Buddy O'Connor

Herbert William " Buddy" O'Connor ( born June 21, 1916 in Montreal, Quebec; † 24 August 1977) was a Canadian ice hockey player ( center ), who from 1941 to 1951 for the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers of the National Hockey League played.

Career

Due to its small size, O'Connor had during his time as a junior player big problems to find a team. So rejected the Montreal Royals from his obligation and he then moved up to the competition. He impressed the management of the royals so much so that one a year later, but a contract offered to him. He later played in the senior team until he made at age 25 for the season 1941/42, the jump to the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL.

Together with Pete Morin and Gerry Heffernan he had the Razzle Dazzle line formed already at the Royals. Now, the three played together in the NHL. He developed into a valuable player in the Canadiens and won with his team in 1944 and 1946 Stanley Cup.

For the season 1947/48 he was discharged together with Frank Eddolls among other things, Hal Laycoe to the New York Rangers. Here he played the best season of his career. With 24 goals and 60 points, he was number two of the scorers list. As the first player in the history of the NHL, he was awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in one season. In the following season he retired in a car accident an injury and so also missed some games. On the achievements of his first season in New York, he was unable to build in the following years. After the 1950/51 season he left the NHL and joined as player-coach for the Cincinnati Mohawks in the American Hockey League.

In 1988 he was honored with induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

NHL stats

Sporting successes

  • Stanley Cup: 1944 and 1946

Personal Awards

  • Second All-Star Team: 1948
  • Hart Memorial Trophy: 1948
  • Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: 1948
August 24 Royal Montreal Hockey Club 1941–42 NHL season 1947–48 NHL season 1950–51 NHL season 1943–44 NHL season 1945–46 NHL season NHL All-Star Team Frank Nighbor Billy Burch Herb Gardiner Roy Worters Eddie Shore Babe Siebert Ebbie Goodfellow Bill Cowley Tommy Anderson (ice hockey) Babe Pratt Elmer Lach Maurice Richard Sid Abel Chuck Rayner Gordie Howe Al Rollins Jacques Plante Bobby Hull Bobby Orr Bobby Clarke Mario Lemieux Mark Messier Eric Lindros Chris Pronger Joe Sakic Peter Forsberg Martin St. Louis Joe Thornton Sidney Crosby Alexander Ovechkin Henrik Sedin Corey Perry Joe Primeau Marty Barry Gordie Drillon Bobby Bauer Syl Apps Bill Mosienko Bill Quackenbush Edgar Laprade Red Kelly Sid Smith (ice hockey) Earl Reibel Andy Hebenton Camille Henry Alex Delvecchio Don McKenney Dave Keon Kenny Wharram Phil Goyette Jean Ratelle Gilbert Perreault Marcel Dionne Butch Goring Bob MacMillan Rick Kehoe Rick Middleton Mike Bossy Jari Kurri Joe Mullen Pierre Turgeon Ron Francis Paul Kariya Alexander Mogilny Brad Richards Brian Campbell
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