MAX QUACKENBUSH: 1928-2020

Max Quackenbush, a defenceman who played in the NHL with Boston and Chicago, passed away last month at the age of 91.

At Del La Salle Oaklands High School in Toronto, Quakenbush was a member of the team that won the OHA Junior "B" championship in 1946. While playing at centre, he went on a rampage during the regular season when he scored 18 goals and 13 assists in 8 games.

By the time Quackenbush joined the OHA Junior "A" Windsor Spitfires in 1947-48, he became a defenceman, but this didn't stifle his offensive skills. In 35 games, he put up 30 points, and served as captain of the Spitfires. 

During the season, Quackenbush left the Spitfires and joined the Hettche Spitfires of the International Hockey League. The team was located in Windsor, so geographically, it wasn't a big move. His play didn't suffer with the upgraded level of competition, as Quackenbush and the Hettche Spitfires advanced to the IHL final against the Toledo Mercurys. On March 14, 1948, Toledo defeated the Spitfires by a score of 9-6 and captured the Joe Turner Memorial Trophy. They took the best-of-seven final in five games. 

The next step for Quackenbush was to the United States Hockey League with the Omaha Knights, a farm team of the Detroit Red Wings. In Omaha, Quackenbush continued to work on his game with an eye towards impressing the Red Wings management. In particular, Jack Adams, who was Detroit's GM.

In 1949-50, Detroit assigned Quackenbush to the Indianapolis Capitals of the American Hockey League. This was the perfect situation for Quackenbush to shine. Most of Detroit's hottest prospects performed on this team and displayed their ability to trample over all comers. This was especially evident when the playoffs got underway.

Indianapolis swept through the post-season by winning the Calder Cup in the minimum number of eight games. It was the first time in AHL history that this feat was accomplished. In game four of the final against Cleveland, the Capitals took a 2-0 lead in the second period. The goal was scored by Pat Lundy at the 12:33 mark. The play developed when Quackenbush sent a long pass from deep in his own zone to Lundy at centre ice. Then, Lundy fired a shot, which was screened by Cleveland defender, and his blast found the back of the net.

As Barons coach, Bun Cook, said after the game, "I thought that was the one that beat us ... we had been trying to watch him (Lundy) and stop that."

Unable to fully bounce back from the tally set-up by Quackenbush, Cleveland fell to the Capitals by a score of 3-2.

The following year, Quackenbush returned to Indianapolis, but his stay in the Hoosier State would come to end in December 1950. On December 5, the Boston Bruins obtained Quackenbush in a deal that sent defenceman Steve Kraftcheck the other way. This trade was a loan, with Detroit retaining the rights to Quackenbush. The transaction resulted in Max joining his big brother, Bill, on the Bruins' defence. A future Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Bill Quackenbush, became a Bruin when the Red Wings traded him to Boston on August 16, 1949. 

It was on Bill's recommendation that Detroit signed his younger brother and it wouldn't be a stretch that the elder Quakenbush had some say on Max making his way to Boston. 

In a Boston Globe article, Max Quackenbush talked about playing alongside his sibling on the Bruins' blueline.

"Bill knows all the tricks and habits of the other teams. He coaches me on them both on and off the ice. Don't think it isn't a big help either for a rookie. These fellows up here are smart and they can make an awful fool of you if somebody doesn't help you."

Quackenbush elaborated on the difference between the AHL and NHL.

"In the American League the players scramble all over and you can make mistakes without them being costly. But up here it's all position. The players stay where they are supposed to and if you make one mistake - boom, the puck's in the net."

On New Year's Day 1951, the Bruins were at home in Boston Garden for a holiday tilt against the New York Rangers. Early in the third period, Max Quackenbush scored his first NHL goal, with brother Bill earning the lone assist. His 55-foot shot eluded Rangers' goalie Chuck Rayner. 

Over the course of his National Hockey League career, Quackenbush scored four goals and added seven helpers for 11 points. His playoff action was limited to one series. That came in 1951, when the  Bruins fell to the Leafs in five games of the semi-final.

Prior to the 1951-52 season, Quackenbush found himself on the move when Detroit, who held his rights, shipped him to the Chicago Black Hawks. The Bruins couldn't reach a deal with Detroit for his services. That was followed by him being sent to the AHL St. Louis Flyers. In what can only be described as a blow to his ambition of remaining in the big league, Quackenbush kept a positive attitude. St. Louis was a farm team of the Chicago Black Hawks and Quackenbush got into 14 contests with the Hawks.

Starting in 1952-53, Quackenbush played for the Calgary Stampeders of the Western Hockey League. He remained a Stampeder until his retirement following the 1954-55 campaign. The highlight of his time with Calgary came in May 1954 when they captured the inaugural Edinburgh Cup. The series pitted the WHL champs against their counterparts in the Quebec Hockey League.

In a quiet off-season move in July 1955, the Montreal Canadiens obtained Quackenbush from Calgary. But prior to camp opening in September, Quackenbush told the Habs of his intention to retire.

Maxwell Joseph Quackenbush was born on August 29, 1928, in Toronto, Ontario. He died on April 17, 2020.