THE HOCKEY WORLD CELEBRATES THE CHRISTMAS SEASON!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 FROM HOCKEY THEN & NOW!

BRONCO HORVATH: 1930-2019

A veteran of the Original Six battles, Bronco Horvath passed away last week.

Horvath, a left-shooting center, made his NHL debut with the New York Rangers on October 7, 1955. On that night, the Rangers went up against the Chicago Black Hawks at Chicago Stadium. In a 7-4 victory over the Hawks, Horvath scored his first NHL goal when he beat netminder Jerry Rollins.

He made his first appearance at Madison Square Garden on October 19. Horvath scored his first goal on home ice in front of 11,658 thrilled fans. He got the puck past Harry Lumley for the Rangers fifth tally in a 6-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Horvath's most successful times in the National Hockey League were with the Boston Bruins. He was claimed by Boston in the 1957 Intra-League Draft.

In Boston, Horvath was reunited with his former teammates - Vic Stasiuk and Johnny Bucky - on the 1954-55 Edmonton Flyers of the Western Hockey League. The Flyers were a farm team of the Detroit Red Wings. As members of the Bruins, this trio became known as "Uke Line" due to their Ukrainian heritage. And it took little time for them to reconnect.

In an early season contest in 1957, Horvath, Bucky, and Stasiuk scored four of Boston's five goals in a 5-1 crushing of the Red Wings. Three of the goals were scored in 41-seconds.

Horvath's most productive NHL season was in 1959-60. He tied Chicago's Bobby Hull for most goals with 39. His 80 points left him one behind Hull for the scoring title. Hull finished the year with 80 points.

Hockey writer, Scott Young, described what the individuals on Boston's top line brought to the table: "... Bronco Horvath, who scored 39 goals last season; the cannonballing Vic Stasiuk, who skates through many a man he can't go around; and perpetual motion Johnny Bucky."

On January 23, 1963, Horvath was claimed on waivers by the Toronto Maple Leafs from the New York Rangers. He was on his second go-around with the Rangers. The move to Toronto resulted in Horvath seeing action with five of the Original Six clubs. The only team he didn't dress for was the Detroit Red Wings. However, he was property of the Red Wings, and as previously noted, played with their minor league team in Edmonton (1954-55).

His time in Toronto was limited to ten games. He skated on a line with Bob Pulford and Eddie Shack. Horvath was assigned to the AHL Rochester Americans.

While with the Americans, Horvath was loaned to the Minnesota North Stars on January 23, 1968. This turned out to be his final stop in the National Hockey League. He was acquired by the Stars to replace the late Bill Masterson. Earlier in the month, Masterson died as a result of an injury suffered in a game.

The stats on Horvath reveal that he participated in 434 regular season NHL games. He scored 141 times and recorded 326 points. In the playoffs, he scored 12 goals and 9 assists in 36 contests.

In the American Hockey League, Horvath is considered to be a superstar. In 2015, he was inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame. Below is a summary of his career posted on the AHL website:

Bronco Horvath was a gifted offensive player over his 20-year professional career, starring in both the American Hockey League and the National Hockey League.
A native of Port Colborne, Ont., Horvath recorded 38 points in 43 games as a rookie with the AHL’s Springfield Indians in 1950-51, then bettered his offensive output in each of the next three years while skating with the Syracuse Warriors. He was later voted a First Team AHL All-Star at center in 1956-57 after leading the Rochester Americans with 81 points in just 56 contests.
Horvath spent most of the next six seasons in the NHL, where he was an All-Star in 1960 and 1961, but would return to Rochester to anchor one of the AHL’s most impressive dynasties. With Horvath totaling 303 points in 258 games from 1964-68, the Amerks reached an unprecedented and unmatched four consecutive Calder Cup Finals and won three championships. Horvath earned Second Team AHL All-Star nods in 1964 and 1965.
Horvath continued to produce until his retirement in 1970, and finished his AHL career with 263 goals and 484 assists for 747 points in 666 regular-season games. He recorded 542 of those points in a Rochester Americans uniform, ranking third all-time in franchise scoring.

 On their Twitter account, the Boston Bruins Alumni wrote, "We are sad to report the passing of Bronco Horvath, perhaps best remembered for playing on the Bruins' famous "Uke Line" with fellow Ukrainian-Canadians Johnny Bucky and Vic Stasiuk. A 2-time All Star, Horvath tied Bobby Hull for the 1959-60 goal-scoring lead, with 29."

A native of Port Colborne, Ontario, Joseph "Bronco" Horvath was born on March 12, 1930. He passed away on December 17, 2019, in Massachusetts.

CHRISTMAS STORIES FROM THE VAULT

With Christmas Day quickly approaching, here are links to hockey stories from the Hockey Then & Now archive that are relevant to the season.

Christmas Break

Games On Christmas Day

Leafs' Practice Sponsored By Dominion Stores

The Gift

The Wish List

How The Leafs Celebrated Christmas

Christmas 1960

Young Canada Night

AUSTON MATTHEWS JOINS ELITE COMPANY

Last night, Toronto Maple Leaf forward Auston Matthews equalled a mark held by former Leaf legend, Dave Keon. Matthews' second period tally against the Buffalo Sabres gave him 20 goals on the season. By reaching this total, he became only the second Leaf to hit the 20 goal mark in each of his first four seasons in the NHL.

In comparison to Matthews, Keon reached the 20 goal mark in his fourth season on March 14, 1964. And he did it in spectacular fashion. In the opening period against the New York Rangers at Maple Leaf Gardens, Keon scored his 19th and 20th goals. He added 3 assists for a 5-point night. The Leafs defeated the Rangers 7-3.

As result of a blockbuster deal with the Rangers on February 22, 1964, Keon found himself playing with two Rangers that came over in the trade - Andy Bathgate and Don McKenney. Keon was previously teamed with Dick Duff and George Armstrong. The Rangers obtained Duff and Bob Nevin in the transaction.

"There wasn't a goal against the line," Keon told reporters following the game. "And that's our best showing so far. We were on for five Toronto goals." He then talked about playing with his new linemates. "McKenney likes to skate but Bathgate has been accustomed to that Ranger stop and go system where the man with the puck waits for the other guys to penetrate, then drops it through. But, as I say, if you handle your own zone, the rest is easy."

Known as a complete hockey player, Keon explained that there was more to the game than just producing goals and points. "Goals alone couldn't be enough to satisfy you. I mean that's no proof you're playing well. The idea is to do a two-way job and the points are bound to come."

Keon continued the 20 goal streak which lasted for 6 consecutive seasons - 1960-61 to 1965-66. In his fourth year, he finished with 23 goals.

"It's a big honour to be named in the same breath as that guy {Keon}, his career and what he did here. You know, it's pretty unbelievable," Matthews said after the Leafs 5-3 victory over the Buffalo.

DIRECT FROM THE NORTH POLE

A thumbs-up from Santa during the busy holiday shopping season means a lot.

My book - Bob Goldham Outside the Goal Crease - is available at the following links to Amazon...

amazon dot com

amazon dot ca

Thank-you for your support!

DECK THE HALLS WITH CHRISTMAS CHEER!

After being postponed due to a wintry blast the week before, the annual Original Six Alumni Christmas Lunch was held yesterday in Toronto. With snow still on the ground, the regulars and guests gathered to celebrate the holiday season. A special mention goes out to Al and Lorraine Shaw for their work year round in organizing the lunches. They are the heart and soul of these events, and they became Santa and Mrs. Claus, dealing with the cancellation, then working to get the Christmas lunch back on track.

L to R: Al Shaw, Lorraine Shaw, Susan Foster and Gary Milroy.

L to R: Frank Mahovlich, Bob Baun, Suzanne Primeau, Cheryl Howell, John Bower III, Pete Conacher, and Mike Amodeo 

L to R: Sallie Baun, Gary Collins, Bob Baun, and Betty Collins.

L to R: Jack Dominico and Art Hindle.

L to R: Scott Morrison and Pete Conacher.

The entertainment was provided by the "Singing Priest," Mark Curtis.

L to R: Ron Hurst and Gary Milroy.

L to R: Frank Mahovlich and Sandy Air.

PHOTO CREDIT: Thanks to the very talented Lora Evans for the use of these pictures.

AN ACE OF A NUMBER

There is one honour that belongs to former Toronto Maple Leaf, Ron Ellis, that no other Leaf can claim hold to. On September 24, 1968, Ellis experienced a remarkable moment when another former Leaf, Irvine "Ace" Bailey, requested that Ellis wear his retired number 6. In the history of the Leafs, there are only two retired numbers, Bailey's 6, and Bill Barilko's number 5.

Both numbers were retired under tragic circumstances. Bailey's number was put out of service after he suffered a career ending injury in a game against the Boston Bruins on December 12, 1933. A check by Bruins' defenceman, Eddie Shore, knocked Bailey out cold and caused an injury to his brain. Bill Barilko, who scored the Cup-winning goal for the Leafs in 1951, lost his life after a plane accident in northern Ontario.

The honour bestowed upon Ellis by Bailey, back in '68, was big news, and newspaper readers were informed of the details the following morning.

"My family and I wanted to see somebody wear the number while I was still active in hockey," Bailey told reporters gathered in the Hot Stove Lounge in Maple Leaf Gardens. At the time, Bailey worked Leaf games as a timekeeper. "Ron is a real hockey player who never gives his club any trouble."

Bailey's former teammate, King Clancy, said of Ellis, "He's one of the greatest kids I've ever been with."

The biggest praise for Ellis came from Leafs' coach and GM, Punch Imlach.

"I wouldn't trade him today for another right-winger in hockey, said the boss. "And that goes for Gordie Howe and Rod Gilbert. There wasn't another right-winger in the NHL last season who scored 28 goals and did not play on the power play. Howe, Gilbert, all of them were on the power play."

Also, Bailey pointed out there was a benefit for Ellis switching from number 8 to 6. "This is two digits lighter than your number, so you should go a little faster."

Ron Ellis, noted for his speedy play up and down the right side, wore number 6 until he retired in 1981. He played his entire NHL career wearing the blue & white of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

GALLERY