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Bee Hive player
profile 
(Feb.19,
2004)
Howie
Morenz -
Born in Mitchell, Ontario 
in 1902. You can call him what you like - "The Mitchell
Meteor", "The Canadien Comet", "The Babe Ruth of
Hockey", "The Stratford Streak" or just plain old Howie,
but he was the first of many great Montreal superstars to grace the NHL.
Howie is on a par with other hockey legends such as Gretzky, Howe and
Orr. He played centre and shone brightly with his reckless speed and
amazing rushes. Master of the snap shot, he also possessed an uncanny
talent with his puck-handling skills. He played 14 NHL seasons with the
Canadiens 
(1923-34, 36-37), Black Hawks (1934-36) 
and Rangers  (1936).
Won the NHL Hart Trophy (MVP) on 3 different occasions (1928, 31, 32)
and was runner-up in Hart voting in 1925. Had his best of many
productive seasons in 1927-28 with Montreal, scoring 33 goals and 51
points and leading the NHL in goals, assists and points scored. He won
another scoring title with Montreal in 1931 with 51 points. Howie scored
20-plus goals 7 times and finished among the top 10 scoring leaders in
each of his first 10 seasons.
Named to the NHL's 1st All-Star Team 2 times (1931, 32) and once to the
2nd Team (1933). Won 3 Stanley Cups with Montreal (1924, 30, 31) and
twice led the playoffs (1924, 25) in points scoring. He participated in
the 1934 NHL All-Star Game.
On the night of January 28, 1937, Morenz suffered a horrific injury when
he broke 4 bones in his left leg and ankle in a game against Chicago.
Five weeks later while recovering in a Montreal hospital, Morenz died of
a heart attack. Three days after his untimely death, his body lay in
state at centre ice in the Montreal Forum, while thousands of fans paid
their last respects.
He became an inaugural inductee into the Hockey Hall of Fame 
in 1945. In 1950 he was named Canada's hockey player of the first
half-century. His daughter later married future Hall of Fame player,
Bernie Geoffrion and Geoffrion's son, Danny, also played in the NHL.
Due to his playing era, there a very few tapes showing Morenz in action,
but through the written word and praiseworthy reports that have
survived, we can rest assured he was a player of incomparable talent.
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Howie Morenz
scored 270 goals
and 467 points
in 550 NHL games
from 1923 to 1937
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Bee Hive player
profile 
(Feb.9,
2004)
Alex
Faulkner -
Born in Bishop's Falls, Newfoundland
in 1936. Alex was a tiny but fearless centre who played 3 NHL seasons
with the Maple Leafs 
(1961-62) and Red Wings  (1962-64).
Had his most productive season in 1962-63 with Detroit, scoring 10 goals
and 20 points. He was the very first Newfoundlander to play in the NHL.
During the 1963 playoffs Alex made a mark for himself by scoring 5 goals
in 8 playoff games, including 3 game-winners. The people of Newfoundland
were so impressed that they named a day "Alex Faulkner Day" on
his behalf. Schools were closed, a parade was held and Premier Joey
Smallwood greeted him with a set of gold cufflinks.
After his brief stop in the NHL, Alex played several more seasons in the
minors with teams such as the San Diego Gulls (WHL) and retired from
professional hockey in 1972. He returned home to work in life insurance,
and later ran a senior citizen's home in Bishop's Falls. Alex continued
playing amateur hockey well into his 60's and has been inducted into the
Newfoundland Hall of Fame.
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Alex Faulkner
scored 15 goals
and 32 points
in 101 NHL games
from 1961 to 1964
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Bee Hive player
profile 
(Feb.7,
2004)
Jim
Pappin -
Born in Sudbury, Ontario
in 1939. "Pappy" was a fast skater and a good two-way player.
The right-winger also possessed a superb shot and played 14 NHL seasons
with the Maple Leafs
(1963-68), Blackhawks (1968-75),
Golden Seals 
(1975-76) and Barons  (1976-77).
Won 2 Stanley Cups with the Maple Leafs (1964, 67) and led all scorers
during the 1967 playoffs with 7 goals and 15 points.
In Chicago, Jim played on a line with Pit Martin and Dennis Hull and
were tagged the "M.P.H. Line". He topped the 20-goal mark 8
times in his career. Had his most productive season in 1972-73 with
Chicago, scoring 41 goals and 92 points. Participated in 5 NHL All-Star
Games (1964, 68, 73-75).
After retiring from hockey, Jim returned to Sudbury to run a tennis
complex, but it went out of business. He got back into hockey by
scouting for several NHL teams and eventually moved back to Chicago to
work as the director of U.S. scouting for the Blackhawks.
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Jim Pappin
scored 278 goals
and 573 points
in 767 NHL games
from 1963 to 1977
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Bee Hive player
profile 
(Feb.5,
2004)
Pete
Babando -
Born in Braeburn, Pennsylvania 
in 1925. He was a solid left-winger who played 6 NHL seasons with the
Bruins 
(1947-49), Red Wings
(1949-50), Blackhawks
(1950-53) and Rangers
(1953). Was runner-up to Jim McFadden for the Calder Trophy (rookie) in
1948. Had his best season in 1950-51 with Chicago, scoring 37 points.
On April 23, 1950 he was forever immortalized in hockey lore. On that
date, New York and Detroit faced-off in the 7th game of the Stanley Cup
Finals. At the end of regulation time, the teams were tied at 3 goals
apiece. One of the all-time classic games in NHL history, the game went
into overtime but nothing was settled. A second overtime period was
needed. After surviving an attack by the Rangers where they almost
scored, the Wings headed back up ice into the Rangers' zone. George Gee
made a short pass to Babando who fired the puck on the net. Somehow, the
puck eluded a screened Chuck Rayner, the Ranger goalie. The game was
over and the Red Wings had won the 1950 Stanley Cup.
In 1953, Pete began a long and glorious career in the minors, first with
the Buffalo Bisons (AHL) from 1953-57 and then the Clinton Comets (EHL)
from 1960-67 where he was a 3-time All-Star.
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Pete Babando
scored 86 goals
and 159 points
in 351 NHL games
from 1947 to 1953
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Bee Hive player
profile 
(Feb.3,
2004)
Phil
Watson -
Born in Montreal, Quebec
in 1914. Phil was a smooth skating right-winger/centre who played 13 NHL
seasons with the Rangers
(1935-43, 44-48) and Canadiens (1943-44).
Won 2 Stanley Cups - with the Rangers in 1940 and the Canadiens in 1944.
Had his most productive season in 1941-42 with New York, scoring 52
points and leading the league in assists (37). That season (1942) he was
also named to the NHL 2nd All-Star Team.
After his playing days ended, he was an NHL coach with New York
(1955-60) and Boston (1961-63), as well as being a GM with the
Philadelphia/Vancouver Blazers (WHA) in 1972-73. Phil died in his sleep
of a heart attack in 1991.
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Phil Watson
scored 144 goals
and 409 points
in 590 NHL games
from 1935 to 1948
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Bee Hive player
profile 
(Feb.1,
2004)
Doug
Bentley -
Born in Delisle, Saskatchewan
in 1916, Max Bentley is his younger brother. Doug was small (145 lbs.),
but the left-winger possessed great speed, anticipation and heart. He
played 13 NHL seasons with the Black Hawks
(1939-44, 45-52) and Rangers (1953-54).
With Chicago he was a member of one of the NHL's all-time great forward
units, The Pony Line, along with brother Max and Bill Mosienko. Doug
captured the NHL scoring title in 1943 with 33 goals and 73 points. He
also finished 2nd twice in scoring (1944, 49) and twice he led the NHL
in goals (1943, 44).
Doug scored 20-plus goals a year on 6 occasions and
was runner-up in Hart Trophy voting to Bill "Cowboy" Cowley in
1943. Had his most productive season in 1943-44 with Chicago, scoring 38
goals and 77 points. Named to the NHL's 1st All-Star Team 3 times (1943,
44, 47) and once to the 2nd Team (1949). Participated in 5 NHL All-Star
Games (1947-51).
During the 1942-43 season, Doug's older brother
(Reggie) also joined the Black Hawks for 11 games and the 3 brothers
played together on a forward line...an NHL first. Doug sat out the
entire 1944-45 season after being refused permission to leave Canada
because of a war-time travel ban.
In 1950, Doug was given a very special
award by the Chicago newspaper Herald American when it voted him
the Half-Century Award as Chicago's best player. After retiring from the
Rangers in 1954, he settled in Saskatoon and coached the WHL Quakers. He
briefly came out of retirement in 1961 to play with the Los Angeles
Blades (WHL). Doug was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
in 1964. He passed away in 1972.
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Doug Bentley
scored 219 goals
and 543 points
in 566 NHL games
from 1939 to 1954
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Bee Hive player
profile 
(Jan.30,
2004)
Paul
Henderson -
Born in Kincardine, Ontario
in 1943. Paul was a steady scoring right-winger who played 13 NHL
seasons with the Red Wings
(1962-68), Maple Leafs (1968-74)
and Flames  (1979-80).
He also played 5 seasons in the WHA with the Toros/Bulls 
(1974-79).
Paul was part of the big trade that sent Frank Mahovlich to
Detroit. He scored 20 or more goals 12 times in the NHL/WHA. Had his
most productive season in 1970-71 with the Maple Leafs, scoring 30 goals
and 60 points. Participated in 2 NHL All-Star Games (1972, 73).
Paul is
a Legend of Hockey due to his performance in the 1972 Summit Series 
against the Soviets. Henderson of course is famous for scoring what is
perhaps the most famous goal in hockey history. He scored a number of
big goals in the series, including the game winner in each of the final
3 games! But that one goal against Vladislav Tretiak in the final game
on September 28, 1972, with just 26 seconds left in the third period
assured Paul Henderson's place among Hockey's Legends. His goal gave
Canada a 6-5 win and a 4-3-1 series victory.
The goal also changed Paul,
the game of hockey and Canada forever. He became a Christian and the
goal was (and still is) immortalized by Canadians from all over. Today,
you can ask any Canadian hockey fan who was watching or listening to
that game, where they were when Henderson scored, and they will always
remember the moment. The most famous words ever broadcast in hockey, by
Foster Hewitt, were also the most succinct: "Henderson has scored
for Canada!".
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Paul Henderson
scored 376 goals
and 760 points in
1,067 NHL/WHA games
from 1962 to 1980
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Bee Hive player
profile 
(Jan.28, 2004)
Claude
Provost -
Born in Montreal, Quebec
in 1933. This hustling right-winger was a superb checker who played 15
seasons in the NHL, all with the Canadiens
(1955-70). Won 9 Stanley Cups (1956-60, 65, 66, 68, 69) and played in 11
NHL All-Star Games (1956-65, 67). Had his most productive season in
1964-65 scoring 64 points and being named to the NHL 1st All-Star Team.
Known for his tenacious shadowing of the opposition's superstars such as
Bobby Hull, he sacrificed his own scoring totals in order to play the
unglamorous role of checker and role player with the Montreal dynasties
of the 1950's and 60's. His defensive abilities have made him a legend
in that department. Even so, Claude managed to lead the team in goal
scoring (33) in 1961-62. He was runner-up to Dave Keon for the Lady Byng
Trophy in 1962. He was named the inaugural winner of the NHL Bill
Masterton Trophy (1968) for his dedication to the game.
After retiring,
Claude ran a small hotel north of the city, as well as operating the
Centre Paul Sauve Health Centre in Montreal. He died from a heart attack
while playing tennis in 1984.
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Claude Provost
scored 254 goals
and 589 points
in 1,005 NHL games
from 1955 to 1970
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Bee Hive player
profile 
(Jan.26,
2004)
Murray
Armstrong -
Born in Manor, Saskatchewan
in 1916. Murray was a good centre who played 8 NHL seasons with the
Maple Leafs
(1937-39), Americans  (1939-42)
and Red Wings (1943-46).
In 1939-40 with the Americans, he finished 10th in NHL scoring with 36
points. Had his most productive season in 1944-45 with Detroit, scoring
39 points. He received only 72 penalty minutes during his 270-game
career.
After his NHL career was over he played and coached in the
minors with the Dallas Texans (USHL) and was named the league MVP
(1947). Murray then returned to Regina to open two billiard halls, a
clothing business, and coach the Regina Pats until 1956.
He then coached
the University of Denver hockey team for 21 years, winning 5 NCAA
championships. Keith Magnuson and Cliff Koroll were a couple of his
graduates. He retired to Venice, Florida in 1977. Because of his
contributions to American college hockey he received the Lester Patrick
Trophy in 1977.
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Murray Armstrong
scored 67 goals
and 188 points
in 270 NHL games
from 1937 to 1946
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Bee Hive player
profile 
(Jan.24,
2004)
Ralph
Nattrass -
Born in Gainsboro, Saskatchewan
in 1925. He was a heavy-hitting defenseman who played 4 seasons in the
NHL, all with the Black Hawks (1946-50).
The fact that Chicago was a weak team at this time allowed Ralph to stay
in NHL. He led Chicago in penalty minutes (79) in 1947-48. Also had his
most productive season in 1947-48, scoring 17 points. Ralph finished his
hockey career in 1951 with the AHL's Cincinnati Mohawks.
After retiring,
he settled in Chicago and became an NHL linesman for awhile. He later
sold insurance and worked as a sales manager at a car dealership selling
Cadillacs.
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Ralph Nattrass
scored 56 points,
308 penalty minutes
in 223 NHL games
from 1946 to 1950
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updated: 25-Mar-2004
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