Frank Mahovlich
“The first full season of the sixties was also my first big season in the NHL. In 1960-61, when I scored 48 goals. I had a good year in part because of a meeting I had early in the season with coach Punch Imlach. For once he listened to me, and I started to get plenty of ice time.” ~ Frank Mahovlich
Terry Harper
“Harper never won a fight in his life, although he was a tough kid. He’d laugh at you and stand there taking punch after punch. He couldn’t fight, but I’ll tell you, he wasn’t afraid of you.” ~ Derek Sanderson
Jacques Plante & Bernie Geoffrion
Montreal’s Bernie Geoffrion had a bonus in his 1960-61 contract that paid $100 for every goal he scored above 20. He finished the season with 50 goals for a bonus of $3,000.
Bob Pulford
“His name always comes up in trades. But there are very few players I’d give him up for. Bob’s my most honest hockey player… a hard worker and very valuable. He’s always good in the playoffs where the real brilliance shows.” ~ Punch Imlach
Dennis Hull
“Sometimes people said to me 'Wouldn’t it have been great if you’d been on another team so you wouldn’t always be referred to as Bobby Hull’s brother?' I would respond that they must have grown up as an only child. I came from a family of 11, and we all liked each other. When I did well the happiest person on the team was Bobby.” ~ Dennis Hull
Wayne Cashman
“Cash was a very sensitive guy but when he was drinking he became a little bit crazy. When he drank, his inhibitions left him. Whatever his most deep-seated demons were, that’s what he became. Cash had a great career, but if he had stayed away from the craziness a little more, he would have been a Hall of Famer.” ~ Phil Esposito
Red Kelly
“Leonard “Red” Kelly was the first Norris Trophy winner in 1954 and was selected as one of the NHL’s All-Star defenseman eight times while playing for the Detroit Red Wings. Kelly won four Stanley Cups as a center with the Leafs, bringing his career total to eight.” ~ Chris McDonnell
Bill Gadsby
“He was a great, strong stay-at-home defenseman, with really good balance on his skates which helped him steer opponents off the play. We became best friends and spent lots of time fishing in the off-season.” ~ Gordie Howe
Terry Sawchuk's pads
“Terry played in an era when goalie equipment was small, archaic, almost dangerous to use. There were no goalie coaches, agents, nutritionists, physiotherapists or physical trainers. The goalies of Terry’s time learned alone, toiled alone, and excelled alone, on sheer talent and determination.” ~ David Dupuis
Terry Sawchuk
“No goalie accomplished more and endured more pain. He overcame family tragedy, illness, fractures, and lacerations to post an NHL record 103 shutouts.” ~ Kevin Allen and Bob Duff
Terry Sawchuk's mask
“I think the mask keeps you more alert. That may sound funny, but I think the fact that you know you’re losing a little sight keeps you that way.” ~ Terry Sawchuk
Jacques Laperriére
“As an assistant coach with the Canadiens, Laperriere won two Stanley Cups.” ~ Mike Leonetti
Bobby Hull
“I went to a fight last night and a hockey game broke out.” ~ Rodney Dangerfield
Bobby Hull
“I got clipped by the stick of Montreal’s John Ferguson. This looks worse than it was, but he didn’t know where to draw the line.” ~ Bobby Hull
Jim Neilson
“The only really vulnerable spot in a hockey player is his face. Shoulder pads are smaller and lighter than most because contact on shoulder tops is minimal and players carry too much weight.” ~ Gerald Eskenazi
Glenn Hall
“Getting Glenn Hall from the Detroit Red Wings was one of the great trades in Blackhawks history.” ~ Bobby Hull
Leo Boivin
“My goal from the time I was a kid was to play in the National Hockey League. Although everybody always said I was too small – I only grew to be 5 feet 7 ½ inches – I had pretty good weight and skated very well, so I kept plugging away.” ~ Leo Boivin
Gerry Desjardins
“Known as “the fastest glove in the West,” Desjardins played in 60 games in his first year in Los Angeles (1968-69)
Bobby Orr & Bobby Hull
“I only got to play a handful of years against Bobby (Orr) but it was an experience I will always remember. You really didn’t know what to expect, because he broke all the rules.” ~ Gordie Howe
Phil Esposito
“In the 1968-69 season I broke the 100-point mark. I attribute a lot of my success to positioning myself in the right spot.” ~ Phil Esposito