MLD 2012 Bios (pic, quotes, stats, accomplishments, everything)

[VanIslander]

After a pick is made, place full bios here, the more complete the better.

It can be a valuable resource for future drafts.​

vecens24 EDIT:

This is just going to be a board wide memo because I've been noticing it a lot more lately.

You CANNOT copy and paste full articles into bios. This is against site rules. Please just simply pick out the important parts that say what needs to be said about your player, then direct to the original source (be it web site, book, etc.).

Click to read more...

 

[Michael Farkas]

Brian Campbell, D

2012 Lady Byng Trophy (first defenseman to win the award since Red Kelly in 1954)
2nd Team All-Star (2008)

Norris voting record: 5th, 7th, 10th
All-Star Team voting: 4th, 7th, 9th, 16th
Frequent quality looks at the Lady Byng despite being in a non-traditional position to win the award.
Played in NHL All-Star Game: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012
2010 Stanley Cup Champion

NHL Time on Ice, Average TOI, ES TOI, ES ATOI leader in 2012. Led all d-men in PP TOI in 2012 also.

League-wide: 16th in ES ATOI in 2011, 4th in ES ATOI in 2010, 14th in ATOI in 2008, 16th in ES ATOI in 2008.

10th in the league in total ice time since 2008. He's 6th in points among defensemen since 2005-06 (of that same sample, all of the top-12 were selected in the ATD except for Campbell and XXXXX XXXXXXX).

Top-10 Defensive point finishes since 2008: 2nd, 3rd, 10th

11th among d-men in plus/minus since 2006 (+64).

The smooth-skating Brian Campbell has exploded in terms of prominence and offensive production since the lockout. An excellent skater, Campbell makes a terrific breakout pass and is also a noted puck rusher. He eats an enormous amount of minutes and is extremely reliable. He's played in 82 games (or more) games since the lockout 4 times and 79 games in another season. He once played in 388 consecutive contests. A power play quarterback and excellent puck distributor. Campbell can also play on the penalty kill, though largely on the 2nd unit. More of an offensive defenseman, but has evolved defensively with maturity.

He has consistently gone deep into the playoffs. He's played in 97 playoff games since the lockout (most among all d-men over that stretch...including Nicklas Lidstrom). Only twice has he been bounced in the first round since '06, including being on the wrong end of a double-OT game 7 loss to the eventual Eastern Conference champs in New Jersey in 2012. He won the Stanley Cup in 2010 with Chicago, assisting on the Cup clinching goal and led the playoffs in plus/minus at +11. Campbell had a remarkable junior career with Ottawa going to the Memorial Cup once and taking home many awards including CHL Player of the Year. He was named a First Team All-Star at the 1999 World Junior Championships for Canada.

Campbell is well known as a gentlemanly and sportsmanlike player since his youth. He routinely receives votes for the Lady Byng Trophy and finally won in 2012. He logged the most minutes in the league and was assessed only six penalty minutes all season (!) and one-third of those penalty minutes came from a delay of game penalty. Upon receiving award, Campbell became the first Florida Panther to receive an award that was voted upon by the media or general managers.

For the last three seasons, defenseman Brian Campbell has certainly been one of the leaders in the Buffalo Sabres' dressing room...

Campbell, who is one of the best defensemen in the NHL, a two-time All-Star... || Campbell brings his elite skills, including his super speed and ability as a power-play quarterback, to the Sharks, a team that desperately needed a "pick-me-up" in their bid to become a major contender in the Western Conference. || Campbell's ability as a puck-rushing defenseman should also soften the typically aggressive forecheck teams have played against the Sharks.

I think he's one of the top puck-moving defenseman in the game. We think he'll fit in tremendous for our hockey team. He'll certainly improve our power play and our puck possession game. He's a world class skater. He can move the puck. He can play defense. He's a multidimensional player, and he's had success. He's the type of guy that will fit into the dressing room here

He's as good of a momentum skater as there is in the League. As a guy who can be skating backward with the puck, pivot and go forward he carries that momentum incredibly. To wind up and go behind the net, he just comes out flying.

Not known as an overtly physical player...Brian Campbell once scrambled R.J. Umberger's eggs in the playoffs.

 

[jkrx]

Sven Tumba

Tumba was a big fellow at a solid 6'3" and 210lbs. He had a little Gordie Howe in him. He was very hard to stop and impossible to separate from the puck.
To put his size into perspective, a player of that size in the 50s and 60s adjusts to a player who is roughly 6'5" 230 lbs. in today's NHL.

Tumba combined his strength and size to win puck battles in the trenches, and positioning in the slot. Skills that complemented his strong shot and made him a lethal goal scorer.

Tumba's strength was his heavy and quick shot that always seemed to be on target. With his combination of physical strength and good hands he was a scoring threat whenever he had the puck.

Legacy:

Inducted into the International Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997 and voted the "Best Swedish Ice Hockey Player Throughout Time"
1950-63: 8-time Swedish Champion (1954, 55, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
1952: Olympic bronze, Oslo, Norway.
1953: World Champion, Zurich-Basel, Switzerland.
1954: World Championship Bronze, Stockholm, Sweden
1956: Olympic 5th place, Cortina, Italy.
1957: Test player for Boston Bruins.
1957: World Champion (nominated best forward.)
1958: World Championship Bronze, Oslo, Norway.
1960: Olympic 5th place, Squaw Valley, USA.
1962: World Champion (nominated best forward.)
1963: World Championship Silver
1964: Olympic Silver
1965: World Championship Bronze
1989: Nominated the best Swedish ice hockey player throughout time.

He won the Swedish league title 8 times, six of them in a row between 1958-63. Tumba also won the league scoring title on several occasions

.

Tumba represented Sweden internationally 245 times and scored 223 goals, more than anybody else in the history of the Swedish national team.

The long time captain played in 14 World Championships, more than any other Swedish player, as well as four Olympic tournaments.

He was a three time World Champion and was selected as the best forward in the 1957 and 1962 World Championships.

His 127 points (including 84 goals) is the 5th best result in World Championship history. Only four Russians are ahead of him - Boris Mikhailov, Valeri Kharlamov, Alexander Maltsev and Vladimir Petrov. His 84 goals ranks second only behind Mikhailov.

A massive player for his day at 6'3, 210, Tumba was a scoring machine both domestically (8 Swedish titles, multiple scoring titles) and in the world championships. He lead Sweden to their first 3 world championships, and was named player of the tournament on two of those occasions. He also lead the tournament in scoring twice. After his retirement, Sweden would not win another WC untill 1987. He is 5th in WC points, and 2nd in goals, and is the highest non-Russian in each category (behind the likes of Mikhailov, Kharlamov, Maltsev and Petrov). Tumba also competed in 4 Olympic games, and lead the tournament in scoring in 1964.

The Soviets had the utmost respect for Johansson, and were often forced to resort to unusual tactics to try to contain the big Swede. In the 1957 in front of 50,000 supporters in Moscow (the largest in history), the Soviets double-teamed Johansson, leaving a player unchecked much of the game. Johansson scored twice, and Sweden won their second WC in the heart of the USSR.

In 1957 the Bruins made Johansson the first European to be invited to try out for the NHL. Tumba scored 5 points in 5 games with their minor league team, and recorded a goal in the only exhibition game he played with Boston. However, he chose to return to Sweden so he could maintain his 'amateur' status and continue to represent the Tre Kronor internationally.

-----------

Tumba was a lethal goal-scorer, but his skill set made him very much a shoot-first center.

His weakness was that he didn't pass the puck as much as he should have. He didn't use his teammates very often which in one way made him a little bit of a one dimensional player. But why should he pass when he scored seemingly at will? His teammates didn't seem to mind, as was was very well liked because of his easy going attitude off the ice.

- I made ​​my debut with Boston in a friendly game against the New York Rangers and some were a little shaky for the fight. Would they beat me half to death, or how would it go? We played 1-1 and I scored the goal. But after my second game I would play with their minor club Quebec Aces and it was a success and I was offered a contract at a staggering $ 50 000 but ice hockey over there didn't suit me or rather I was not ready for that kind of hockey so I turned homeward .
- That was when I played the guys in Boston a "prank" and after a workout, I was first into the dressing room. It said the men's glass with false teeth in and then I was for me to replace the palates of the palates etc. Devils what they fiddled to get there teeth ha ha ... But they came in on what had happened and I had to point out whose who whose was then I thought probably that "Tumba" would get beat up by all Canadians. But instead there was the "laugh". It was the most insulting the experienced but also the most fun, haha ​​...

Asked if he gives it his all in div. 2 as he does in international games.

Absolutely. You always have to be a devil on the ice!

Have you ever heard of MAURICE RICHARD, the rocket? The worlds best player from the blue line to the net. Tumba is our swedish counterpart to him. Tumba is almost as rough.

About taking a ferrie to Copenhagen (Denmark)

I don't like it here. Nobody regocnizes me

When he was abroad in Far East he spent the most of his time in his room writing letters, to himself.

About whining

I do not know if I had any particular philosophy, but it does not help to whine, quite the opposite it only gets worse. I stuck out his beak, and sometimes I was a bit of a star then so I had to endure the game.

 

[Dreakmur]

Paddy Moran !!!​

Awards and Achievements:
Hockey Hall of Fame (1958)
2 x Stanley Cup Champion (1912, 1913)

1905 ECHA All-Star

Lester Patrick’s All-Time Goalie named in 1927
Newsly Lalonde’s All-Time “Mean Team†Goalie named in 1961

Statistical Accomplishments:
Moran was Quebec's starting goaltender from 1901-02 through 1915-16. That's an amazig streak of 15 years.

GAA – 1st(1913), 2nd(1910), 2nd(1904), 2nd(1912), 3rd(1905), 3rd(1916), 4th(1908), 4th(1909), 4th(1914), 4th(1915)

Indeed, Moran was a fireball in the cage. The husky netminder guarded his territory by attacking or even chasing enemy players down the ice. He once chased Newsy Lalonde the length of the rink. And although he was often named the top goalkeeper in the league, he tended nets for some poor Quebec sides over the years. Almost every night was a rubber rainstorm for the Irishman. Small wonder, then, that he had the local priest bless him before every match.

Moran was resourceful, too. To combat the drafty, sub-zero conditions common in the old arenas, he wore a big sweater-coat, which he would keep unbuttoned and use as a sail with which to trap shots on their way across the goalmouth.

Although there was no rule governing play around the net, skaters soon learned a healthy respect for Moran’s personal space. Those who did not give way were hacked, slashed, ad bodied by the big goalie as a reminder of who owned the cage.

Paddy Moran started playing hockey at age 15 with Sarsfield, a Quebec City juvenile team. He was educated at St. Patricks School but the school was one of the few local institutions not to have a hockey team in the city. He was 17 when he moved to the Dominions, a junior club, and the team narrowly missed out on the junior title after a one-goal defeat to the Junior Crescents squad. By the age of 19, Moran was tending goal for the Crescent Intermediates and used his stand up style to help the team win an Intermediate Championship.

Moran made his big-league debut with the Quebec Bulldogs of the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association in 1905-06 and stayed with a Quebec-based team for all but one year of his career. He led the National Hockey Association in games won with ten in the 1911-12 season and followed up with a league leading 16 wins in 1912-13. The Bulldogs won the Stanley Cup in both of those seasons and Moran was picked to play for the NHA All-Stars in a 1912 exhibition series.

His Quebec teams, however, tended to lose more games than they won early on and Moran would attempt to keep the puck out of the net in any way possible. Moran played in the days prior to a goal crease being painted in front of the net and guarded his area like a stray dog with a bone. His quick stick was used for more than just deflecting shots and opposition players soon developed a healthy respect for Paddy's self-created "crease." He was a clutch goalie and in the big games was hard to beat.

Moran was particularly proud of the fact that he built his house entirely from his hockey earnings at a cost of about $4,000. He was honoured with induction to the Quebec Hockey Hall of Fame and was a faithful follower of the Quebec Aces Hockey Club in his later years.

Paddy Moran was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958.

To start with, I would pick Paddy Moran, of Quebec, and Percy Le Sueur, of Ottawa, for goal. I their heyday, Moran and Le Sueur were two of the smartest goalers I ever saw in action.

Paddy was in a class by himself when it came to chopping toes of opposing forwards who came within ranger, and in those days the skate toes weren’t so well padded.

Some nights, Paddy was so good that he was unbeatable.

Moran in goal was really wonderful. Time and again he stopped what seemed impossible shots, and not only stopped the shots, but stopped those terrible rushes for which the Victoria players are noted...The way Moran met some of the individual rushes of a maroon shirted player, with one of his own rushes, was a caution and Paddy wasn't always underneath.

Winchester played last year with the Winnipeg Maple Leafs and is considered quite up to the standard of Paddy Moran, of Quebec.

“Paddy†Moran...is almost impregnable against a shot from fair range...and the Vics only rolled up a big score by taking the rubber disc right to the mouth of the cage.

For Quebec, Moran gave an exception exhibition of goal-keeping. He was steady and sure, and he saved many a possible score. On one occasion, he gave a really sensational display, when he ran out and blocked two Shamrock men who had got inside the defence and were apparently bound to deliver the goods.

The irrepressible Paddy Moran, in goals, gave an exhibition that was worth the whole price of admissions to witness. Paddy has acquired a well-deserved reputation for performing sensational stunts, and last evening he treated the crowd to a number that were well-worth seeing and he saved the situation on several occasions by his quick-wit in realizing the situation.

….

In endeavoring to save a score Moran made a spectacular rush out of goals and fell on the puck, necessitating a face right in front of Quebec's poles, Ward batting the rubber in and giving the visitors their second tally.

In Quebec’s surprising showing, a big factor was the wonderful work of their goal-keeper, Paddy Moran, who in his long career probably never did better work than against Wanderers Saturday night. Moran stopped them from all angles, and his brilliant work put heart into the players in front of him and sent them after the Wanderers in a style that threatened to take the champions off their feet.

Paddy Moran will report to All-Montreal on December 15, the date from which all the contracts date. He will make All-Montreal strong in an important position, but loss f their star goaler of years will be a serious loss to Quebec.

…losing men like Moran and Powers who have been the backbone of the team for some seasons.

Four names stand very much to the front when it comes to picking the greatest hockey goalkeepers. They are Percy Lasueur, Paddy Moran, Dutchy Morrison, and Whitey Merritt.

Two of the men are still in harness, while the other two are remembered by thousands of fans who cheered their work in years gone by.

Paddy Moran is perhaps the one best bet of the four and his wonderful records with the Quebec team stamp him as the cleverest goal custodian of the east. Paddy at times was backed up by a team of indifferent merit, but his work did not suffer as a consequence, and many a victory for the ancient city’s team can be credited to his prowess in the nets. Paddy started out this year a little off color and there was talk of replacing him with a younger man. Then the Ottawa team went to Quebec and the old stonewall guardian of the citadel stood them on their heads in front of the nets and Quebec defeated the champions. This alone assured him his place for the rest of the season and hockey fans will have some new tales to tell of his great stops.

The score was 4 to 3, but Ottawa was plugging away, and Paddy Moran was stopping all kinds of chances. Finally, one of Paddy’s favorites came along, a long high one, and he got it with his hand, but he held onto it just a moment too long.

Tecumsehs were playing three men on the defence, and Quebec’s forwards could make little impression on them. Paddy Moran was kept busy stopping shots.

The hero of the match was undoubtedly Paddy Moran, who never played a better game in his life than he did last night. Time after time when the visitors' forwards had penetrated the Quebec defence Paddy sailed out and robbed them.

Paddy Moran, in the Quebec net, was in wonderful form. In the last period he stopped them from every angle, and Toronto could not get anything past him.

The feature of the game was the goal keeping of “Paddy†Moran. He had more than twice as many shots to stop as the local “tend†and turned aside some that looked to be sure counters. It was not the line, but Moran who won for the champions. Time and again the Wanderers forwards would get inside the champions defense, when Moran would come out to check the and turn aside shots made right on top of him, his checking back, breaking up many a rush and affording aid to the local defense.

The feature was the goalkeeping of Paddy Moran. He had double the number of opportunities given Boyes and turned aside some that looked to be sure counters. It was not the line, but Moran won for the champions.

Paddy Moran, although not having as much to do as in other games this year, handled the ones that did come his way in great style and stopped some almost impossible shots.

Moran and Lindsay played grand hockey all the way…

Paddy Moran, apart from leaving the goals a few times, gave a fine exhibition, blocking shots that looked dead on making some fine saves.

Patrick is at a loss to explain Vancouver’s defeat by the Wanderers on Monday night. He was so sure of winning that he readily consented when Art Ross requested permission to use Paddy Moran, the Quebec cage tender, to replace Warwick, the Wanderers’ goal man, who’s weakness in the net was responsible for the Wanderers’ defeat in the opening game of the series. It was Moran’s dependable work in the fending off the flying puck that kept the Vancouver score down and contributed to their defeat.

George and Stevens were doing much useful work for the Wanderers, but the home defence, with Paddy Moran continually shining, was always equal to the task.

Torontos left for Quebec last night. If the Ancient City squad are without Paddy Moran again the locals will put over a win sure.

Manager Querrie, of the Toronto professional hockey club, had practically decided that Goaler Hebert and Brooks will not do, and he is prepared to make a trade with the Wanderers for Paddy Moran.

Redpath’s drive would have fooled Paddy Moran….

Though he played in an age when individualism was the hallmark of the game, hockey can boast of few more colorful figures than Paddy Mora, goaltender of the Quebec Bulldogs. The Quebec Irishman who guarded the nets for the ancient capital’s major team from 1901 until 1917 simply reeked with color for none ever played the game with so much zest and more loved to win and hated to lose than Paddy Moran. At his peak, he was perhaps the best goaler of his time for when Paddy was “on†his game, he was well nigh unbeatable. He was absolutely fearless in the nets. Of all the players who ever wore the Quebec uniform, Moran is perhaps the best loved by the home fans for he had a kindly spirit which his fiery outbursts in the heat of struggles very much belied. His greatest following was among the youngsters of Quebec City for Paddy epitomized to them all that was great in a hockey player. He was the idol of his day in the ancient capital.

Paddy broke into the major hockey, then the Eastern Canada Hockey League, in the season of 1901-02. He played with the Bulldogs every season after that until 1916-17 when Quebec retired from the league, except for one campaign with Haileybury. This was in 1910 when the mining town went into hockey in a big way and Art Ross was commissioned to find the best goaltender available. It is significant that Moran was chosen.

Moran started his hockey career with the old Dominions in Quebec City at the age of 15. He later joined the Crescents, another famous team of the ancient capital and he was still in his early twenties when he became the goalkeeper of the Quebec entry in the E.C.H.A. Incidentally he replaced Francis Stocking, who is now located in this city. In the season of 1903-04, Quebec won the E.C.H.A. title but lost out to Ottawa in the Stanley Cup series. Moran, however, was one of those who was mainly instrumental in bringing the famous trophy to Quebec in the seasons of 1911-12 and again in 1012-13. He finished his hockey career when Quebec dropped out of the N.H.A. in 1916-17. The franchise was shifted to Hamilton the nest season and the present National Hockey League was formed.

Deeply religious, Moran frequently made visits to St. Patrick’s presbytery on trips here with the Quebec team to receive the blessing of a priest, who was a friend of his, before he went out on the ice. This was the Moran that few hockey fans knew, the wild Irishman who chased forwards up the ice when the tantalized him with bitter remarks for Paddy wouldn’t be ragged by anyone. He chased Newsy Lalonde almost the length of the rink one night and again on another occasion, pulled off his gloves and sailed into Russell Bowie. The Vic centre was a past master at getting Moran’s goat. Usually all Bowie had to say was “Go home to your twins, Moran,†and the battle was on.

The Moran legend also offers another interesting story though newspaper files fail to make mention of it. He was said to have scored a goal at the old Westmount Arena one night during a game when both teams were paying several men short through penalties. They tell how Moran stick-handled his way through two or three of the opposition and beat his opponent in the other goal. It is a unique effort if it actually ever happened.

Riley Hern deserves a place among the immortals of the game. In his peak years with the Wanderers, he was one of the best goaltenders of his time. Paddy Moran, of Quebec, was probably the only netminder to challenge his claim as being the greatest of his day.

It is always interesting to learn what hockey players think of opponents’ ability. It is perhaps the best method of rating any player. Dubbie Bowie claims the Silver Seven was the greatest team he ever played against for all-around class and ranks Winnipeg Victorias next. Frank McGee, he thinks, is the greatest individual star he ever competed against with Billy Gilmour, winger of the Silver Seven, a close second. As the hardest goaltender he ever had to beat, he picks Paddy Moran, of Quebec. ‘Some nights, Paddy was so good that he was unbeatable.†Remarks Bowie. “Then I knew I had to get his goat to score on him.†Frequently, these two had such tiffs that the excitable Moran would chase Bowie up and down the rink.

The practice of choosing all-star teams in major hockey is not a modern development. The practice dates back as early as 1905 when The Toronto News gathered a consensus among sports followers and hockey writers and published the first all-star team of record.

….

Herewith is listed the first all-star team in major hockey, drawn from the players of the Eastern Canada Hockey Association which, though an amateur league, was the major loop of the era. It is listed as follows:
Goal: Paddy Moran, Quebec Bulldogs
Point: Harvey Pulford, Ottawa
Cover point: Art Moore, Ottawa
Rover: Russell Bowie. Victorias
Centre: Frank McGee, Ottawa
Left wing: Blair Russell, Victorias
Right wing: Billy Gilmour, Ottawa

Moran was a really great goaler, one of the best that ever drew on the pads, but they tell that he had one great weakness and that was that his temper was short. The inimitable Newsy Lalonde was the man who discovered his Achilles Heel. All Newsy had to yell at Paddy when he rounded the nets was “Go home to your twins, Moran; you’re too old for this game†and Paddy blew his top. While he was still gesticulating wildly at the tormenting Newsy, some one else had put the puck in the net.

Joe Malone and Newsy Lalonde were recalling at their Hall of Fame dinner that one of the toughest goal-tenders I the old pro days was Paddy Moran of Quebec Bulldogs.

“Paddy chewed tobacco.†Newsy said, “and he could hit a key-hole at 40 paces. You had to duck when you skated behind his cage or he’d get you right between the eyes.â€

A veteran of violence himself, Edouard Charles “Newsy†Lalonde doesn’t allow his natural dignity as one already enshrined in hockey’s Hall of Fame to interfere with his memories. In picking for weekend his “all-time, meanest, toughest team,†he has named himself to the position of coach.

…..

Behind the fearsome foursome on defense, Newsy places Paddy Moran, of the Quebec Bulldogs in goal, with the explaination:
“Paddy was in a class by himself when it came to chopping toes of opposing forwards who came within ranger, and in those days the skate toes weren’t so well padded. But his pet skill was squirting tobacco in your eye.

The Haileybury fans emptied their pockets and hurled money onto the ice. Paddy Moran rushed to the dressing room and returned with a large washtub, scooped up all the money he could find, tossed it into the tub, then turned the tub upside down and sat on it.

 

[RustyRazor]

With pick #10 the Pittsburgh Hornets select:

Gordon Allan "Phat" Wilson, D

Hockey Hall of Fame Member
3x Thunder Bay Senior Hockey League Scoring Champion
3x Allan Cup Champion
4x Allan Cup Finalist
18G, 12A in 50 career MHL Senior League Games
19G, 15A in 37 career MTBHL Games
72G, 35A in 142 career TBSHL Games

Click for BillyShoe1721's excellent MLD 2011 biography of the Phat-man

 

[Rob Scuderi]

RW Andrei Khomutov

Andrei Khomutov, an all-time great right winger who was a mainstay on Soviet national teams from winning Canada Cup '81 to the World Championships in 1993, was simply exceptional from 1987 to 1992. Nationally he scored 344 points in 374 Soviet league games as a 10-year veteran of the Red Army team; internationally, he scored 94 points in 116 games for the USSR team. He won gold at the IIHF World Championships in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1989, and 1993;
and gold in the 1984, 1988, and 1992 Winter Olympics.

(Per Eliteprospects)
GP - G - A - PTS - PPG - PIM
CC: 9 2 7 9 1.00 4
NLA: 263 200 330 530 2.02 121
NLA Playoffs: 69 42 79 121 1.75 38
NLB: 30 21 30 51 1.70 42
OG: 15 6 10 16 1.07 2
Soviet: 430 195 170 365 0.85 112
WC: 84 39 33 72 0.86 20

Soviet League Finishes: 5, 6, T8, T12, 14, T14*, T15, T15
*1990 or after

WC Ranks: 2, 2, T12
OG Ranks: 2
CC Ranks: T4

:: IIHF Awards
Best Scorer (Goals, WOG) 1992
Best Scorer (Goals) 1990
WC All Stars 1990
:: USSR Awards
MVP 1990
Best Scorer (Goals) 1988
Best Line 1988
Best Line 1990
All Stars 1990

Andrey Khomutov began his hockey career with CSKA Moskva in 1980 and won nine Soviet (1981-1989) and ten European Champions Cup (1981-1990) titles with them. Khomutov was selected as the MVP of the Soviet Championships in 1990 and he was the leading goalscorer at the 1988 Soviet Championships with 29 goals. He was also selected as part of the best line at the Soviet Championships in 1988 and 1990. Internationally, besides his three Olympic golds, Khomutov was World champion seven times (1981-83, 1986, 1989-90, 1993) and European champion eight times (1981-83, 1985-87, 1989, 1991). Khomutov was also the leading goal scorer at the 1992 Olympic Games with 7 goals and 1990 World Championships with 11 goals. He also played on the winning 1981 Canada Cup and was runner-up at the 1987 Canada Cup.

http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/kh/andrey-khomutov-1.html

Quotes:

Viktor Tikhonov's book written with help of Oleg Spassky

Tikhonov in his recap of 1988 Winter Olympics (held in Calgary):

We've also managed to improve on some of our weaknesses; for example, we've learned how to win a faceoff. -- Only our centers used to have a chance to win a faceoff -- But in Calgary, good faceoff skills were also displayed by the wingers Vladimir Krutov, Andrei Khomutov and Sergei Jashin.

Tikhonov talking about the 1986 World Championships held in Moscow:

I guess it's difficult for me to convince the readers that Andrei Khomutov played very well in these World Championships; after all, he did not score a single goal. But the statistics don't always tell the whole story, certainly they don't tell about the coach's tactical plans. -- When our player was penalized, it was usually Bykov and Khomutov who were given the exhausting job of killing penalties -- Bykov and his linemates played well in these World Championships. Their performance ensured our success in the deciding game.

These two quotes come from poster VMBM who was kind enough to pass them along from his reading of a book written by Viktor Tikhonov.

The Canada Cup of Hockey Fact and Stat Book by H.J. Anderson

1987 Canada Cup

The Central Red Army Team line of skilled Andrei Khomutov, ***************, and highly touted Valeri Kamensky had replaced the Dynamo Moscow trio….

Game 1

When Wayne Gretzky scored from a bad angle with only two minutes fifty-nine seconds remaining, it looked like Canada had completed an incredible comeback, but Andrei Khomutov silenced the crowd, scoring with 32 seconds left to send the game to overtime. Although being tied up by Ray Bourque, the helmet-less Khomutov managed to swipe the puck past Fuhr.

Game 2

Again, the Soviets roared back at 4:45 from the start of the third period, the second line soared again; Khomutov, breaking down the right, found **********, whose high backhand shot from the faceoff circle beat Fuhr.

Game 3

However, with 28 seconds remaining, after a Ray Bourque error, Andrei Khomutov walked in alone on Fuhr and slotted it home to leave Canada again down by two at the end of the first period.

The Red Machine: the Soviet Quest to Dominate Canada’s Game by Lawrence Martin

Andrei Khomutov, an artful dodger…

Interview with Alexei Kovalev originally published on IIHF.com in 2006. http://hockeyadventure.com/2007/08/24/kovalev-hoping-to-take-russia-to-new-heights/

Kovalev: Back then, it was a little bit different. We didn’t have as much respect accorded to our team that year. We didn’t really have any stars except [Andrei] Khomutov and ***********, and the rest of the guys were just young and hard-working. Nobody really expected anything from us. We just went about our business, hard and quiet, and moved forward slowly. And we won the gold.

Joe Pelletier:

********* and Khomutov in particular had incredible chemistry together. They played a smooth, uninterrupted style of game. Their hockey truly was beautiful hockey, an absolute joy to watch. Their criss-crossing skating with dazzling passing displays dizzied the best of defenses and wore down the opponents. The only thing more nimble than their feet was their hands.

Their NHL rights were held by the sad-sack Quebec Nordiques. The Nords had brought over goaltender Sergei Mylnikov in 1989-90, but he had a terrible time, both on the ice and off of it. He fled from North America as soon as he could, returning to Russia with no kind words about the Nordiques or the NHL. The story has it ******** and Khomutov listened to Mylnikov's horror stories and opted instead to play in the Alps Mountains of Switzerland. They were in the West, the money was good, the lifestyle and the country were amazing.

The hockey was good, too. ********* and Khomutov dominated the Swiss league, playing with Fribourg until late in the century.

Andrei Khomutov - No. 15, LW, 5-9, 160, 25 years old, Central Red Army. Nickname is "The Russian Rat," as he plays like Boston's Ken Linseman. Always in motion. Complements 20-year-old center Valeri Kamensky, a future star.

Bit of a thanks to VanI here as well.

 

[Rob Scuderi]

Pittsburgh Duquesne selects LW Valery Kamensky

:: IIHF Awards
WC Best Forward 1991
WC All Stars 1991
:: USSR Awards
MVP 1991
Best Line 1988
Best Line 1990
Best Line 1991
All Stars 1990
All Stars 1991

Also named MVP of Rendez-vous 87' along with Gretzky according to his LoH profile


GP - G - A - PTS - PPG - PIM - (+/- for NHL)
CC 9 - 6 - 1 - 7 - 0.78 - 6
NHL: 637 - 200 - 301 - 501 - 0.79 - 383 - +15
NHL Playoffs: 66 - 25 - 35 - 60 - 0.91 - 72 - +15
NLA: 12 - 13 - 6 - 19 - 1:58 - 2
OG: 14 - 5 - 4 - 9 - 0.64 - 4
Russia: 80 - 22 - 28 - 50 - 0.63 - 112
Soviet: 329 - 122 - 96 - 218 - 0.66 - 230
WC: 61 - 29 - 19 - 48 - 0.79 - 74
(per Eliteprospects)

Soviet League Finishes: T3*, 4, T11*, T16
*1990 or after

WC Finishes: T4, T4, T11, T16, T17
CC Finishes: T7

70s vs#2 percentages: 74, 73, 67, 58, 43, 41, 35, 34, 26, 23, 20

Overpass's numbers: 637 GP, 51 ESP per season, 22 PPP per season 47% usage with 1.10 team rating (higher better, 1.00 average)

http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...IBAJ&pg=6923,3188510&dq=valeri+kamensky&hl=en

“You’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg,†Coach Viktor Tikhonov says of the up-and-coming star of the Soviet Union National Team, 20-year-old Valeri Kamensky.

He looked every bit that way to Chicago defenseman Doug Wilson.
“He scored two great goals going to the net,†Wilson said of the 6-foot-2, 200 pounder. “They said he was big and physical. They didn’t say he had moves like that.â€

One of the moves left Montreal defenseman Rick Green standing on the ice at the side of the net late in the second period. Green had him covered and Kamensky put on a terrific head fake, streaked for the net and beat Edmonton goaltender Grant Fuhr with just 19 seconds left in the second period.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...IBAJ&pg=4901,1352443&dq=valeri+kamensky&hl=en

Kamensky, a rising young star with the Red Army Team, gave the Soviets an early 1-0 lead with his third goal in two games and his fourth of the tournament.

The Soviets scored 16 seconds later when Valeri Kamensky, a 21 year old center from the Red Army Team playing in his first Canada Cup series, corralled the puck at his own blue line, skated into the American zone and fired a 45 foot slapshot past goaltender Tom Barrasso.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...IBAJ&pg=6828,4463841&dq=valeri+kamensky&hl=en

But the Soviets responded, tying the game once more on a wonderfully dramatic goal by Valeri Kamensky with 1:04 left in regulation. Kamensky split defensemen Doug Crossman and Normand Rochefort and sliced a shot past goaltender Grant Fuhr of Edmonton.

Joe Pelletier:

When the bigger and more physical Kamensky joined the two tiny puck wizards in about 1986, the Bykov line was considered by many to be the equal of the KLM Line. That was part of the reason why the Soviet Union began allowing veterans to freely play in the NHL.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...IBAJ&pg=1251,8082104&dq=valeri+kamensky&hl=en

The Soviets were widely overlooked until recently, mostly because some of their best offensive players are sitting out the tournament. No team could lose the likes of Valeri Kamensky, Pavel Bure, and Sergei Makarov without suffering for it.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram November 10, 1991

Valeri Kamensky, the 25-year-old star of the Soviet national team who was to debut with Quebec this fall, broke a leg before last summer’s Canada Cup…

http://blogs.denverpost.com/avs/2010/02/26/valeri-kamensky-returns-monday/2708/

Kamensky’s talents were under-appreciated in his years with the Avs. He was as stylish a skater as the team has ever had, with great hands and finishing ability. He could score some amazing goals at times

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1140461/3/index.htm

When Soviet forward Valeri Kamensky, one of the premier talents in the world, recovers from a broken left leg suffered during Canada Cup training camp and adjusts to life in North America, Quebec will become an offensive carnival.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1065730/3/index.htm

The Soviets stormed to a 2-1 lead, and then the 20-year-old forward Valeri Kamensky, who at 6'2", 198 pounds is big enough to clear a path, made the key play of the game. With 19 seconds left in the second period, Kamensky—the next Soviet superstar—walked around Green, then beat Fuhr between the legs to give his side a 3-1 lead

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1137519/2/index.htm

The most encouraging performance in the game belonged to the Nordiques' Valeri Kamensky, a 26-year-old winger from Russia. What about this guy? For two years he has been mostly a rumor. He joined the team last year, billed as the Wayne Gretzky of Europe, and almost immediately broke his left leg. He came back this year and broke the ankle on his other leg. Back for about a month, he scored two goals against the Canadiens on Saturday. Both came on breakaways. Both followed moves in which he waited, waited, waited some more until Montreal goalie Patrick Roy finally reacted. Then Kamensky finally shot. Both goals were spectacular.
"He's as new to me as he is to everyone else," Pag� says. "But he's the guy who can be our Michael Jordan, our Elvis Presley. Our showstopper."

There’s a quote out there by Rick Dudley from when he was the Sabres coach that says Kamensky upon coming over was one of the “three or four best players in the world†that I believe is in this article (if anyone has a Buffalo News account): http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we...page=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM

Kings of the Ice by Andrew Podnieks:

"We can make a pass without even looking at each other," Bykov recalled, "due to some intuitive understanding of the other guy's habits. Whereas Kamensky is a bulldozer , a torpedo, and nothing can stop him not even the boards. I often imagined that the boards would yield to him when rushing forward -- in order to let him sneak through. And his shots were smashing and accurate..."

"He is a gift for us," admitted the scout awho offered to promote him fromt he Voskresensk Khimik team to the CSKA hockey club. Tall and elegant he had the ability to consistently put the puck in the opponent's net...

Before he left Moscow for the Quebec Nordiques, his agent, Paul Teophanos, said, "We are waiting for Valeri impatiently. Some say he will be one of the NHL's give superstars."

 

[RustyRazor]

Carson Cooper, RW

Top 10 Goals: 2 (25-26), 3 (28-29)
Top 10 Points: 3 (25-26), 3 (28-29)
Detroit Captain: 1931-32

Detroit Red Wings Legends: Carson Cooper

Carson Cooper was one of the greatest amateur right wings to ever play hockey. Three times the man with the "Shovel-Shot" led the OHA Senior league in goals, including an incredible 33 goals in 10 games in 1924, and scored another 5 in 2 playoff games that year. He played for the OHA Senior league's Hamilton Tigers, a team that featured the great Green brothers. In 55 career games in Hamilton (over 6 seasons) Cooper netted 108 tallies

Perhaps Cooper might have joined the NHL's Hamilton Tigers like the Green brothers, but in 1924-25 a new team had entered the NHL. The Boston Bruins needed players so Cooper accepted a generous contract and started his NHL career in Beantown.

A bad charley horse made sure his first season was not impressive, but his second season certainly was, scoring 28 goals (2nd most in the whole league) in 36 games, establishing him as one of the NHL's best right wings. He played alongside XXXXXXX. The two were dynamically noted for the speed and perplexing passing plays, catching many defenses off guard.

The following season Cooper got off to a slow start (4 goals in 10 games) and was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Billy Boucher. In 12 games with the Habs Cooper fired home 9 goals.

He was sold to the Detroit Cougars just before the 1927-28 season and became a solid though not spectacular scoring threat. In 5 years with Detroit he never missed a game and regularly challenged the 20 goal mark.

Always overshadowed by stars like Howie Morenz, Nels Stewart, Aurel Joliat or Bill Cook, Cooper didn't always get the credit he deserved. When the NHL let up on passing restrictions, Cooper decided to instead of star, set up goals for others. He had 18 goals and 18 assists and because of his unselfish work, George Hay had 18 goals, a figure he might never have achieved without Cooper's help. Hay was in the twilight of his career and it took an unselfish forward like Cooper to give Hay or Herbie Lewis the scoring chances they needed. Lewis scored 20 goals that season.

Cooper scored 14 goals and had 14 assists the next season, 1930-31, and was now slowing down a bit. He exited the NHL in 1932, only to stay in Detroit to play and coach with the IHL's Detroit Olympics for a couple of seasons. He later returned to now-renamed Red Wings and was a long time scout. His most famous find - Gordie Howe. He also is credited with finding Red Kelly, Ted Lindsay, Terry Sawchuk, Harry Lumley and Alex Delvecchio.

Originally Posted by Detroit Red Wings History
Carson Cooper seldom missed the mark during his NHL days and Detroit was well rewarded by Cooper's astute accuracy.

Purchased from Boston in 1927, Cooper led the Cougars in goals in each of his first three seasons with the team. He was Detroit's leading scorer with 18 goals and 27 points in 1928-29 and again in 1929-30, when he registered 18-18-36 totals.

Cooper finished his hockey days as he had begun them, playing a starring role in the amateur ranks.

Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame

Carson Cooper was born July 17th,1899. Carson learned his hockey in Cornwall playing on several championship teams. In 1924 he went to the Boston Bruins where in three seasons he scored 37 goals. After a season in Montreal with the Canadiens where he wore number 5, he managed 5 goals in 14 games. Carson went to Detroit for the next five years playing for both the Cougars and Falcons of the NHL. In ten seasons Carson Cooper played 295 games and scored 110 goals.

Hockey Historysis: The Meritorious Men of the 1920s

Carson "Shovel-Shot" Cooper was a dominant scorer for the Hamilton Tigers of the OHA in the early 1920s, leading his senior league in goals three times and points twice; in 1923/24 he scored 33 goals in 10 games and finished his OHA career with 108 goals in 55 games. Signed by the Boston Bruins in November 1924, it didn't take long for Cooper to make an impact in the NHL. In 1925/26, he finished second in the league in goals, behind only the legendary Nels Stewart, and was third in points. In 1928/29 he was in Detroit (and 32 years old), and though his raw numbers were less impressive (due to the scoring environment of the league at that time), he was third in goals and tied for third in points.

Cooper is found deserving of the Hall because his OHA numbers are not ignored. He had only two NHL seasons among the best scorers, but it must be remembered that he didn't play his first professional game until the age of 27. This means his NHL career was played mostly in the decline phase of his career. Point Allocation, however, doesn't pretend that the NHL is the only league that matters at this time of the game's history. So Cooper's thoroughly impressive OHA production is given the full credit it deserves.

Ottawa Citizen: Oct. 27, 1924

Was stated here today that Carson Cooper, star sharpshooter of the Tiger Ontario Hockey Association...

The Morning Leader: Dec. 13, 1924

Clint Benedict, the net guardian of the new Montreal team, says that Carson Cooper has the greatest shot of any player he ever saw, and that means something for Benedict, during the many seasons he was with Ottawa, faced the best of them.

He was called upon to stop Cooper's shots for the first time in Boston, and the former Tiger star finally managed to bulge the twine for the winning tally after he had given Benedict many anxious moments.

Benny says that Cooper's shots are not as fast as Babe Dye's, but are more accurate and come at an angle which makes them difficult to stop.

The Montreal Gazette: Feb. 22, 1929

Carson Cooper, speedy right-winger, scored the only goal of the game in the middle of the second period and left the Cougars to put up a great defensive battle for the rest of the game to hold their margin.

The goal combined a brilliant shot with a fluke. From an almost impossible angle, Cooper let fly a hard shot at the corner of the net, Roach tried to turn it aside with his stick but the rubber made a queer bound and went into the net...

Detroit almost forged further ahead as the final twenty minutes got underway, Cooper tearing in to crash the puck against the post.

The Border Cities Star: Mar. 6, 1929

Cooper, sniping away from right wing all night, gathered in a goal and an assist to add to the total which will probably give him league scoring laurels...

Cooper was also a casualty for a moment in the first period, having the wind knocked out of him by a terrific body-check, but he returned to play one of his greatest games.

The Milwaukee Journal: Apr. 2, 1929

[Frank] Boucher won [the Lady Bing Trophy] this season by a big margin over the next candidate XXXXXXXX. Next in order were George Hay, Detroit; Harry Oliver, Boston; Carson Cooper, Detroit; Frank Nighbor, Ottawa, winner in the 1926-27 and 1925-26 seasons, and XXXXXXX.

The Border Cities Star: Jan. 19, 1932

Cooper, one of the outstanding marksmen of the Falcons for several seasons, has not hit stride this winter and is not getting much work.

The Montreal Gazette: Feb. 15, 1934

Carson Cooper, nearing his 36th birthday and once retired, is responsible to a large degree for the position the Olympics hold in the league standings. His famous "shovel shot," once one of the most feared weapons in the National League, is working again and only recently he scored six goals in successive games.

After brilliant seasons with the Detroit team of the National League, in one of which he scored 36 points, Cooper slowed up during the 1931-32 season and packed away his equipment with a vow never to play again.

But during the middle of last season he was called to take over the managerial reins of the Olympics, then in the cellar position. They finished in that position, but it didn't discourage Cooper. This season he was asked to report again, as a scout and utility player.

And the Olympics, to a man, say it was a great day when Cooper decided to remain in the game and play with the Olympics. Spurred by his mechanical skill and spirit, the Olympics now are all but assured of a place in the play-offs.

He is one player to which professional hockey is just so much fun. He never takes the game too seriously and keeps his teammates in high spirits.

The Montreal Gazette: Feb. 1, 1964

Gordie Howe's Hockey

From the standpoint of patrolling my own wing, I'm hardly an exemplary player. I like to wander, which is bad. They used to worry about my wandering. I wander more when I'm feeling good, when I want to skate.

The late Carson Cooper, once the Red Wings' Chief Scout, helped me. He told me to draw an imaginary line, 10, 15 or 20 feet from the right boards, the length of the ice and never get [out] of there.

 

[tarheelhockey]

The Winston-Salem Polar Twins select

Ulf Nilsson, C



Beautiful goals at 1:11 and 1:52 highlight Nilsson's high-end skill with the puck.​

• World Championship silver medalist (1973)

• World Championship bronze medalist (1974)

• WHA First All-Star Team (1976 and 1978)

• WHA Second All-Star Team (1977)

• Playoff MVP (WHA) (1976)

• Avco Cup (WHA Championship) (1976 and 1978)

• Played in the Canada Cup (1976 and 1981)

• Played in the Challenge Cup (1979)

• “Honoured Member†of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame

Season|Team|League|GP|G|A|Pts|PIM|GP|G|A|Pts|PIM
1974–75|Winnipeg Jets|WHA|78|26 | 94 | 120 |79|—|— |—|—|—
1975–76|Winnipeg Jets|WHA|78|38 |76| 114 |84| 13 |7|19| 26 |6
1976–77|Winnipeg Jets|WHA| 71 | 39 | 85 | 124 |89| 20 |6|21| 27 |33
1977–78|Winnipeg Jets|WHA| 73 |37 |89| 126 |89| 9 |1|13| 14 |12
1978–79|New York Rangers|NHL| 59 |27|39| 66 |21|2|0|0|0|2
1979–80|New York Rangers|NHL| 50 |14|44| 58 |20|9|0 |6|6|2
1980–81|New York Rangers|NHL|51|14|25|39|42| 14 |8|8| 16 |23
1981–82|Springfield Indians|AHL|2|0|0|0|0|—|—|—|—|—
1982–83|New York Rangers|NHL|10|2|4|6|2|— |—|—|—|—
1982–83|Tulsa Oilers|CHL3|2|1|3|4 |—|—|—|—|—

Note the bolded numbers. Despite mounting injuries, Nilsson was still highly effective when he was cleared to play. He thrived in the playoffs, where his intensity and grit was rewarded.

Nilsson was one of the players who introduced Swedish hockey to Canada when in 1974 he made his debut with the WHA's Winnipeg Jets, where his partner in offense was another great Swedish forward, xxx. Both were often among the league's best scorers and, thanks to the Swedish duo's excellent performance, the Winnipeg Jets twice won the Avco Cup.

...

At the 1976 Canada Cup, he played exceptionally well for Tre Kronor and in a game against the USSR scored the decisive goal against Vladislav Tretiak. Nilsson was also included on the NHL All-Star Team pitted against the USSR at the 1979 Challenge Cup tournament.

The most memorable game for Nilsson was the one between the Winnipeg Jets and the USSR in 1978 in Winnipeg, which the Canadian team won 5-3. In that game, Hull scored three goals, Nilsson scored two, and the Nilsson-Hull-xxx trio won their own game against one of the world's best lineups, the xxx-Petrov-Kharlamov trio.

Unfortunately, Nilsson was plagued with injuries that prevented him from reaching his full potential. During four seasons with the NHL's New York Rangers, his scoring results fell short of his WHA record.

Part of the first major wave of Europeans to star in North American hockey, he was a major star in the WHA from 1974 to 1978. He scored at least 114 points in each of his four seasons in the upstart league, finishing third or fourth among overall scorers every time. He led the WHA with 85 assists in 1976–77, and tied Marc Tardif for the lead the next season with 89. Along with countryman xxx and established superstar Bobby Hull, he played a starring role as the Jets won Avco Cup titles in 1976 and 1978. In the 1976 playoffs, he scored 26 points in just 13 games.

Well, I had a pretty simple philosophy - start the game easy, with a simple pass, because then the game is kind of easy. Instead of trying to deke one or two or three guys, you can sort of dig a hole for yourself. If you start the game simple, with a pass that you can't really miss, then that creates good feelings. Then, one of my philosophies, also, is give 100 percent all the time. Each faceoff - I was a centerman - was life and death to me. Give 100 percent all the time; you're only as good as your last shift out there on the ice.

...

All the injuries. I've had quite a few. Cracked my top vertebrae in three places in 1972 in Sweden - running into the boards head-first. And all the knee problems. Dislocated my hip playing for Winnipeg; we were in training camp in 1976. Had hip replacement in 1994. And I've had nine knee operations. So, it's been... (laughs)

"They put them through a meat grinder the first two years," said the Winnipeg Jets' trainer today, in admiration of Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson.

The 1978-79 Rangers showed a lot of promise. Led by great players such as Phil Esposito, Ron Greschner, Don Murdoch, Walt Tkaczuk and goalie John Davidson. The arrival of Nilsson and Hedberg excited the team and fans alike. Through the first 59 games of the season, Nilsson led the team with 27 goals and 66 points. However, Nilsson’s success with the Rangers would be short lived. Fans can only wonder what might have been if number 11 had been on the ice with the Blueshirts in their run to the Stanley Cup Finals that year. Perhaps the Islanders fans' "1940" chant would have ended in 1979. It would be 15 seasons later that another number 11 would finally bring the Rangers a Stanley Cup.

Guys like xxx and Ulf Nilsson were running into Larry Robinson--they got the worst of it but they got into him and took something out of him.

ULF NILSSON remembers the curses and the threats and the ethnic slurs, soon to be codified into the term ''Chicken Swede.'' He said he didn't mind the fighting: ''It was the stickwork. One night a guy from the Birmingham Bulls broke a stick over my back -- in the warm-ups.''

...

Nilsson and a few other Swedes were the point men, taking incoming fire from surly incumbents. ''It wasn't just the other team,'' he said. ''It was guys on our own team, and the refs, too. They all thought we were taking Canadians' jobs.''

...

Hull, who lives in Chicago, recently said: ''They were just kids out of their own country. I assured them that it would be us changing our style, not them. That had a calming effect on them. I was appreciative of the skill that xxx and Ulf had. I predicted what would happen. I can't blame the players, but I do blame the incompetent managers who put together these franchises. The big statistic became penalties-in-minutes. It was my thinking that somebody would get injured. With all this stuff going on, I never had to worry about Ulf and xxx being ready for a game."

Bill Goldthorpe on attempting to rough up "The Hot Line"
After a minute, Goldthorpe came to the bench with sweat dripping off his mug and rasped to Talbot, "Coach, I can't stay with them," "Try staying in your lane then," Talbot advised.

After the next shift, Goldthorpe returned to the bench, again out of breath and covered in sweat, and said to Talbot, "**** it. That didn't work either."

Anders on Ulf
"Ulfie was the brains of our line," says Hedberg. "He made it work with his vision and his ability to distribute the puck. He had no physique and he wasn't much of a skater, but he was very, very competitive. Peter Forsberg is a better skater, but I see the competitiveness there. They'll be a step behind the play and they'll whack and hack their way back into the play. They both have that edge."

Hull before speaking out publicly for the first time in '74-75
"Hull remembers one game in San Diego around the middle of their first season together when the Jets beat the Mariners 9-7. Nilsson picked up five assists and finished the game looking, in Hull's gentle turn of phrase, like "ground hamburger."

Nilsson's description
"It was bad, really bad," says Nilsson. "Guys would get suspended for two or three games now for some of the things they did, and they barely got a penalty in our league."

Hull again
"They took a real ****-kicking that first year," Hull says. "They talk about toughness and competitiveness. I really think that those two guys were the toughest players I ever played with."

Ted Green
"I've played and been around a lot of great players, but I have a great deal of respect for Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg," says Green. "They had to play through a lot of crap and they had the strength of character to do it without changing their game. I'm not sure how they survived. A lot of Canadians wouldn't have taken that abuse and played the game the ways these guys did. It's because of them the NHL is such a global game now.

Mark Howe
"Those guys used to take a beating, but they came right back at you," says Mark Howe. "They were the ones who knocked us off our perch and I have a lot of respect for Anders and Ulfie. They changed the game."

Hull also sat out a game on October 24, 1975 and held a teary-eyed presser the next day in protest of the violence in the WHA.

 

[Michael Farkas]

Bergeron (above) is so good defensively that even when a goalie is not in the cage, pucks do not go in.


Patrice Bergeron, C

6'2", 194 lbs.
Right-handed
Born: July 24, 1985

Hart: 18th
Selke: 1st*, 4th, 5th
Lady Byng: 11th, 13th, 15th, 20th, 30th
Calder: 8th (as an 18 year old, 2nd round pick)

AS Center: 7th

* 106 first place votes
(single-vote places not listed)

Olympic Gold Medal winner in 2010 (Canada)
Stanley Cup winner in 2011 (Boston)**
World Junior Championships Gold Medal in 2005 (Canada)
- Most points (13)
- WJC All-Star Team, WJC MVP
World Championships Gold Medal in 2004 (Canada)*
- 2nd in points at World Championships in 2006 (linemate Sidney Crosby was 1st)
--Member of Triple Gold Club--

* - 18 years old in men's tournament
** - Cup clinching goal


Plus/Minus leader: +36 in 2011-12
Faceoff %: 2nd, 5th, 9th, 12th, 15th
ATOI (centers): 6th in 2006, 5th in 2007
4x top-35 in blocked shots (all forwards)
Was only on the ice for 34 ES GA in 2012

Team scoring [points] (in order): 6th, 1st, 2nd, X*, 10th**, 1st, 3rd, 2nd

* - missed 72 games due to injury (severe concussion)
** - missed 18 games due to injury

League-wide scoring among centers (points): 16th, 18th, 19th, 25th
League-wide scoring among centers (goals): 9th, 20th, 22nd, 25th

"Patrice Bergeon continues to play at 'elite' level, helping to lead Bruins through dominant stretch" || Playing at such a high level has become standard practice for forward Patrice Bergeron, whose two-way style of play continues to help provide a backbone for the Bruins and their success. Jack Edwards, who has at times used broadcasts to advocate for Bergeron to win the Selke Award this year, said that Bergeron is now one of the game's elite players.

It’s not just Patrice Bergeron’s effort on the offensive and defensive ends of the ice, it’s the trickle-down effect the Bruins center creates.

“You ask anybody that’s played with him, he makes them that much better of a player,’’ said (teammate) XXXXX XXXXX || one of the things he noticed was the subtle excellence of Bergeron’s game. || "Obviously, he’s an elite player in the league. Once you play with a player, you realize how important he is to the team, what a leader he is off the ice and obviously his ability to shut down top players in the league and also be a top offensive player as well" (teammate quote) ||

Bruins center Patrice Bergeron should easily win this season's Selke Trophy, which is awarded annually to the NHL's top defensive forward. In addition to a league-high +32 rating, he is the best face-off man in the game and a shutdown defender. He is also widely regarded by his peers as the toughest forward to play against in the Eastern Conference

[Yzerman] always liked Bergeron's versatility and two-way game," Pierre McGuire told NESN.com recently. "He was impressed with Bergeron's faceoff skills as well and his play along the boards."

Patrice Bergeron is one of the league's premier two-way forwards. Elite defensively and in terms of faceoff ability. His offensive ability is always present despite playing for very defensive clubs. He's a smooth playmaker that also has no inhibitions to firing the biscuit (8th in the NHL shots in 2006). His work ethic, quickness, speed and anticipation make Bergeron a fixture in a contending team's lineup (such as the 2011 Champs, Boston). Not only that, he has impressed Hockey Canada brass enough to make the World Championships roster before playing in the World Junior Championships...further, he was summoned to the Olympic Team in 2010 as a 24 year old. Bergeron has no weaknesses and is a noted playoff performer. He was second on his club in playoff points in 2010 and 2011 (first in assists in the latter).

 

[Velociraptor]

delete.

 

[Velociraptor]

Claude Giroux, C/RW

Position: Centre/Right Wing
HT/WT: 5'11", 175 lbs
Handedness: Right
Nickname(s): "Roo"

- 2-time Top-11 in C All-Star Voting (3rd, 11th)
- 2-time Top-5 in RW All-Star Voting (3rd, 5th)
- Played in NHL All-Star Game twice (2011, 2012)
- scored 78 goals and 165 assists for 243 points in 285 games, adding 113 penalty minutes.
- scored 21 goals and 34 assists for 55 points in 50 games, adding 31 penalty minutes.

Top 10 Finishes:
Assists - 2x (2, 8)
Points - 1x (3)
Shorthanded Goals - 1x (10)

Selke Voting Record:

14th (10-11)

Hart Voting Record:

4th (11-12)

The Hockey News – Biography

Has electric moves, outstanding offensive creativity and smarts, as well as plenty of finishing skills. Is at his best with the puck on his stick. Has amazing hands, which he uses to lay soft passes on linemates' sticks. Can play both center and wing. Dominates on special teams. Lacks ideal size to win corner battles at the highest level but is extremely courageous and resilient, and physical play doesn't bother him.

Higgins Hockey Fantasy Index: 2010-2011

What a tease. Giroux was one of the best, if not the best Flyer in the playoffs two seasons ago, generating the sort of expectations that could only make his performance in 2009–10 seem brutal by comparison.

Bleacher Report

He's not only the top scoring threat for the Flyers, he's one of the most dynamic, skilled, gifted and creative offensive talents in the entire NHL.

The Hearst, Ontario native led all Flyers in scoring last season and finished third among all NHLers with 93 points a year ago. That total included a league-leading 65 assists to go along with an NHL-best 38 power play points.

Giroux has paced the Flyers in scoring in each of the last two seasons and has averaged better than a point-per-game during that span recording 169 points in 159 regular season games.

After his postseason exploits last season, Giroux will no longer take anyone by surprise but it's impossible to contain a world-class talent like him. He's Philly's first line center, the team's main power play catalyst and one of the elite talents in the game today.

Not only will Giroux lead the Flyers in scoring next season but it's quite possible he'll lead the entire NHL as well.

In my 17 years of covering this league, this was the best playoff performance I've personally seen by a forward. When you start mentioning the names Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, you know it was a pantheon performance, and it sure was for the Flyers' center Friday in Game 2 at Pittsburgh Friday night.

"When the best player in the world comes up to you and tells you, 'I don't know who you're planning on starting tonight, but I want that first shift,' that says everything you need to know about Claude Giroux right there."

Best player in the world? Philly coach Peter Laviolette might be a little enthusiastic in his appraisal of his 24-year-old star, but not by much. Giroux was a force in the series, registering a club-record 14 points over the six games. More important, he personally extinguished any hopes the Penguins had of continuing their unlikely comeback on Sunday with the best opening shift of these playoffs.

Over the course of just 32 seconds, Giroux plowed over Sidney Crosby, sending his entire team a clear message -- this is how it's gonna be! --then buried a soul-crushing shot behind Marc-Andre Fleury, proving that Pittsburgh's little two-game uprising had gone far enough.

Epic? You bet. So let's just call him the best player in the world who is still playing into the second round.

 

[Hedberg]

D Kenny Jönsson

6'3, 217
Shoots Left
Ängelholm, Sweden

63 G, 204 A, 267 Pts in 686 NHL GP
2 G, 4 A, 6 Pts in 14 Olympic GP
11 G, 15 A, 26 pts in 49 World Championship GP

Played in 1999 NHL All-Star Game
1999-2001 New York Islanders Captain
1994, 2006 Olympic Gold Medal
2006 Olympic Best Defencemen
2006 Elitserien Guldpucken
2006 World Championship Gold Medal (Captain)
2009 World Championship All-Star

New York Islanders Legends:

By all accounts Jonsson grew more comfortable in the NHL as he settled in with big minutes of ice time in Long Island. He played a sound, unspectacular game, competent in every aspect but not overly flashy in anyway. He was a workhorse defenseman on a bad team, which is never a good mixture for recognition.

Local Islanders reporters considered Jonsson a top-ten defenseman in the league. One even went as far as to suggest he was the near-equivalent of New York Rangers superstar Brian Leetch. Had he played for a better team, he would likely have garnered Norris Trophy votes, he said.

One place where Jonsson's game was very well appreciated was Sweden. He was a huge part of Team Sweden's numerous successes in his career.

Adrian Aucoin:

Kenny never made mistakes. ... Probably the steadiest player I've ever played with

Garth Snow:

“It was a tremendous honor to be a teammate with Kenny,†said Snow. “He played so hard each game and was the perfect captain.â€

Butch Gorin:

“Kenny was the most underappreciated player I ever coached,†said MSG analyst and former Islanders coach Butch Goring. “He gave it his all each game and he was a terrific player.â€

Legends of Hockey:

Jonsson joined the Maple Leafs in 1994-95. After a tentative beginning, he looked stronger and took on more responsibility after an injury sidelined veteran Dave Ellett for part of the season. He showed enough potential at both ends of the ice to earn a place on the NHL All-Rookie Team.

Beginning in 1996-97, Jonsson became a team leader for the Islanders and set a career high with 40 points the next season. In 1997-98 his importance to the team was illustrated by his third overall ranking in average shifts per game among NHL defencemen (28.89). A member of Sweden's Olympic Team at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Jonsson continued to be a solid two-way defender and leader of the young Islanders as they reached the post-season in 2001-02 for the first time since 1993-94 season.

 

[Rob Scuderi]

D Doug Jarrett

AST voting record: 7, T11, 14, token vote during rookie year

Doug Jarrett didn't score a goal Thursday night. In fact he didn't even make an assist. But the big defenseman is one of the reasons the Chicago Blackhawks have taken the upper hand over the Montreal Canadien in their Stanley Cup playoff.

Jarrett, who has been virtually helpless throughout the series, turned it around Thursday to help lead the Hawks to victory. He played so well that Coach Billy Reay never even came close to using his reserve defenseman as he had in the two previous losses in Montreal.

"We were moving for a change," said Jarrett in relating his play and that of defense mate Keith Magnuson. "At least I thought I was for a change. I was so disgusted and disappointed with the way I was playing. I didn't know what to do. I guess I went out and played the game the way I should and the way I'm capable. I think it all began in the last game of the New York series," continued Jarrett. "I started thinking too much. I don't know why. I guess it was just a slump."

Jarrett hit and hit hard Thursday night and his jarring checks not only helped preserve Esposito's shutout but opened the doors for offense.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OkQyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MecFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6014,1798419&dq=doug+jarrett&hl=en

Emile Francis thinks the real banger on the Chicago defence is Doug Jarrett, who will play more now that Magnuson is hurt.

"Jarrett hits more than those other guys," Francis says. "He can take you right out of the play."

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MAwyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wKEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3087,7657812&dq=doug+jarrett&hl=en

...while goalie Esposito has been aided by stellar defensive play from Doug Jarrett, Doug Mohns, Pat Stapleton, and rookie Keith Magnuson.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=R3oyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=I7kFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1638,5123668&dq=doug+jarrett&hl=en

As far as hitting goes, it is unfortunate that Jarrett (Hawk defenceman Doug) is hurting. He has to be of the best-checkers in the entire league. He doesn't have to line you up he can belt you anywhere.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OjFgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tW8NAAAAIBAJ&pg=4332,3704648&dq=doug+jarrett&hl=en

"Give those penalty killers [forwards] credit for keeping us in the second period," said Reay, "and add to it that Doug Jarrett played his best game for us."

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DNJNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WYoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7278,5084137&dq=doug+jarrett&hl=en

Delivered mid-ice with a shoulder or hip, a body-check is the universal symbol of Canadian hockey. Hard, clean, elemental, a punishing man-to-man contest, as it fades from our game it is more and more symbolic of glories themselves past. A lost art it is called, its practitioners-Ching Johnson, Red Horner, Bingo Kampman, Bill Ezinicki, Bill Gadsby, Leo Boivin, Bobby Baun, Doug Jarrett, and Gilles Marotte.

Chicago's Doug Jarrett took the puck away from Howe in the Detroit zone and fired a pass to Hay who skated in all alone and flicked a shot past Crozier.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AmAiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TasFAAAAIBAJ&pg=811,4658823&dq=doug+jarrett&hl=en

London Sports Hall of Fame - 2011 Legend Category Inductee Video

He was called chairman of the boards. Not for a crashing style but for his ability to control the play, angling an opponent to the dasher and tying him up. He was considered a clean hitter whose hip check was among the best in the National Hockey League.

 

[Dreakmur]

Mike Green !!!​

Awards and Achievements:
World Championship Silver Medalist (2008)

2 x First Team All-Star (2009, 2010)

Hart voting – 13th(2009), 14th(2010)
Norris voting – 2nd(2009), 2nd(2010), 7th(2008)
All-Star voting – 1st(2009), 2nd(2010), 7th(2008)

IIHF All-Star (2008)

Offensive Accomplishments:
Points among Defensemen – 1st(2009), 1st(2010), 7th(2008)
Goals among Defensemen – 1st(2008), 1st(2009), 1st(2010)

Play-off Points among Defensemen – 6th(2008), 9th(2009)

IIHF Points - 6th(2008)
IIHF Points among Defensemen - 1st(2008)

ASSETS: Is a tremendous skater and a natural point producer from the back end. Often plays like a fourth forward on the ice, as he places constant pressure on opposing defenses. Packs an excellent wrister. Likes to initiate body contact. Can quarterback a power play with aplomb.

Injuries have limited the talented defenseman's production and playing time over the past couple seasons, but he did return in the playoffs and played admirably, recording four points and a plus-5 in 14 games. He wheels are a big part of his game and once helped him become a point-per-game defenseman before injuries set him back the past two seasons.

He can sometimes be a disaster in his own end and his play-off performance has been severely lacking, but Green has become the best offensive producer from the blueline in the NHL. He might have the hardest and most accurate wrist shot among defensemen in the league and you cannot that he has been a first-team all-star two years running.

Caps Rusher Holds the Fort
Washington rover Mike Green has incurred a drastic drop in offense this year, but better ‘D’ sense has him still on point.

Mike Green became a two-time Norris Trophy runner-up thanks in large part to his stunning offensive numbers. But as the Capitals have sought some balance after three years of go-go hockey, the 25-year-old defenseman has had to adjust his game, as well.

Those changes primarily affected Washington’s forwards – the whole point, after all, was to stop leaving the blueliners on an island – but Green has improved in his own end, too, and that’s a key reason the Caps jumped from 16th in the NHL in goals allowed per game (2.77) last season to seventh (2.45) entering the all-star break. “We played a very wide-open game in the past and that created a lot of opportunity and chances for us to score a lot of goals,†Green said. “It made us a very high-risk team to play against, but it also made it easier for the other teams. We might have won 6-5, but when it comes down to playoffs it’s a whole different game and we needed to adjust.â€

Green has averaged 22.7 goals the past three years and led NHL defensemen in goals and points the past two. He also managed to set the bar so high for himself that matching his own numbers is proving difficult. Through 44 games, Green has eight goals and 22 points. It is unlikely he will top 70 points for a three straight year.

So why the drop-off? Washington coach Bruce Boudreau insists he isn’t asking Green to hold back, but the system changes must be taken into account. As a team the Caps entered the all-star break averaging just 2.71 goals, well off last year’s pace of 3.82. But there is a method to the madness. “The adjustments we’ve made have affected some of our numbers,†Green said. “But at the end of the day it’s about winning and it’s not about individual (totals).â€

Green’s offensive issues are linked to a diminished power play, where he did so much damage over the past three seasons (36 goals, 96 points). With teammates such as Alex Ovechkin struggling, the assists have disappeared. Green had just four power play helpers as the unit dropped to 19th (17.1 percent) through 51 games, but, with five, he’s actually close to his career norm in power play goals. Aside from 2008-09, when he had 18, his power play goal production in his other two full seasons was eight and 10.

While searching for answers, Green has shown signs of progress in his own end, a target area for critics in the past. He entered the stretch drive ranked third among Washington defensemen in goals against per 60 minutes at 1.90. That is well below his career-low of 2.21. Two of the previous three years the Caps allowed fewer goals per 60 minutes with Green off the ice than on it. That has earned him more trust from the staff.

Green was second on the team in short-handed ice time per game (2:30) and fourth in the NHL overall (26:08). That doesn’t mean he has become a shutdown defender, of course. Boudreau has often turned to his young defensive pairing – Karl Alzner and rookie John Carlson – in key situations.

That duo started the Winter Classic against Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and the Caps still allowed fewer goals per 60 minutes with Alzner (1.80) and Carlson (1.87) on the ice. But for Green, his newfound balance is a promising start. “I’m sure guys are getting frustrated considering the (offensive) success they’ve had,†said Green’s defensive partner Jeff Schultz.

“And then there’s critics out there saying, ‘Why isn’t he scoring?’ But maybe he did something that night defensively that helped us win. He is showing other sides to his game that people didn’t know he had.â€

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3KZmIVkPXU

 

[Dreakmur]

Jimmy Ward !!!​

Awards and Achievements:
Stanley Cup Champion (1935)

2 x NHL All-Star (1934, 1937)
Montreal Maroon MVP (1931)

Star voting – 3rd(1933), 4th(1934), 5th(1937), 6th(1931), a vote(1936)

In this poll of hockey writers, Jimmy Ward received votes for hardest shot and fastest skater in 1934.

Offensive Accomplishments:
Points – 9th(1929), 11th(1932), 15th(1936), 16th(1933)
Goals – 8th(1929), 10th(1932), 12th(1933), 19th(1934)
Assists – 7th(1936), 8th(1929), 10th(1932), 16th(1933)

Point Percentages – 78, 76, 76, 75, 62, 52, 50
Goal Percentages – 67, 61, 59, 56, 52, 52
Assist Percentages – 66, 63, 58, 56, 53, 52

Peak Years: 1929-1938
16th in Points, 76% of 2nd place Frank Boucher
16th in Goals, 67% of 2nd place Charlie Conacher
21st in Assists, 69% of 2nd place Joe Primeau

Jimmy Ward enjoyed a prosperous 12-year NHL career, eleven of which were spent with the Montreal Maroons. Ward was known for his resiliency and tenacity, rarely missing any action due to injury. He was also a consistent player, scoring at least ten goals in ten of the 12 seasons back when the NHL regular season was just 48 games.

When President James Strachan signed Jimmy Ward, of Fort William, last Friday to play for Montreal Maroons in the National Hockey League, he brought into his camp a player who was rated one of the smartest pro hockey prospects among the amateurs last winter. A right winger weighing 160 pounds, Ward is believed to possess all that is necessary to the make-up of a pro hockey star. The curly-headed lad from the lakehead has speed, power and a vicious shot. He revels in the heavy going and can carry a big load alone when a team is faltering.

Another recruit to Big Time hockey this season that looks like the real thing is Jimmy Ward, the flaxen-haired boy the Maroons secured from Fort Wiliam's Allan Cup finalists. Jimmy is also a right wing player, and appears to possess all the qualifications of a star. He has size, weight and speed in addition to being a very clever stickhandler.

Shining through the smoke of the miniature war were the figures of Harry Oliver, Eddie Shore and George Owen for the Bruins and Jimmy Ward for the Maroons. Yet it was not their goal-scoring activity that marked them as the outstanding men on the ice (Ward, Oliver and Owen scored goals; Shore had an assist). They were the most dangerous men at all times, fleet and hard shooting on the offense and enthusiastically and vigorously effective in the defensive department.

Skating Abilities:

Jimmy Ward, a sturdy ex-amateur star, and X give the Montreal team a pair of heavy but fleet wings.

Jimmy Ward, fleet right winger for the Maroons, was too fast for the Red Wings. He cut through their defence for 2 goals and assisted in another, while Baldy Northcott, his high-scoring partner at left wing, counted 3 goals and was a consistent scoring threat.

Kilrea took his last whirl at the speed skating test and the $400 offered for the winner and left the fans gasping after a terrific onslaught of the 17 second mark held jointly by Siebert, Ward, Oatman, Morenz and Gizzy Hart which found him making every stride count perfectly for a mark of 16 2-5 seconds, which is liable to stand for a long time. Morenz had been announced as ready to skate against time, but after Kilrea's feat, even the meteoric Morenz was willing to conceded the honors to the Ottawa flash.

Kilrea, March and Ward have been regarded as exceptionally fast skaters over a period of years. But, for one reason or another, Jackson's ability to get there faster than the other fellow has received remarkably little attention. Even Toronto fans have considered Kilrea and Boll to be the fastest on the Leafs.

Jimmy Ward uncorks more speed than Aurel Joliat, his check.

Shooting Abilities:

George Hainsworth, goalie of the Montreal Canadiens, thinks Charlie Conacher of the Toronto Leafs shoots the hardest puck in hockey, Bill Cook of the Rangers the trickiest, and Jimmy Ward, Maroons, the most deceptive.

For it was the curly-haired right winger with the explosive shot who was the main point in Maroons' argument as he lashed three third period goals past Wilfred Cude to defeat the Habitants 4-2.

Two-Way Play:

If one player stood out more than any other on the winning team, it was Jimmy Ward, the fair-haired right winger from Fort William. Ward played an exceptionally strong game from start to finish, his stick-handling was superb and his great flight of speed very much in evidence.
...
Jimmy Ward played one smart game on right wing for the winners. The sorrel-topped recruit from Fort William showed a dazzling all-around game and hung to his cover like a leach (sic). His stick-handling was superb and his back-checking every bit as effective. Yes, Ward was one of the big stars of the Maroon team.
...
Hec Kilrea had a hard time breaking away from the persistent checking of Jimmy Ward, but nevertheless, worked in for some dangerous shots on Benedict.

Jimmy Ward played himself into exhaustion holding down Joliat and at the same time maintaining enough reserve to keep up with the Maroon rushes. He was always on the spot.
...
Morenz and Joliat carried the brunt of the forward play for Canadiens and with little relief. They were closely watched by Hooley Smith and Ward, but at that, led those who sniped for goal, testing Benedict steadily with vicious shots which forced the Maroon goalie to his best hockey to clear.

Baldy Northcott, the Calgarian, who made the Canadian Press All-Star team last season, but has not been able to reach his old form yet this year, stood out in the Maroon attack with Jimmy Ward. Each got a goal and an assist, and broke up Detroit's attacks with clever back-checking.

There were other things the Maroon fan could be thankful for beside that 20 minutes of scoring. One was the performance of Jimmy Ward on right wing. Jimmy dazzled with all the sparkle of three years ago (his Maroon MVP season?) as he accounted for 3 of the Maroon goals and gave a skating and close-covering exhibition of much effectiveness.

It appears to be a question of whether the Toronto scoring aces, Chuck Conacher and Harvey Jackson, can again be blanketed by the tireless backchecking of Baldy Northcott and Jimmy Ward.

Stars Handcuffed
Northcott went back to his job of handcuffing Charlie Conacher, Ward kept track of Jackson. Between them, Conacher and Jackson only had 4 dead on shots.

Score Short-handed
In the last minute of the 1st period, Lionel Conacher took a penalty for tripping Red Metz (Nick Metz), and Connie Smythe rushed 5 fowards on the ice. They were struggling around the Maroons' goal when Jimmy Ward trapped them. He raced for Hainsworth's end. Charlie Conacher caught up with him, but Ward got a shot away. Baldy Northcott picked up the rebound and shot again. Again there was a rebound and Ward hammered it home for the 1st goal.
....
"Busher" Jackson evaded his shadow, Jimmy Ward, long enough for a long shot from the corner.
....
(description of the SH goal from later in the report)
Jimmy Ward stole the puck from Joe Primeau, as Leafs ganged with 5 men up the ice. He bounced the puck off the boards and was away clear. He banged a hard shot on Hainsworth, who tried to drop on the rebound. Northcott swung at the puck again. Hainsworth stopped it, but Jimmy Ward scooped up the puck and poked it into the empty cage.
...
The 1st lines came back again, and Hooley Smith and his poke check bottled Leafs up at mid-ice. For 3 minutes straight, Smith, Northcott and Ward held Leafs, including Primeau, C. Conacher and Jackson on the harmless side of the Montreal blueline.

Jimmy Ward and Baldy Northcott shared the honors, not only holding the Toronto bombers, Charlie Conacher and Busher Jackson, scoreless, but scoring a goal and assist each.

Gorman is banking on his "red line" of Hooley Smith at centre, Baldy Northcott at left wing and Jimmy Ward at right. These veterans rose to the heights last spring to hold in check two of the most famous lines in hockey in the playoffs--New York Rangers' Cook-Boucher-Cook trio and Toronto's "Kid Line."

Physical Play:

Little fellows like X and X, welterweights of the stature of Baldy Northcott, Jimmy Ward, X and X suddenly became fearless bouncers. They spilled the Leafs like nine-pins in a spectacular 2nd period, ranging all over the mid-ice zone to attack the champions.
....
Ward Flattens Horner
Ward flattened Horner with a mighty hip and the big redhead got it all back by sloughing both Ward and Hooley Smith.

All through, the tilt was a tangly, bumpy sort of affair, contested at a fast pace that threatened every now and then to break into open warfare. Jimmy Ward and Earl Robinson, particularly, were in no mood to be trifled with, and were laying about them, and were being laid about, at and by all and sundry of the Rangers. Ward feuded mainly with the sprightly old Butch Keeling and the youthful Phil Watson.
In the latter case, toward the end of the game, Mr. Ward proceeded to push Mr. Watson around the ice and ask him, "What about it?" But Phil wasn't having any part of Jimmy in a fight as he wanted to stay on the ice. Great was his dismay, then, when he found himself motioned toward the penalty bench along with Ward, anyway.

X did some devastating bumping in the Canadien cause, but encountered 2 Maroons who bowled him over: sturdy Jimmy Ward and hefty X.

On the forward line, Jimmy Ward (who was a rookie) was again the star, though Hooley Smith was not far behind in effectiveness. Ward gave Kilrea much trouble in their battle along the boards.

Jimmy Ward played himself further into the hearts of Maroons supporters with as clever and battling game as he has shown since he joined the Maroons last fall.

No comments on the match would be complete with a mention of the work of Jimmy Ward, curly-haired right-winger who was in the thick of the fray every moment he was on the ice. (Tiny) Thompson had some anxious moments watching this youth and on several occasions it seemed a miracle that he was there in time to stop brilliant shots. Ward received a nasty cut from Eddie Shore's stick just at the close of the first period, but he got it patched up all right. He amused those nearby by coming out at the start of the second period with his skates in his hands, but he had them on before his period in the penalty box came to an end.

Team MVP:

Jimmy Ward Gets Maroon Prize Award

Between periods of the game between Montreal Maroons and New York Americans, the Mappin and Webb Trophy, awarded to the most useful player on the Maroon team, was given to Jimmy Ward, hard-working young sub right winger. Ward joined the Maroons about 4 years ago from Fort William.

STRONG SILENT MAN OF THE WEST
Jimmy Ward, forward for the Montreal Maroons, is certainly stepping out these days. In the last few weeks Jimmy has been doing such splendid work for Dunc Munro and the Maroons that he is taking up good space in the sporting pages of newspapers. During the last visit of the Maroons to Ottawa, he worked so fast that Alex Connell, in the nets for Ottawa, didn't know what it was all about. Taking the rebounded for a smashing shot by Hooley Smith, Jimmy shot it into the net before Alex could even say boo. Ward is worth watching as his game should provide plenty of excitement for the fans during the rest of the season.

Babe Siebert Named As Most Valued Maroon

Babe Siebert, who broke into hockey prominence while a member of the Niagara Falls senior OHA team 4 years ago, has been awarded the Mappin and Webb Trophy as the most valuable player on the roster of the Montreal Maroons.
Siebert, who until mid-season had been a star at left wing, was switched to the defence where he starred while teaming up with "Red" Dutton. Siebert is one of the stiffest body-checkers in hockey, has a great burst of speed, is a good stick-handler, and the possessor of a dangerous shot.
Siebert was selected over such stars as Hooley Smith, Nelson Stewart, Dutton and Jimmy Ward by Montreal sport writers.

 

[Rob Scuderi]

D Weldy Young

(seated in second row, 4th person in)

Weldy Young's stats:

Young played the most games of any player in history up to the 20th century with 51.

Young's scoring stats are also comparable to Mike Grant's as well, with him scoring 11 goals in 54 games compared to Grant's 10 goals in 55 games through their careers.

Young was awarded two retro Norris Trophies by the Ultimate Hockey publication as well, right before Mike Grant began to win all of them, so take that for what it's worth.

"Then Swift and Scott got the puck when "Weldy" Young was in Quebec territory and swept down in towards the Ottawa goal like lightning. "

"Weldy" was slightly off in his play, and also committed an inexcusable fould in the first half. He played splendidly in the second."

http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...FAAAAIBAJ&pg=1494,574906&dq=weldy+young&hl=en

"Weldy Young, had to be carried off the ice after a collision and he looked a lump of limpness, but he came to all right after a while. Previously he had more than a wordy discussion with Davidson and there was an exchange of fistic compliments. They did not send long letters to the papers saying pleasant things about each other. They just got their difficulty over quick and then the referee gave a five minutes rest, to discuss the situation.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Sx8uAAAAIBAJ&sjid=En4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=1192,2572845&dq=young&hl=en

And then when matters were reversed and McKerrow or Barlow would come down to the ice like ghosts on skates, Weldy Young would attempt to demonstrate something about the old problem of an irresistible force running into something that it couldn't hurt, and then there would be an exchange of long lifts and heart-breaking scrimmages in places that looked dangerous enough to make the goalkeepers' hair turn grey, and their bodies blue, for every bit of their anatomy seemed utilized in stopping the vicious piece of rubber that wanted to get between the posts. It would be out of the way to make comparisons, or to attempt to point out weak spots. There were none of the latter, and while the Ottawas were defeated they had the satisfaction of knowing that they carried away with the admiration of every person in the rink.

They lost 1-0
http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...AAAAIBAJ&pg=6277,2283864&dq=weldy+young&hl=en

The team had only one bona-fide player, ex-Ottawa star Weldy Young, but he was unable to make it to Ottawa in time, delayed in Dawson City as an election official. Exhausted by the trip and without Young, they lost the first game of the two-game total goal series 9-2, and the second 23-2, in which Ottawa star Frank McGee set a record that still stands by scoring fourteen goals (see Ottawa vs. Dawson City). The team then played a series of exhibition games in the east before returning to the Yukon.

Their best player, former Ottawa star Weldy Young, who was doubling as a coach, was unable to leave with the team due to his duties as an elected official. Young had formerly played with the Silver Seven but left in disgrace after attacking the fans in 1898. He would leave later and try to catch up with the team.
Captain Lionel Bennett, a civil servant originally from Nova Scotia, also declined. He decided to stay with his injured wife, who had been dragged by a runaway sled.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/12/18/930008/-The-Dawson-Seven

The game of February 12, 1898 between Ottawa and the Victorias was notable because Fred Chittick, the regular goal-keeper of Ottawa staged a one-man strike because he had not received his share of complimentary tickets. Ottawa played A. Cope instead and lost 9–5. The fans in attendance heckled the defence pair of Harvey Pulford and Weldy Young, and in response Mr. Young went into the crowd to attack a spectator.

http://misc.thefullwiki.org/1898_AHAC_season

Young had played seven tumultuous seasons for Ottawa, six of them with the famous Harvey Pulford, the future Hall of Famer as his defense partner. In 894 he played in a losing cause against Montreal in the second Stanley Cup game ever played. Charged with brutality in a game in Quebec in '95, charging into the stands in Dey's Arena to assault a fan in '98, he left a checkered, notorious past when he followed his dreams of gold after the '99 season. This was a catastrophic decision as far as Young's hockey-playing legacy is concerned...had he remained he almost certainly would be in the Hall of Fame today.

http://klondikesun.com/newspapers/wp...20no%2021_.pdf

Legendary Weldy Young, a former Ottawa player who had himself once battled for the cup, was the natural choice for team captain, but he would be delayed from traveling with the others and would join the team late.

http://www.yukon-news.com/news/16400/

Weldy Young, once the swiftest cover point hockey player in the world, and for several years a resident of Dawson, has just made a cleanup of $100,000 in the Cobalt mining camp.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hWAjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BCcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3547,884780&dq=weldy+young+hockey&hl=en

A post from seventieslord, describing how Young's play was characterized in the book Win, Tie, or Wrangle: The Inside Story of the Old Ottawa Senators by Paul Kitchen

He was definitely one of the best of his time. Here's a few things I read about him in the Ottawa Senators history book I recently finished:

- Was the Senators captain for two seasons

- Was known for spectacular rushes, usually resulting in a shot on goal or a sharp pass

- Occasionally would lose control of the puck and not get back in time to defend. Pulford bailed him out often.

- He was not above taking a vicious slash at an opponent's ankle or going after a heckler.

Description of the coverpoint position by Hugh Baird

The cover-point is a combination of a defence man and a forward, and is allowed, in virtue of the fact, more latitude with respect to leaving his position, than any man on the team, except the rover.

In his capacity of a defence player he should linger around his goals as long as the puck is near, and be very careful when he secures it in front of the poles. When the play is at the other end of the rink, the cover-point should advance to about the middle, so that when the puck is lifted down, he may return it without loss of time, in order to keep the game centered around his opponents' goals, and to save his forwards the trouble of skating up to him so that they may again ''get into play." It is by playing far up under these circumstances that a clever cover-point can shine to the advantage of his team. If he has a good opening he should shoot well for the goals, but if he has not, he should, as I have said, return the puck instantaneously.

When in this position, far from his goals, a cover-point is suddenly confronted by an opposing forward who rushes down the ice, he should skate towards his defence, watching that man and gradually closing in upon him.

http://hockeyhistorysis.blogspot.com/2011/12/eagle-eye-cameron.html

 

[Dreakmur]

Thomas Vanek !!!​

Awards and Achievements:
2nd Team All-Star (2007)

NHL All-Star (2009)

Selke – 14th(2007)
All-Star – 2nd(2007), 6th(2011)

Offensive Accomplishments:
Points – 15th(2011), 19th(2007)
Goals – 5th(2007), 5th(2009), 13th(2008), 14th(2011)

Point Percentages – 74, 74, 68, 63, 60, 49
Goal Percentages – 87, 86, 71, 69, 55, 52, 46

AHL Goals – 2nd(2005)

Since the Lock-out:
26th in Points, 68% of 2nd place Joe Thornton
8th in Goals, 78% of 2nd place Ilya Kovalchuk

ASSETS: Is a natural goal-scorer, with plenty of size to fight through traffic and battle against big NHL defensemen in front of the net. A superior shot tipper, he owns the hands of a true sniper, and is usually in the right place at the right time. Can really shoot the biscuit. Passes well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCzJxpGtMRw

 

[Michael Farkas]

Tony McKegney, LW

Height: 6'0"
Weight: 200 lbs.
Born: February 15, 1958 (Montreal, Quebec)
NHL career: 1978 - 1991
NHL: 912 GP, 320 goals, 319 assists, 639 points, 15.3% shooter
Playoffs: 79 GP, 24 goals, 23 assists, 47 points.
Played center for much of his junior career, played power play regularly in the NHL, had a few seasons of decent penalty kill time.

Elected to 1985 All-Star Game (DNP)
St. Louis Blues "Star of the Game" Award Winner (1988)
1978 World Junior Chamionships Bronze Medal (Canada)
OMJHL First All-Star Team (1977), OMJHL Second All-Star Team (1978)

Lady Byng: 12th
LW All-Star voting: 6th, 9th, 13th
(single votes included)

13 NHL seasons
Nine 20-goal seasons
- Eleven "projected" 20-goal seasons [18g in 62 gp & 17g in 59 gp]
Four 30-goal seasons
- Five "projected" 30-goal seasons [23g in 57 gp]
One 40-goal season

- Never shot under 10% in any season.

Top-5 Team Finishes (goals): 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 5
Top-5 Team Finishes (points): 2, 3, 3, 5

(split seasons ignored, except 86-87)

Bull's hockey management team wanted McKegney's size and a laser-like shot, as did team owner John Bassett. ||| Buffalo Sabres eagerly snapped up the left winger. Tony was considered to be a definite first round pick, perhaps even a top 10 selection, if he wasn't tied up by the WHA. ||| ...he became the first black hockey star. ||| Despite being a third stringer (behind Michel Goulet and Anton Stastny), he did put up respectable numbers, including 36 goals in a total of 105 games.

Tony was a big left winger, who was effective at the physical game though not an overly physical player by nature. His strong legs gave him good up and down skating ability with good acceleration, but lacked great agility to outclass some of the better NHL defensemen. He was very effective in front of the net where his good balance made him nearly immovable. Many of his goals came from tipping in point shots or banging at loose pucks in the crease. Tony's best physical asset was his excellent shot which he was always able to get away with uncanny quickness.

...Tony McKegney, a big, fast winger, [merits] ice time...

"I'd just hit as much as I could, take the body and just work for my shots." (quote from McKegney). ||| ...the winger made an impact with his checking and hustle in a 5-2 victory over Minnesota.

''I think his biggest value to our club has been his ability to score,'' Blues coach XXXXXXX XXXXXX said." ||| McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned.

One of the game's most underrated natural goal scorers, Tony was blessed with soft hands and a deft touch around the net. His was a career defined by timely tallies and the unrelenting pursuit of excellence. ||| ...he was a valuable contributor in both the offensive and defensive zones.

Quebec Nordiques may be off to a slow start, but not left winger Tony McKegney. ||| Once again Quebec was led by McKegney who ripped in three goals... ||| "My role is to be a two-way player on this team" (quote from McKegney).

 

[Dreakmur]

Ed Sandford !!​

Awards and Achievements:
Retro Conn Smythe Winner (1953)
Second Team All-Star (1954)
5 x NHL All-Star (1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955)

Boston Bruin Captain (1954-55)

Allan Cup Champion (1948)
Red Tilson Trophy (1948)

Scoring Accomplishments:
Points – 8th(1954), 21st(1949), 21st(1953)
Goals – 19th(1954), 23rd(1949)
Assists – 10th(1954), 18th(1953), 19th(1949), 24th(1955)

Point Percentages – 70, 55, 49, 46, 42
Goal Percentages – 62, 48, 44
Assist Percentages – 84, 49, 48, 47, 42

Play-off Points – 1st(1953), 8th(1952)
Play-off Goals – 1st(1953), 7th(1952)
Play-off Assists – 8th(1949), 10th(1952)

All-Star Breakdown:
1951: 1 of 4 LWs named to First All-Star Team (Doug Bentley, Ted Lindsay, Ed Sandford, and Gaye Stewart)
1952: 1 of 4 LWs named to First All-Star Team (Tony Leswick, Ted Lindsay, Marty Pavelich, and Ed Sandford)
1953: 1 of 4 LWs named to All-Star Game (Ted Lindsay, Ed Sandford, Sid Smith, and Harry Watson)
1954: 1 of 2 LWs named to All-Star Game (Ed Sandford and Sid Smith)
1955: named as member of Detroit Red Wings

The opposition started to pound us. The Bruins sent big fellows like Eddie Sandford and Cal Gardner after us. They hit us, leaned on us, and fouled us whenever possible.

Once captain and centre ice star for St. Michael's College Majors, Edward Sandford was a four time Junior "A" OHA winner and was awarded the Red Tilson Award for his outstanding play in 1947. Sandford spent his NHL career split between Boston, Chicago and Detroit where he led all scorers in the 1952-53 playoffs.

He is regarded as a true sportsman and one of major hockey's truly great team players. After signing a contract in 1950 he crossed out the amount named and told his General manager, Art Ross, "I'm not worth it, Mr Ross. Pay me after the season what you think I've earned."

Sandford played in 502 regular season games, scoring 106 goals and assisting on 145 goals. He also played in 42 playoff games registering 12 goals and 11 assists.

Sandford played his junior hockey for the renowned St. Michael's Majors program, leading his team to the Memorial Cup playoffs in 1946 and 1947. In 1947, Sandford devastated the Ontario Hockey Association with 67 points in 27 games, adding a Gretzkyesque 52 points in nine OHA playoffs and ten Memorial Cup games en route to St. Michael's third Memorial Cup title. For his efforts, he was awarded the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHA's most valuable player.

Sandford was signed by the Bruins in 1947. In the low scoring era of the late 1940s and 1950s, Sandford was no sniper - save for the 1953 season, when he led all scorers in the playoffs with eight goals and eleven points - but proved to be an effective and tenacious defensive left winger, and was named to play in the NHL All-Star Game in five consecutive seasons starting in 1951.

His best scoring season was 1954, when he scored 16 goals and 31 assists for 47 points, finishing in the top ten in league scoring, and earned citation as a Second Team All-Star, one of the lowest scoring forwards to do so in the post-War era. The next season he was named to succeed the retiring Milt Schmidt as Bruins' captain.

Ed Harrison and the smooth-moving Ed Sandford in particular, laid siege to the Galt net.

The only goal of the game was scored one minute 25 seconds after it started. It was caged by shifty Ed Sandford.

Ed Sandford was St.Mikes top forward performer. Not alone becasue of his game-winning goal, but because he was a going concern all the way.

It was Sandford, a superb hockey player, who set up Irish first goal.

Ed Sandford, dynamic playmaking team captain of the Memorial Cup Champion. Sandford, one of the greatest junior star developed in Canada.

Sandford Is Key To Bruin Future

Boston Bruins went into a first-place tie in the National Hockey League last night – and pulled young Ed Sandford into first place in the league scoring race.

The young centre from Toronto – playing his second year in the big time – scored two goals and two assists as the Bruins slammed Chicago Black Hawks 803 in the league’s only scheduled game.

Rookie Eddie Sandford gave a battling display, looked better than at any time this season against Toronto. He duelled most of the game with Kennedy and it ended up with Kennedy getting thumbed with a minor penalty.

Bruins Wallop Wings 5-1, To Clinch Playoff Spot; Babando, Sandford Star.

It was Dumart who scored the Winning goal: it was Sandford whose important tally was the most cleverly executed play of the evening.

Big Ed Sandford, policeman of the playoff for Boston.

Big Ed Sandford, scoring leader in this year’s Stanley Cup play, whipped in two goals Saturday night and Boston Bruins rolled to a 4-1 victory over Montreal Canadiens with a revived display of offensive and defensive strength.

…

Rough play cropped up. There were several high-sticking and roughing penalties, and just before the game ended Sandford and Canadiens’ Dickie Moore came out of a lusty sugging match with bloody faces and major penalties.

The second lead was provided by Eddie Sandford at 8:52 of the third period. Sandford dug the puck out of the corner, back to Leo Boivin, and was in front of the crease to deflect Boivin's shot from the point into the corner.

 

[Canadiens1958]

Dave Schultz

Bob Dailey, D

Position: Defenseman
HT/WT: 6'5", 220 lbs
Handedness: Right
Nickname(s): "The Count"

More to follow.

Dave Schultz not Bob Dailey.

 

[Rob Scuderi]

C Billy Breen

Born in Winnipeg, this centreman played ten years in the Manitoba Senior Hockey League from 1900 to 1909. He was Captain of the Winnipeg Rowing Club and scored 3 goals in a three game 1903-04 Stanley Cup Challenge against the Ottawa Silver Seven. He was a high-scoring forward who won the scoring title five of the ten years he was in the league, and his 129 goals was the most scored in that decade.

Breen was a member of a respected Winnipeg family. His parents had come to the city directly from Ireland early in the 1880s and had helped found Young Methodist Church. His athletic abilities were evident during his years at Mulvey School and Central Collegiate. From 1899 until 1907 he was a member of either the Winnipeg Hockey Club or the Winnipeg Rowing Club's hockey club. The organizations he belonged to were always part of the best senior amateur league in Manitoba, and in those years the best senior amateur league in Manitoba was always one of the best in Canada. Breen led the league in goals during five of his eight seasons.

After his professional experience, Breen never again played high-quality hockey. He did not join other Manitobans who by this time were accepting offers to play for professional clubs in eastern Canada, in the United States, or, after 1911, on the Pacific Coast. Just why he stayed home is not known. Perhaps he considered himself a bit small (he was approximately five feet six inches tall and weighed 140 pounds) for the professional game; his age may have been a factor; perhaps also he wanted to keep his position as a bookkeeper with Codville Company, wholesale grocers in Winnipeg.

http://www.biographi.ca/EN/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=8042

Born in Winnipeg, this centreman played ten years in the Manitoba Senior Hockey League from 1900 to 1909. He was Captain of the Winnipeg Rowing Club and scored 3 goals in a three game 1903-04 Stanley Cup Challenge against the Ottawa Silver Seven. He was a high-scoring forward who won the scoring title five of the ten years he was in the league, and his 129 goals was the most scored in that decade. Billy Breen also coached the Winnipegs to the 1913 Allan Cup Championship.

http://www.mbhockeyhalloffame.ca/honoured/players.html?category=9&id=58

A centre, he was noted as a checker as well as a goal scorer. Breen refused to turn professional and always retained his amateur standing.

http://books.google.com/books?id=Iy...EwAg#v=onepage&q=billy breen winnipeg&f=false

Skater Statistics Regular Season Playoffs

Season Team League Tournament No. GP G A P PIM GP G A P PIM

1899-1900 Winnipeg Winnipegs WSrHL -- 3 2 1 3 0 -- -- -- -- --

1900-1901 Winnipeg Winnipegs WSrHL -- 4 4 * 0 4 * 0 -- -- -- -- --

1901-1902 Winnipeg Winnipegs WSrHL -- 3 4 1 5 * 4 -- -- -- -- --

1902-1903 Winnipeg Rowing Club WSrHL -- 6 10 * 3 13 2 -- -- -- -- --

1903-1904 Winnipeg Rowing Club WSrHL -- 5 20 * 3 23 * 4 -- -- -- -- --

Winnipeg Rowing Club WSrHL St-Cup -- -- -- -- -- 3 3 0 3 --

1904-1905 Winnipeg Rowing Club MHL Sr. -- 7 19 1 20 9 -- -- -- -- --

1905-1906 Winnipeg Winnipegs MHL Sr. -- 9 26 * 3 29 * 9 -- -- -- -- --

1906-1907 Winnipeg Winnipegs WSrHL -- 5 20 * 1 21 * 0 -- -- -- -- --

1907-1908 Winnipeg Strathconas MHL Pro -- 12 24 11 * 35 9 -- -- -- -- --

1908-1909 Winnipeg Winnipegs MHL Pro -- 1 4 2 6 0 -- -- -- -- --
*led league

Totals 55 133 26 159 37 3 3 0 3 0

 

[Velociraptor]

Jeff Beukeboom, D

Position: Defenseman
HT/WT: 6'5", 230 lbs
Handedness: Right
Nickname(s): "Boooooooooook", "Boom"

- 4-time Stanley Cup Champion (1987, 1988, 1990, 1994)
- scored 30 goals and 129 assists for 159 points in 804 games, adding 1890 penalty minutes.
- scored 3 goals and 16 assists for 19 points in 99 games, adding 197 penalty minutes.

Sather put the defence pair of Jeff Beukeboom and Steve Smith on me every shift . Beukeboom was Newie's cousin. He was six foot five, 230 pounds, and Smith was six-three and 215. Every single shift of every game I played, I was up against two giants, and their sole purpose was to wear me down. They used anything they could on me-cross checks, elbows, slashing; whatever it took.

The quote outlined by Fleury is what the Castors plan on doing with the behemoth pairing of Bob Dailey and Jeff Beukeboom, total destruction matching up with the oppositions top offensive guns.

Greatest Hockey Legends

His fine defensive and physical play got him noticed by the NHL scouting fraternity as the Edmonton Oilers selected Jeff in the first round, 19th overall, in the 1983 entry draft.

Jeff's play was well appreciated by both the Ranger fans and media. Jeff got a lot of credit for helping the turn the Rangers into a solid NHL contender. The Rangers of course went on to win the Stanley Cup in 1994. For Jeff it was his 4th Stanley Cup ring.

You could say Beukeboom was a checker. At 6'5" and 230lbs, Beukeboom took up a lot of room on the ice, and when he caught a hold of you, he used every ounce of his body to smack you into the boards, if not right through them. Although he certainly was no angel himself, Beukeboom was a clean hitter. With his long reach and good hands with his stick, he was a very effective poke checker and sweep checker. And he was great in front of his own goal too, quickly disposing of any opposition forward who dared to get into the slot.

Not a great skater, Beukeboom was content to stay within his limitations and play a simple, defensive game. He reached the peak of his career when paired with Brian Leetch, who of course was a offensive oriented defenseman. Beukeboom's steady defensive play allowed Leetch to constantly jump up into or lead an attack. Plus Jeff's physical presence meant Leetch could play defense more by playing the angles more than the man, thus saving the much smaller Leetch some wear and tear. It comes as no coincidence that Leetch's best years came when Beukeboom was healthy.

Legends of Hockey

A gigantic defenceman who could move the puck as well as bodies, Jeff Beukeboom played parts of 14 seasons in the NHL. The 6'5", 230lb. defender won battles in front of the net and in the corners and was able to clear the puck out of his zone efficiently.

New York Times - Jul 16, 1999

Jeff Beukeboom, the tough defenseman who was an integral part of the 1994 Stanley Cup championship team, announced his retirement. ...

 

[Velociraptor]

Don Edwards, G

Position: Goaltender
HT/WT: 5'9", 165 lbs
Handedness: Left
Nickname(s): "Dart"

- 1-time recipient of the Vezina Trophy (1980)
- Played in NHL All-Star Game twice (1980, 1982)
- 4-time Top-10 in G All-Star Voting (2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 4th)
- 2-time Member of the NHL Second All-Star Team (1978, 1980)
- 208 wins, 16 shutouts, career GAA of 3.32 in 459 games played.
- 16 wins, 1 shutout, career GAA of 3.44 in 42 playoff games played.

Top 10 Finishes:
Wins - 5x - (1, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Goals Against Average - 6x - (3, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9)
Shutouts - 6x - (1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 9)

Voting Record

Hart Voting Record:

4th (77-78), 10th (78-79), 14th (80-81)

Vezina Voting Record:

1st (80-81), 7th (81-82)

Legends of Hockey

Goaltender Don Edwards was a fifth round pick of the Buffalo Sabres, 135th overall in the 1975 NHL Draft. To say he was a steal would be a huge understatement. Edwards had a highly successful eleven-year NHL career that included stops in Buffalo, Calgary, and Toronto.

What had the hockey world amazed was how Edwards seemed to save his best performances for the league's strongest teams. Buffalo did not have a losing record against any of the top teams and Edwards' goals against average facing Montreal, Boston, Philadelphia, and the New York Islanders was lower that it was against the rest of the league.

Greatest Hockey Legends

By the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Buffalo Sabres boasted one of the league's best goaltenders in Don Edwards. Twice he was named to the NHL Second All Star team (1978 and 1980) and he and partner Bob Sauve shared the Vezina trophy as the league's best goaltending tandem in 1980.

Despite his obvious talent and ability, he wasn't drafted until late in the draft because of his lack of size. He was just 5'9" and 160 pounds. Don quickly dispelled any ideas that his lack of bulk would hinder him. He used his cat-like reflexes to impress enough to earn the nickname "Dart."

Don only spent a year and a half apprenticing in the minor leagues before he got the call up to the NHL during the 1976-77 season. He impressed immediately, as he posted a 16-7-2 record with 2 shutouts and a 2.51 goals against average. Don came out of seemingly nowhere to catapult himself to the top of the Buffalo Sabres goaltending depth chart.

Don remained atop of the depth chart for most of his 6 seasons in Buffalo. In his first full NHL season of 1977-78 he led all NHL goaltenders in games played (72) and wins (38). He also posted 5 shutouts and a 2.64 goals against average en route to be named to the NHL all star team. Edwards was quickly becoming the talk of the goaltending world. He seemed to be able to take his game to a higher level in important games against strong opponents.

 

[Dreakmur]

Miroslav Dvorak !!!​

Dvorak was a world-class player for many years in Czechoslovakia and his skills enabled him to make a significant contribution to the Flyers.

Awards:

Golden Stick voting (for the best player in Czechoslovakia):
2nd(1981), 2nd(1982), 5th(1975), 10th(1978)
Both 2nds were to Milan Novy

Finished 5th in Izvestia Gilden Stick voting for the best overall player in Europe in 1982

Named Czechoslovakia's Athlete of the Month for December, 1981

Barry Ashbee Award for best Flyers defenseman in 1983-84

Played in every major International Tournament for the Czechoslovak National Team from 1974-1983

2 x World Championship Gold Medalist (1976, 1977)
6 x World Championship Silver Medalist (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983)

Best Defenseman at Moscow's Izvestia Tournament in 1981
IIHF All-Star (1983)

2 x Canada Cup participant (1976, 1981)
2 x Olympic participant (1976, 1980)

Domestic scoring shows that he could handle the puck, despite being known primarily as a tough, defensive defenseman

Points among defensemen in the top Czech league:
1st(1981), 2nd(1974), 2nd(1975), 2nd(1980), 2nd(1982), 4th(1978), 4th(1979), 5th(1973), 5th(1977), 6th(1976)

Despite these high rankings, he was often well behind the leader - usually Frantisek Pospisil or Jiri Bubla

NHL Career

Was released to NHL by Czechoslovakian authorities after 1981-82 season, making him a strong prospect for the 1982 draft despite his advanced age. The NHL ruled he would have to enter the league through the 1982 Entry Draft rather than through a special draft for Czechoslovakian players as had been the case with two players released to the NHL one year earlier.

Drafted in the 3rd round, 46th overall by the Flyers, despite his age.

First player over 30 years old to be drafted by an NHL team.

Barry Ashbee Award for best Flyers defenseman in 1983-84 at the age of 32

Quotes and Video

There were multiple European connections behind the success of the 1980s Flyers. Included was Czech defenseman Miroslav Dvorak, drafted in 1982. He was nicknames “Cookie”, but certainly did not crumble. Dvorak prospered in all of his three seasons with the Flyers. Dvorak’s consistency made a positive impression by playing in every game during his rookie year. He followed it by winning the Barry Ashbee Trophy in 1983-84 and adding depth on a blue line as the team made a very memorable playoff run in ’85. Not long after the 1985 Stanley Cup finals, Miroslav Dvorak decided to retire from NHL hockey and return to Europe. The move left a spot for a defenseman ready to rise in the ranks, but also left the challenge of replacing a talented blueliner who had progressed well during his stay.

Dvorak played nine seasons in Czechoslovakia and participated in eight World Championships and two Canada Cups in that time. The Philadelphia Flyers made Dvorak their third selection in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, and he came to North America the next fall to join the Flyers lineup.

Dvorak made a solid impression in his first NHL season, playing in all 80 contests and scoring four goals and 37 points. The Flyers were so impressed with the play of the rookie defenseman, he was awarded the Barry Ashbee trophy, given annually to the Best Flyers' Defenseman.

Miroslav Dvorak was a rock hard square built defenseman who did not make his NHL debut until he was 31 years old in 1982. That's when the Czechoslovakian Ice Hockey Federation made him available for the Flyers.

Miroslav was a tough defenseman who was very hard to get by. He excelled in one on one situations and was excellent positionally. Miroslav played the body very well but he didn't pick up many penalties. He was aggressive but not stupid.

…

On the ice Dvorak was a complete pro. Miroslav worked very hard and was always in top shape. In Budejovice his longtime defensive partner was Milan Chalupa, who played briefly for Detroit in the mid 1980's. Both were also longtime defensive partners on the national team.

Off the ice Dvorak worked hard to fit in with his teammates. He was very sociable, funny and popular with his teammates, fitting in memorably.

Miroslav played in 9 world championships as well as two Canada Cups. He made the second All-Star team in the 1982 world championships and was voted the best defenseman in the 1981-82 Izvestija tournament. He was also voted second in the competition for Czechoslovakia's "Golden Stick Award", given to the player of the year.

All in all Miroslav played 509 league games in Czechoslovakia, scoring 79 goals. He played 228 games in the national team jersey, scoring 14 goals.

This unspectacular but very steady blueliner became a hotel and restaurant owner in southern Czech Republic after his playing career was over.

Here's a video of him hip checking Valeri Kharlamov while still in Czechoslovakia:


Here's a video of him fighting Terry Ruskowski as a Flyer: