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Who are we forgetting?


ScottM

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Putting his personal life aside, you have to remember an important thing: his on-ice behaviour was extreme, but he was hardly alone in it. The 1920s was a stupendously violent era of hockey, and things like what I describe above weren't that far outside the realm of normal in those days. Most guys didn't quite have his catalogue of infractions, but plenty were in the ballpark.

, then the 1920s must be the most violent hockey era. Yikes.
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, then the 1920s must be the most violent hockey era. Yikes.

 

Most fans talk about the 70s as though it were the worst, but honestly, that decade (violent as it was) resembled a Cub Scout picnic in comparison to the 20s.

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@ScottM  This is an interesting article, may provide some names we have missed....it's a Bleacher Report story about the most feared fighters of each decade....cool stuff....Eddie Shore is a great place to start...most feared in the roaring 20's...

 

 http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1438290-the-nhls-most-feared-fighter-from-each-decade/page/2

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Most fans talk about the 70s as though it were the worst, but honestly, that decade (violent as it was) resembled a Cub Scout picnic in comparison to the 20s.

The game must have been filled with psychopaths back then...did a lot get away with what they did? If so, then that would be the perfect sport for them...
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Off the top of my head, for guys who are never mentioned these days:

 

morenz3_medium.jpg

 

This is Howie Morenz. He is one of the most dominant players in hockey history and the best offensive player of his era, and was the sport's first true superstar player. He won three Hart Trophies, but most fans would be hard pressed to know his name, let alone his photo, and it's not the fans' fault. The NHL is a funny league. They ignore the history that happened during the NHA days even though it was the same league with the same players, and had only re-formed because they were trying to rid themselves of Eddie Livingstone. And they mostly ignore anything from before the Original Six era (you know, when there more than 6 teams) so sometimes players like Morenz, who transcend the sport itself, are largely forgotten.

 

On January 28, 1937, Morenz suffered a terrible compound fracture of his leg when his skate became stuck in the end boards, and Chicago defenseman Earl Seibert tripped over and fell on him. The injury was career ending, but nobody knew it would lead to his death. A few weeks later, what is now thought be a blood clot killed him, though at the time, it was said he died of a broken heart after being told he would never play again.

 

170px-Morenzhospital.jpg

 

When he died, the city of Montreal was pretty much shut down, with the Montreal Forum being filled to capacity for his public funeral, with thousands more lining the streets to get into the building. For those who remember Rocket Richard's public funeral, that is what you should have in mind for the send-off of Morenz.

 

Bernie Geoffrion was Howie Morenz's son-in-law.

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