PETE BABANDO: 1925-2020

On Wednesday morning former NHL forward Pete Babando passed away at the age of 94.

In 1943, Babando and the Holman Pluggers won the Ontario Juvenile championship. The club was based in Timmins, Ontario, and besides Babando, the roster included Alex Barilko, Allan Stanley, Eric Prentice, and the Pluggers stick-boy was future Toronto Maple Leaf defenceman Bill Barilko. On April 3, 1943, the Pluggers defeated the St. Catharines Lions at Maple Leaf Gardens to earn the title. Babando was paired on the defence with Allan Stanley.

Babando played his junior hockey with the Galt Red Wings and began his pro career in 1945-46 with the EAHL Boston Olympics. The next season Babando hit the 19 goal mark with Hershey in the AHL and the Boston Bruins felt their prospect was ready for the NHL.

When he joined the Bruins for the 1947-48 season, it began a six year run for Babando in the National Hockey League. In his rookie term with Boston, Babando proved he was ready for the big-show. With 20 goals set as the benchmark for quality NHL scorers, Babando fired 23 home for the Bruins. In the voting for the Calder Trophy (top rookie), Babando, a left winger, finished second to Detroit's Jim McFadden. Babando followed that up with 19 goals in his sophomore campaign.

After success in his first two years with Boston, Babando seemed to have a bright future with the Bruins. But that all changed on August 16, 1949, when he was dealt to the Detroit Red Wings. The Bruins made the move when Detroit was willing to make defenceman Bill Quackenbush available. Quackenbush was named to the First All-Star Team in '48-'49 and was considered the best defenceman in the NHL.

Detroit general manager, Jack Adams, explained why he was willing to part with such a valuable asset. "We want the Stanley Cup," Adams told the Canadian Press. "We have defencemen. We don't have forwards. You can be sure I hate to lose Quackenbush. But I have watched Peters [Jimmy, also coming from Boston] and Babando since their junior hockey days and they are two players I always felt would be valuable assets to the Wings."

Babando had a subpar regular season with Detroit having only put up 12 points in 56 contests. In the playoffs, Babando saw limited action in eight of the Wings 14 games. He may have been in uniform, but was stuck on the bench as part of the fourth line or in the press box. But in game seven of the 1950 Stanley Cup final, Babando made Adams look like a prophet with his "we want the Stanley Cup" statement.

On April 23, 1950, it came down to a one game showdown between Detroit and the New York Rangers at the Olympia in Detroit. The Rangers took a 2-0 lead into the second period, but Babando scored early in the middle frame and got his club back into the game. At the end of regulation time Detroit and New York were knotted at three goals apiece.

When the first twenty-minutes of overtime failed to produce a winner, the Wings and Rangers retreated to their dressing rooms for rest. In a newspaper account, it was noted Pete Babando was the "fastest man on the ice amidst weary playoff veterans." His fresh legs from being seldom used prior to game seven, sent the home crowd out of their seats in the second overtime period.

The Stanley Cup-winning goal scored by Babando at the 8:31 mark was described by the CP as follows:

The winning goal game unexpectedly after a face-off near the Ranger net. Centre George Gee got control of the puck and passed to Babando, who backhanded a 15-footer that just slipped in the left side of the net as Rayner [the New York goalie] made futile  try to stop it.

Following the game, Jim Norris a member of the family that owned the Red Wings, told reporters, "Pete was worth that whole trade if for nothing more than that one shot tonight."

One headline stated, "Pinch-hitter Babando probably saved job by Cup-winning shot."

Despite his double overtime heroics, Babando once again found himself on the move. In another massive transaction put together by Jack Adams, Babando, Harry Lumley, Jack Stewart, Al Dewsbury, and Jim Morrison were shipped to Chicago for Jim Henry, Bob Goldham, Gaye Stewart, and Metro Prystai.

Babando played two seasons with the Hawks and split his final NHL season, 1952-53, between Chicago and New York. Once out of the NHL, Babando had a decent minor-league career with the AHL Buffalo Bisons and EHL Clinton Comets. Also, prior to going the Comets, Babando played senior hockey with the Whitby Dunlops. His final season in Clinton was in 1966-67.

Peter Joseph Babando was born on May 10, 1925, in Braeburn, PA. He passed away on February 19, 2020, in Timmins, Ontario.