Matt Ravlich

It took a while, but after several seasons in the minor leagues Matt Ravlich became a regular if unheralded defenseman in the last few years of the Original Six. Ravlich graduated from the St. Catherines Teepees, then a Chicago junior affiliate, in 1958. But he did not make the Blackhawks roster until 1964-65.

Ravlich, a close friend of Phil Esposito, was an ornery defender known to make life difficult for oncoming attackers. Though his penalty minute totals were not outrageous. He was also known to drop the gloves on more than a few occasions. Even for his era he was somewhat small at 5'10" and 180lbs, but even the big tough guys respected Ravlich and his damaging upper cut. He goes down in history as all but forgotten, but those who dropped the gloves with him always remembered.

By 1969 Ravlich was off to Detroit, then Los Angeles for a season and a half and Boston for a handful of games. He continued playing in the minor leagues with the Bruins farm team until 1974. He served as coach as well.

In 410 NHL games Matt Ravlich scored 12 goals, 78 assists and 90 points to go along with 364 well earned minutes in the penalty box. He added another goal and six points in 24 playoff contests.

Read more...

Art Somers

This is Art Somers. Note the old school sweater of the Chicago Black Hawks, with all the striping on top.

Somers played with the Hawks from 1929 through 1931. The Winnipeg native was a junior star (winning the Memorial Cup with the Winnipeg Falcons in 1921) and senior star with the Winnipeg Maroons (competing for Allan Cup in 1923) for many seasons before being discovered by the pros. After one season with the Vancouver Lions of the PCHL, it was off to Chicago.

After helping the Hawks reach the Stanley Cup final in 1931, Somers was off to New York to play for the Broadway Blue Shirts. He played four seasons with the Rangers, although he essentially missed the 1933-34 season. A fractured jaw became infected and left Somers in grave condition. He was confined to a hospital room for a couple of weeks. His wife helped him pass the time "by consistently beating him at checkers."

Somers made a full come back the following season, playing in 41 games. But after going goalless with 5 assists, he gave up on the NHL. He headed to Moose Jaw to play and later coach senior hockey.

In 222 NHL games Art Somers scored 33 goals and 56 assists for 89 points. He added 1 goal and 6 points in 30 Stanley Cup playoff games, most of which came with the Rangers in 1933.

Read more...

Louis Trudel

This is a photo is of a 1938 collector's edition hockey matchbook cover. The striking young man (pun fully intended) is Louis Trudel, one of the earliest American born hockey players in NHL history.

That being said, it would be inaccurate to call him an American hockey star. Louis Napolean Trudel was born in Salem, Massachusetts on July 21st, 1912. His parents mad moved south from Montreal to start a new career. However the family soon moved to Edmonton, where young Lou grew up.

Trudel was a solid defensive forward who added some pop-gun offense. He was described as a polite player, and his penalty minute totals reflect that.

Trudel joined the Chicago Black Hawks in 1933, just in time to help the Hawks win the Stanley Cup. He would play 5 seasons in Chicago, exiting in 1938 after winning a second Stanley Cup title in the Windy City.

He extended his NHL career by playing parts of the next three seasons in Montreal before a long tenure in the minor leagues, first as a player, then as a coach, and later as goal judge.

Louis Trudel died of cancer in 1971. He was just 58 years old.

Read more...