Max Bentley, known as the "Dipsy-Doodle Dandy from Delisle", was the youngest of the three NHL Bentley brothers. Max originally had a tryout with Boston as a 16-year-old, but he looked so small the Bruins sent him packing. On his way home, he stopped off in Montreal to try out with the Habs, and there the Canadiens' doctor told Max if he didn't go home and forget about hockey he wouldn't live a year !!! He went on to play 646 NHL games starting in Chicago, his 1951-52 rookie card shows him as a Maple Leaf so here's his Blackhawks rookie.
Jim Conacher moved from Scotland to Canada when he was six and began his pro career in 1941 with the Omaha Knights of the AHA. After he returned from military service in 1945-46, Conacher played 20 games for the Detroit Red Wings, scoring a goal and six points. He would also see NHL stops in Chicago and New York over a 328 game career. His 1951-52 rookie card shows him as a Ranger so here's his Red Wings rookie.
Max Labovitch was one of a handful of NHL players of Jewish descent. He played in the MAHA for the Winnipeg JV Rangers in 1940-41 and then went on to the Winnipeg Rangers of the MJHL the following season. In 1942-43 and in 1944-45 he missed both of the entire season due to military service. The season in between this (1943-44) Labovitch played five games with the New York Rangers, recording no points but four penalty minutes. That would be his NHL career and didn't get him a hockey card.
Pentti Lund was born in Finland but played his junior hockey in Ontario. He turned pro in 1945-46 with the Boston Olympics of the EHL. During the playoffs of that year he scored 15 points in only nine games and during his second year he led the league in scoring. In 1947-48, he moved to the AHL and was rewarded with an appearance in two Boston Bruin playoff games. Traded to the Rangers in 1948 got his NHL career off to a great start by winning the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie on the strength of his 30 points in 59 games and became the first Finnish-born player to score a goal in the NHL. His only hockey cards, 1951-52 and 1952-53 Parkhurst, show him as a Bruin !! Here's his Rangers version.
with the New York Americans in '31-32 and '32-33. His last NHL appearance came after he was named as the assistant trainer for the Chicago Black Hawks and had to replace an injured Harry Lumley in a game against the Detroit Red Wings early into the 1951-52 season becoming the oldest ever NHL goaltender !!! He would never get a hockey card. We have posted him previously as a Bruin, here's his Blackhawk creation.
Sid Abel should need very little bio, playing 14 NHL seasons and coaching another 16 seasons. For all that he got only a single hockey card as a player, his '51-52 Parkhurst Red Wings rookie. Here's a '53-54 Parkie Blackhawk request.
Jacques Plante earned a lot of things in his NHL career but a 1953-54 hockey card wasn't one of them, here's one by request.
Pete Conacher played in the NHL for the Chicago Black Hawks, the New York Rangers and his hometown Leafs. His NHL career spanned the years 1951 to 1958, and he went on to play in the AHL with the Buffalo Bisons and the Hershey Bears until 1966. He would get cards as a Blackhawk and a Maple Leaf, here's his Rangers creation.
Jean-Paul Lamirande began his NHL hockey career with the New York Rangers, who called him up for the 1946-47 season. He managed only one goal and one assist before being sent to the minors. He would make 2 more short stops on Broadway before attracting the attention of the Montreal Canadiens, who acquired him for cash from the Rangers and used him for a single game in the 1954-55 season. He would get a card as part of the 1951-52 B&D Laval Dairy QSHL set.
George McAvoy represented Canada at the 1955 World Championships which was by far the greatest honour of his career. He responded with two goals and four points in eight games but is perhaps best remembered for a crushing hit on Russia's Vsevolod Bobrov. McAvoy's crushing bodycheck did not go unnoticed. A Montreal Canadiens scout was in attendance and readily offered McAvoy a contract after the game, which the rugged defender accepted without hesitation. Although McAvoy never played a regular season game in the NHL, he was called upon to play for the Montreal Canadiens for four playoff games in 1955. He would never get a hockey card issued.
Guy Rousseau spent spending five years in the Quebec Junior Hockey League with four different teams and taking part in two Memorial Cups in 1954 and 1955. He made his NHL debut with the Canadiens during the 1954-55 season while still a member of the QJHL. Rousseau played in two games with Montreal, scoring his first career NHL point, before he was sent back to juniors. He would ass another 2 games in 1956-57 to close out his NHL career. He would get a card as part of the 1951-52 B&D OHA/QJHL Junior set.
Thanks to Bob Weschler, Lenard Ryan, Ralph Naylor & Bob Fulton for another group of custom requests.
You can purchase these cards, or any of my Missing Link creations, for $10 each postpaid, or $7.95 each for 3 or more. Email me at: [email protected], volume discounts available on larger orders.