A huge month of mail for March 2024. A total of 25 new NHL signatures brings the grand total up to 7,584 for 93% of everyone to ever play in the NHL.
Newsy Lalonde (d. 1970)
Newsy Lalonde is widely considered to be one of the all time best players of his generation, if not the best. He was a high scorer who captained the Montreal Canadiens from 1915 to 1921, leading them to the Stanley Cup in 1916. He scored an incredible 124 goals in 99 regular season NHL games. Only Gretzky and Lemieux tallied more points per game in the NHL over their careers than Lalonde. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1970.
Bert Lindsay (d. 1960)
Goalie Bert Lindsay tended goal during the NHL's very first season in 1917/18 with the Montreal Wanderers. He was a seasoned pro by then who had a long career. He also tended goal for the 1918/19 Toronto Arenas. Bert is also notable for being the father of hockey legend Ted Lindsay.
Johnny Mowers (d. 1995)
From 1940 to 1947 Johnny Mowers played over 150 NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings. He had a huge season in 1942-43, helping Detroit win the Stanley Cup and also winning the Vezina Trophy. It was his last full season in the NHL. He enlisted in the army and when he returned to hockey, his job was gone.
Frank Fredrickson (d. 1979)
Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958, Frank Fredrickson won Olympic Gold in 1920 and the Stanley Cup in 1925, making him the first to achieve the feat. In the NHL, he played with the Detroit Cougars, Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Falcons.
Barney Stanley (d. 1971)
Barney Stanley played at least one game in the NHL with the 1927-28 Chicago Blackhawks during a season he was the team's head coach. He had a long pro career in leagues rival to the NHL during the 1920s. He won the Stanley Cup in 1915 with the Vancouver Millionaires. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1963.
Gord Hannigan (d. 1966)
Through the 1950s Gord Hannigan scored 60 points in 161 NHL games with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Two of his brothers, Pat and Ray, also played in the NHL. Gord actually had a big impact on Canadian history that not many people know about. He ran a food chain in Western Canada during his playing days that strongly and directly influenced his teammate, Tim Horton. Gord Hannigan was only 37 when he died.
George McAvoy (d. 1998)
Defenseman George McAvoy played 4 games in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens during the 1955 playoffs. Those playoff games were his only games in the NHL. He also represented Canada at the World Championships in 1955, winning Gold.
Ernie Roche (d. 1988)
Defenseman Ernie Roche played 4 games in the NHL with the 1950-51 Montreal Canadiens.
Wally Clune (d. 1998)
Wally Clune played 5 games in the NHL with the 1955-56 Montreal Canadiens.
Wally Kilrea (d. 1992)
Through the 1930s Wally Kilrea played over 300 games in the NHL. He played for the Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Quakers, New York Americans, Montreal Maroons and Detroit Red Wings. The well travelled Kilrea won the Stanley Cup with Detroit in '36 and '37. He's a member of the great Kilrea hockey family that includes Hec, Ken and Brian.
Clare Martin (d. 1980)
From 1941 to 1952 defenseman Clare Martin played over 200 games in the NHL between the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks.
Sammy Godin (d. 1975)
From 1927 to 1929 Sam Godin played 47 games in the NHL with the Ottawa Senators and then later played another 36 games in the NHL with the 1933-34 Montreal Canadiens.
Don Grosso (d. 1985)
From 1938 to 1947 Don Grosso scored over 200 points in 336 regular season games in the NHL. He spent most of his career with the Detroit Red Wings but was also a member of the Blackhawks and Bruins. He helped Detroit win the Stanley Cup in 1943, scoring 4 goals in 10 playoff games.
Vic Desjardins (d. 1988)
Michigan native Vic Desjardins played in the NHL with the 1930-31 Chicago Blackhawks and 1931-32 New York Rangers. There were very few Americans in the NHL at the time. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1974.
Gerry Lowrey (d. 1979)
From 1927 to 1933 Gerry Lowrey played over 200 games in the NHL. He played for the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Quakers, Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators.
Cully Simon (d. 1980)
From 1942 to 1945 John "Cully" Simon played 130 regular season games in the NHL between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. He's most notable for helping Detroit win the Stanley Cup in 1943. His brother, Thain, also played in the NHL.
Ron Rowe (d. 2005)
Ron Rowe scored 1 goal in 5 NHL games with the 1947-48 New York Rangers.
D'arcy Coulson (d. 1996)
Defenseman D'Arcy Coulson played 28 games in the NHL with the 1930-31 Philadelphia Quakers. He recorded 0 points but over 100 penalty minutes.
Roly McLenehan (d. 1984)
Roland/Rollie/Roly McLenehan scored 2 goals and 3 points in 9 career NHL games with the 1945-46 Detroit Red Wings.
Bob Gracie (d. 1963)
Bob Gracie played nearly 400 NHL games through the 1930s. The well traveled Gracie played for the Maple Leafs, Bruins, Americans, Maroons, Canadiens and Blackhawks. He won the Stanley Cup with Toronto in 1932 and with the Montreal Maroons in 1935.
Moe White (d. 2003)
Moe White played 4 games in the NHL with the 1945-46 Montreal Canadiens. This completed my Year of Debuts for 1945-46.
Normand Baron
Norman Baron was an enforcer who played 27 games in the NHL between the Montreal Canadiens and St. Louis Blues. He certainly has a unique story, he quit hockey after junior and spent years as bodybuilder before returning to hockey at 25 and making it to the NHL.
Jon Fontas
Jon Fontas played 2 games in the NHL with the Minnesota North Stars. He has remained active in hockey as an instructor but oddly and unfortunately for me, he seems adverse to signing so I had to buy an index card he had signed during his playing days. He was one of the last living former players I'd long needed.
Mike Lauen
Mike Lauen played 4 games in the NHL with the 1983-84 Winnipeg Jets. Lauen is also notable for representing USA at the 1980 World Junior Championships, scoring 5 points in 5 games.
Mike Posavad
From 1985 to 1987 Mike Posavad played 8 games in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues.
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Ryan Warsofsky
Ryan Warsofsky attended Curry College and then played a little lower level pro before becoming a coach. In 2016 he became a head coach in the ECHL, in 2019 he became head coach of the AHL's Charlotte Checkers and then in 2022 he was promoted to the NHL as an assistant coach with the San Jose Sharks. This goes with my collection of NHL coaches and managers who never played in the NHL.
Scott Driscoll
Scott Driscoll spent 28 seasons in the NHL as a linesman. He worked the Stanley Cup finals in 2004, 2007 and 2014. This goes with my collection of NHL official autographs.
Marianne Grnak
Marianne Grnak helped Canada win Gold at the 1994 World Championships. This and the next couple of autographs to with my collection of USA/Canada women national players.
Shawna Davidson
Shawna Davidson represented USA at the 1990, 1992 and 1994 World Championships. She brought home a Silver medal each time.
Fiona Smith
Fiona Smith won a Silver medal at the 1998 Olympics as a member of Team Canada. She also won Gold at the 1997 and 1999 World Championships.
