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8 Notable Characters
(listed alphabetically)
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Gerry Cheevers |
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A notorious hater of practices, he one day faked an injury to take time off in the dressing-room, and when coach Harry Sinden came looking for him "Cheesie" was painting a black scar on his mask to show where he had been hit by a vicious shot! The Bruins’ wisecrack leader was always relied on to loosen up a tense atmosphere, both on and off the ice.
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John Ferguson |
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Ferguson was one of the first true enforcers in the game. His competitive nature was unrivalled. He once fired a puck at a teammate in junior during warm-up because the player wasn’t serious enough in preparing for the game. Similarly, Ferguson had to be restrained by a fellow Hab when he attempted to take on a teammate during an NHL game for the other player’s lackluster play.
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Ted Green |
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He was called "Terrible Ted" and was also one of the best defencemen in the league before suffering a life-threatening injury in a stick-swinging fight with Wayne Maki in a 1969 exhibition game. Green was widely regarded as the league’s most potent hitter, often blazing a trail of flattened opponents.
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Dennis Hull |
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Hull is likely the funniest player of the modern era. His remarkable wit has made him one of the most sought-after speakers on the golf and banquet circuit across North America. During his playing career, he and his brother Bobby would purposely shoot high and erratic in warmup to intimidate the opposition goalie who would watch them from across the rink.
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Jacques Plante |
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An iconoclast from start to finish, Plante used to knit toques in his spare time. He hated travelling to Toronto and was uncomfortable playing with the Leafs because he found the air in the hotel rooms difficult to breathe! Plante was the first goaltender to make a habit of leaving his net to play the puck.
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Derek Sanderson |
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Sanderson was not only considered one of the best two-way players in the game toward the end of the '60s he was also the league's most eligible and active bachelor. “Wine, women, and faceoffs” were his specialty, often in that order. His natty attire was also cutting-edge fashion for the usually staid NHL crowd.
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Eddie Shack |
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"Eddie the Entertainer" could not only fight, he could skate like the wind. One of his on-ice antics was to goad players into dropping their gloves and then eluding their chase around the rink. He was popular not just with the Maple Leaf Gardens' crowd for his boisterous behaviour but also with coach Punch Imlach who kept him around for four Stanley Cups.
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Gump Worsley |
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The Gumper, nicknamed after a comic strip character, was the last of the old-time goalies to adopt a face mask and was certainly one of the most roly-poly of the great net guardians. Despite his battles with injuries, Worsley maintained a great sense of humour. While with the struggling Rangers, he was asked which team gives him the most trouble? To which Worsley dryly answered "my Rangers of course."
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