at Young’s running across their way”
“Weldy Young and Pulford used their bodies with as much effect as usual”
“Pulford and Young are strong defence men, but they play a dirty game that should receive better attention from the referee”
“Young was himself, only a little more so, as he soon discovered that the referee had one eye on the Vics and the other eye closed. His two greatest achievements were thoroughly characteristic of him. Once he skated behind Cam Davidson when the puck was not near him, lifted Davidson’s feet from the ice, bringing the game little played to the ice with a force that stunned him. Young then skated back, and in a hypocritical way, expressed sorrow that Davidson was hurt, and asked how it happened. At another stage in the game he climbed over three or four tiers of seats and struck a twelve or fourteen-year old boy in the face with his stick”
“Weldy Young came in for a reprimand as usual for his nastiness”
1899
“It was the steadiness and strength of the Ottawa’s defence which won Saturday night’s match. Weldy Young was in his old-time form and played splendidly”
“Weldy Young seems to be as good as ever, and played a great game, although his lifting at times was a little off color”
“Young did some excellent interference, and sent many a Shamrock man to the ice with his body. He overdid it once or twice and was cautioned by the referee”
“Chalk Young used excellent judgment”
“Weldy Young was ruled off five minutes for fouling Moran. Young played a rough game. He was warned several times for using his body unduly severely”
“Weldy Young played his usual good game at cover point. His lifts into the Quebec goals were a feature of the match”
“‘Chalk’ Young played his old-time game at cover point. He perhaps was a little uncertain of the result on account of the novices around him. Every time any of the Quebecers came his way he set himself and waited for the worst. But the strangest part of it was that the other fellow always got the worst of it. When Chalk could not successfully stop him with his stick he brought his body into play in characteristic style. Few indeed passed him, as the ‘jolts’ that Young was dishing up were too tart for the ‘Ancients’”
“For Ottawa, Young and Kirby as old timer showed up well, and were the only thing who could make a stand against the Montreal forwards”
“Young at cover point up to the time that he met with the accident [reported dislocated shoulder] played splendidly.”
“Of the Ottawa team, Young was unquestionably the star. His work at times was phenomenal. He repeatedly went up the ice through the Montreal crowd with apparent ease. ‘Chalk’ was up to all Howard and Horsfall’s tricks, and the two speedy Montreal forwards were fooled many a time. Every Montrealer laid for Young, and gave him as much dirt as possible. He was tripped, struck of the legs, body-checked and knocked about generally, but Chalk always came up serenly, and was in the game until his shoulder was dislocated”
“Young is still in the game. And he is the most scientific rusher of the seven”
“Young, for the visitors, from whom a good game is always expected, seemed off colour, and was not supported strongly enough to make many ventures against such veterans as the Vics. His absence in an assault on the Victoria’s flags was very weakening to their forward line”
“Young played a marvelous game, and in addition to going the full length of the ice, looked after several of the Montreal forwards, and time and again saved the flags. Macdonald was as cool as ever, and in the play-off, when he went out to cover point, he proved conclusively that he could fill that position satisfactorily. His lifting was a feature of the game, and under Young’s tuition Bert now uses good judgment”
“The defense played well and Young’s assistance to the forwards, particularly in the first half, had a lot to do with winning the game”
“There were three men on the Ottawa team who seemed to be about equal to the occasion. They were Henry, Stewart and Young. The latter came in for his usual share of disapprobation from the spectators, but Weldy did not seem to mind it a little bit and continued to play good hockey and check as hard as his weight would allow”
“Young played a fierce game at cover point. He was ruled off for catching Moran and using his body with too much effect on every opponent who came his way”
“Both defences were strong. Chittick in goal and Weddy Young at cover saved their goals a good many times, and Young led some pretty rushes on their opponents’ goal”
Post career quotes:
“'Chalk Young had more tricks on the ice than all the rest of the players combined', remarked Harvey Pulford, a well known hockey player, the other day.
'When it came to scientific body checkin, 'Calk' had it on 'em all'.” (Vancouver Daily World, 23 December 1907 Page 26)
“Weldy Young informed a Journal representative last night that he had decided to get out of sport and would not be with the Ottawas on Saturday night against Quebec. If Young sticks to his decision it will weaken the Ottawas considerably, as he is playing gilt-edged hockey this season, and his superior at cover point never played the game” (Ottawa Journal, 12 January 1899 Page 6)
“A few years ago there was no better known young man in Ottawa sporting circles than Weldon C. Young, now of the Yukon Weldie as he was familiarly called played about every known game starting out with Baseball. Then he played Lacrosse with the old Ottawa Lacrosse Club and Hockey and Football also with the Ottawas. He was cover point and captain of the Hockey team and many claim his equal has never been seen in this position” (Montreal Star, 15 April 1902 Page 2)
“There was Weldy Young, who since he had made a reputation for wonderful hockey playing, which even the best players of the present time find it hard to equal…” (Montreal Star, 13 December 1909)
Stats
Weldy Young’s longevity was extraordinary. Throughout the entire 1887-1909 time period, Weldy Young played the 6th most games (Behind Harvey Pulford, Russell Bowie, Rat Westwick, Paddy Moran, and Blair Russell). If we shortened it to just the 1887-1899 time period (Young retired after 1899), Young was the leader in games played by over a season’s worth of games-
Offensively, Young was the leader among all defenders over his career. Here is the top 3 points for the players who primarily played point/coverpoint (1887-1899):
| Name | Games |
| Weldy Young | 66 |
| Dave Watson | 54 |
| Herb Collins | 53 |
| Dolly Swift | 52 |
| A.D. Scott | 51 |
| James Stewart | 51 |
Offensively, Young was the leader among all defenders over his career. Here is the top 3 points for the players who primarily played point/coverpoint (1887-1899):
| Name | Points |
| Weldy Young | 31 |
| Mike Grant | 19.83 |
| Jack Campbell | 19.5 |
Dr John Carlson
Registered User
For posterity's sake, I'll repost the bios I have in this thread to make them easier to track down.
Tom Wilson
Player Profile
Courtesy of NHL's puck and player tracking data:
Tom Wilson is what you get if you asked a scientist to build the perfect ATD fourth liner in a laboratory. Elite speed and shot, forechecking missile, generating tons pressure on the net, unfavourable defensive zone starts. All of that in a 6'4" 220lbs package, a letter on the jersey, both special teams units, out at the end of games protecting leads.
Stats of Note
- Since being moved full-time into Washington's top-6 in 2018: 27g, 53p pace over 82 games
- Leading all Capitals forwards in time on ice this season by a full minute, on a Cup contending team
- 4th leaguewide in hits since his debut in 2013
- Wilson became a core PKer on Washington in the 2015-2016 season. Since that season, he's first on the team in cumulative shorthanded time on ice, and the team is 3rd in PK% over that span
- Ranked #90 on THN's Top 100 Influential People in Hockey in 2019
- 100+mph slapshot in the 2022 all star game
NHLPA Player Polls
NHLPA Player Polls began asking the question, "Which player do you least enjoy playing against but would like to have on your team?", in 2021-2022. Here are the results in each season it was asked:
2024:
1. Brad Marchand (29.19%)
2. Connor McDavid (17.48%)
3. Matthew Tkachuk (7.57%)
4. Tom Wilson (6.67%)
5. Nathan MacKinnon (5.23%)
2023:
1. Brad Marchand (36.54%)
2. Connor McDavid (15.58%)
3. Tom Wilson (8.08%)
4. Matthew Tkachuk (5.96%)
5. Victor Hedman (3.85%)
2022:
1. Brad Marchand (26.40%)
2. Connor McDavid (18.34%)
3. Tom Wilson (10.74%)
4. Victor Hedman (6.94%)
5. Nathan MacKinnon (5.37%)
Quotes
Many of these quotes were transcribed by me from video interviews.
On his unique skillset...
On his value to a team...
On his all-around game...
On his physicality...
On his leadership...
Tom Wilson
Player Profile
Courtesy of NHL's puck and player tracking data:
Stats of Note
- Since being moved full-time into Washington's top-6 in 2018: 27g, 53p pace over 82 games
- Leading all Capitals forwards in time on ice this season by a full minute, on a Cup contending team
- 4th leaguewide in hits since his debut in 2013
- Wilson became a core PKer on Washington in the 2015-2016 season. Since that season, he's first on the team in cumulative shorthanded time on ice, and the team is 3rd in PK% over that span
- Ranked #90 on THN's Top 100 Influential People in Hockey in 2019
- 100+mph slapshot in the 2022 all star game
NHLPA Player Polls
NHLPA Player Polls began asking the question, "Which player do you least enjoy playing against but would like to have on your team?", in 2021-2022. Here are the results in each season it was asked:
2024:
1. Brad Marchand (29.19%)
2. Connor McDavid (17.48%)
3. Matthew Tkachuk (7.57%)
4. Tom Wilson (6.67%)
5. Nathan MacKinnon (5.23%)
2023:
1. Brad Marchand (36.54%)
2. Connor McDavid (15.58%)
3. Tom Wilson (8.08%)
4. Matthew Tkachuk (5.96%)
5. Victor Hedman (3.85%)
2022:
1. Brad Marchand (26.40%)
2. Connor McDavid (18.34%)
3. Tom Wilson (10.74%)
4. Victor Hedman (6.94%)
5. Nathan MacKinnon (5.37%)
Quotes
Many of these quotes were transcribed by me from video interviews.
On his unique skillset...
Spencer Carbery - 21 September 2023 said:
Jordan Eberle - 6 February 2022 said:
Barry Trotz - 29 May 2018 said:
TBL Director of Scouting Al Murray - 24 July 2021 said:
On his value to a team...
Patrice Bergeron - 6 February 2022 said:
Rod Brind'Amour - 6 February 2022 said:
Undrafted CBJ Defenseman - 6 February 2022 said:
On his all-around game...
Spencer Carbery - 18 January 2025 said:
The Hockey News - 29 January 2025 said:
The Hockey News - 29 January 2025 said:
On his physicality...
Radko Gudas - 15 December 2019 said:
Jakub Vrana - 15 December 2019 said:
Tom Wilson - 26 January 2025 said:
Brian MacLellan - 15 December 2019 said:
Sportsnet Big Read - 15 December 2019 said:
On his leadership...
The Hockey News - 29 January 2025 said:
The Hockey News - 29 January 2025 said:
Todd Reirden - 15 December 2019 said:
Radko Gudas - 15 December 2019 said:
Sportsnet Big Read - 15 December 2019 said:
T.J. Oshie - 15 December 2019 said:
Dr John Carlson
Registered User
Dick Irvin, C
5'9", 162 lbs, left-handed shot
1927 Hart voting - 4th place
1927 Lady Byng voting - 2nd place
HHOF Honoured Member - 1958
Points Finishes
NHL - 2nd (1927)
WHL/WCHL - 2nd (1926), 6th (1922), 9th (1924)
PCHA - 5th (1917)
SSHL - 1st (1920), 2nd (1921)
MHL - 1st (1914), 1st (1915), 1st (1916), 1st (1918)
---
Overview
Dick Irvin was one of the preeminent offensive centremen of the late 1910s into the 1920s. Most of his physical prime (which I would term as sometime from 1915 to late 1922) was spent playing amateur hockey in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Highly sought after by the Coast league as an amateur, Irvin, who was almost certainly being well-compensated to retain his simon-pure status, agreed to turn pro with Portland of the PCHA, where he starred as an elite young talent with a bright future in pro hockey. The Great War beckoned, however - he returned to Winnipeg and was granted amateur status again to play in their 'war league' while awaiting deployment, and was soon off to Europe.
Upon returning, he remained an amateur until 1921, when 'professionalism' spread to Regina and Irvin was compelled to turn pro for good. A hard hit from Frank Patrick at the start of the 22-23 season led to back problems that lingered for the remainder of his playing career, rendering him as a player who retained the stickhandling and shooting of his prime, but without the skating or stamina that was required out of an elite centreman. Two big scoring years on middling teams in '26 and '27 were his last hurrah, and a skull fracture in late 1927 ended his time as an impactful player.
---
Playing Style
Irvin was primarily a goal-getting centreman who utilized his stickhandling, shot, and speed to worm through the defense and beat the goaltender from in tight.
Star Power & Value
Irvin's name commanded great star power, not only because of his gaudy totals but also because of how valuable he was to his teams, thanks to his ability to generate offense as an individual talent.
Weaknesses
Irvin tended to 'loaf' defensively, which I gather means he liked to cherry pick. He was able to get away with this strategy partly because of having George Hay filling the 'defensive conscience' role on his wing for almost all of his post-war hockey.
Additionally, we have this glimpse into his leadership capabilities:
---
Overall, Dick Irvin brings a ton of individual offensive skill as the centrepiece of a scoring line, provided he's given a defensive winger to cover for his loafing. Primarily skewing towards goal-scoring, a playmaking wing by his side would be ideal as well.
Additional information/quotes can be found in my Dick Irvin posts for Vote 9 of the HOH pre-merger ranking project.
5'9", 162 lbs, left-handed shot
1927 Hart voting - 4th place
1927 Lady Byng voting - 2nd place
HHOF Honoured Member - 1958
Points Finishes
NHL - 2nd (1927)
WHL/WCHL - 2nd (1926), 6th (1922), 9th (1924)
PCHA - 5th (1917)
SSHL - 1st (1920), 2nd (1921)
MHL - 1st (1914), 1st (1915), 1st (1916), 1st (1918)
---
Overview
Dick Irvin was one of the preeminent offensive centremen of the late 1910s into the 1920s. Most of his physical prime (which I would term as sometime from 1915 to late 1922) was spent playing amateur hockey in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Highly sought after by the Coast league as an amateur, Irvin, who was almost certainly being well-compensated to retain his simon-pure status, agreed to turn pro with Portland of the PCHA, where he starred as an elite young talent with a bright future in pro hockey. The Great War beckoned, however - he returned to Winnipeg and was granted amateur status again to play in their 'war league' while awaiting deployment, and was soon off to Europe.
Upon returning, he remained an amateur until 1921, when 'professionalism' spread to Regina and Irvin was compelled to turn pro for good. A hard hit from Frank Patrick at the start of the 22-23 season led to back problems that lingered for the remainder of his playing career, rendering him as a player who retained the stickhandling and shooting of his prime, but without the skating or stamina that was required out of an elite centreman. Two big scoring years on middling teams in '26 and '27 were his last hurrah, and a skull fracture in late 1927 ended his time as an impactful player.
---
Playing Style
Irvin was primarily a goal-getting centreman who utilized his stickhandling, shot, and speed to worm through the defense and beat the goaltender from in tight.
The Edmonton Journal – 16 March 1914 said:
The Winnipeg Tribune - 20 January 1915 said:
The Edmonton Bulletin - 11 March 1915 said:
The Winnipeg Tribune - 21 January 1916 said:
The Province - 10 January 1917 said:
The Leader-Post - 17 January 1917 said:
The Vancouver Daily World - 10 February 1917 said:
The Winnipeg Tribune - 15 January 1918 said:
The Winnipeg Tribune - 25 January 1918 said:
The Saskatoon Daily Star - 3 January 1920 said:
The Leader-Post - 6 March 1922 said:
Star Power & Value
Irvin's name commanded great star power, not only because of his gaudy totals but also because of how valuable he was to his teams, thanks to his ability to generate offense as an individual talent.
The Winnipeg Tribune - 31 January 1916 said:
The Winnipeg Tribune - 1 February 1916 said:
The Province - 4 January 1917 said:
The Vancouver Daily World - 10 January 1917 said:
The Vancouver Daily World - 20 January 1917 said:
The Free Press Prairie Farmer - 9 January 1918 said:
The Winnipeg Tribune - 5 February 1918 said:
The Winnipeg Tribune - 14 February 1918 said:
The Leader-Post - 6 February 1920 said:
The Saskatoon Daily Star - 14 February 1920 said:
The Saskatoon Daily Star - 21 February 1920 said:
The Saskatoon Daily Star - 28 February 1920 said:
The Winnipeg Tribune - 12 March 1920 said:
The Leader-Post - 29 January 1921 said:
The Saskatoon Daily Star - 4 February 1921 said:
The Star-Phoenix - 22 February 1921 said:
The Saskatoon Daily Star - 10 March 1921 said:
The Calgary Albertan - 6 December 1921 said:
The Calgary Albertan - 5 January 1922 said:
The Victoria Daily Times - 26 October 1922 said:
The Leader-Post - 8 November 1922 said:
Weaknesses
Irvin tended to 'loaf' defensively, which I gather means he liked to cherry pick. He was able to get away with this strategy partly because of having George Hay filling the 'defensive conscience' role on his wing for almost all of his post-war hockey.
The Winnipeg Tribune - 20 January 1915 said:
The Saskatoon Daily Star - 31 January 1920 said:
The Star-Phoenix - 22 February 1921 said:
Additionally, we have this glimpse into his leadership capabilities:
The Winnipeg Tribune - 20 December 1924 said:
The Free Press Evening Bulletin - 20 December 1924 said:
---
Overall, Dick Irvin brings a ton of individual offensive skill as the centrepiece of a scoring line, provided he's given a defensive winger to cover for his loafing. Primarily skewing towards goal-scoring, a playmaking wing by his side would be ideal as well.
Additional information/quotes can be found in my Dick Irvin posts for Vote 9 of the HOH pre-merger ranking project.
Dr John Carlson
Registered User
Wendy Marco (skating coach)
Some of these quotes will be transcribed from audio clips.
The Capitals are one of the biggest teams in the league up front. Big fellas aren't renowned for the skating ability, but with the help of Marco, they've managed to turn them into speedsters...
6'6, ~250lb monster Aliaksei Protas fell to the 3rd round in 2019 because of his skating, and has since developed into an elite skater and player. Courtesy of the NHL's puck and player tracking data:
Another prime example is 6"4, ~230lb Tom Wilson. Wilson developed into a very strong skater while Wendy was essentially a part-time member of the Capitals staff. However, she came aboard full-time just as Wilson was recovering from a torn ACL at the very end of the 2021-2022 season, an injury that usually saps players of their quickness. Again courtesy of NHL's puck and player tracking data, we see how Tom came all the way back to his pre-injury skating form under Wendy's watch:
Further proof of the organization's faith in Marco is their drafting strategy, as they are increasingly tending towards picking highly-skilled players with poor skating. Just look at their most recent draft - three players selected who were 6'5 or taller, including Aliaksei's brother Ilya Protas.
Some of these quotes will be transcribed from audio clips.
Wendy Marco said:
Nicklas Backstrom said:
Mike Ansell (Sabres skating coach) said:
John Carlson said:
Jeff Halpern said:
Ethen Frank (AHL fastest skater competition winner) said:
The Hockey News - 16 July 2024 said:
The Capitals are one of the biggest teams in the league up front. Big fellas aren't renowned for the skating ability, but with the help of Marco, they've managed to turn them into speedsters...
6'6, ~250lb monster Aliaksei Protas fell to the 3rd round in 2019 because of his skating, and has since developed into an elite skater and player. Courtesy of the NHL's puck and player tracking data:
| Year | Top Skating Speed | >20mph Speed Bursts | Overall Skating Distance (miles) |
| 2023 | 22.46 mph (65th percentile) | 83 (66th percentile) | 104.25 (below 50th percentile) |
| 2024 | 22.74 mph (76th percentile) | 135 (83rd percentile) | 171 (64th percentile) |
| 2025 | 23.18 mph (92nd percentile) | 123 (89th percentile) | 153.89 (79th percentile) |
The Washington Post - 31 October 2024 said:
Another prime example is 6"4, ~230lb Tom Wilson. Wilson developed into a very strong skater while Wendy was essentially a part-time member of the Capitals staff. However, she came aboard full-time just as Wilson was recovering from a torn ACL at the very end of the 2021-2022 season, an injury that usually saps players of their quickness. Again courtesy of NHL's puck and player tracking data, we see how Tom came all the way back to his pre-injury skating form under Wendy's watch:
| Year | Top Skating Speed | >20mph Speed Bursts | Overall Skating Distance (miles) |
| 2022 (pre-injury) | 23.23 (93rd percentile) | 218 (96th percentile) | 226.44 (92nd percentile) |
| 2023 (first season back) | 21.82 (below 50th percentile) | 45 (below 50th percentile) | 87.45 (below 50th percentile) |
| 2024 | 23.10 (90th percentile) | 187 (93rd percentile) | 215.79 (82nd percentile) |
| 2025 | 23.22 (93rd percentile) | 130 (92nd percentile) | 170.39 (89th percentile) |
Further proof of the organization's faith in Marco is their drafting strategy, as they are increasingly tending towards picking highly-skilled players with poor skating. Just look at their most recent draft - three players selected who were 6'5 or taller, including Aliaksei's brother Ilya Protas.
Latest posts
-
-
Useless thread MMIV: John Price thinks he’s a twink but he’s actually a Twinkie- Latest: PanthersPens62
-
-