Andy Aitkenhead was born in Glasgow, Scotland but was a standout goalie for two full seasons with the New York Rangers from 1932 to 1934. He had played ten years in various minor leagues before his NHL rookie season of 1932-33, a Stanley Cup-winning one, as he played all eight playoff games for the Broadway Blueshirts, winning six and recording two shutouts en route to the championship in four games over Toronto. After playing every game of the following season, though, the team was eliminated from the playoffs quickly and he lost the starter's job the next season to Davey Kerr. Aitkenhead played just ten more NHL games and then spent the next six seasons in the PCHL, retiring in 1941 with a hockey card. Here is his 1933-34 OPC CTNW rookie creation.
Serge Beaudoin was drafted by Philadelphia in the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft because of his fighting abilities having earned 244 minutes in penalties during the 1971-72 QJMHL season. Turned pro with Roanoke of the EHL in 1972-73 and added 400 minutes there over parts of 2 years. Made his pro debut with the WHA's Vancouver Blazers in 1973-74 and made other WHA stops in Phoenix, Cincinnati and Birmingham before his 3 game NHL career with Atlanta in 1979-80. But in three games, Beaudoin didn't impress the right people in the right ways and he was back in the minors, with Birmingham in the CHL, where he retired in 1981 without a mainstream hockey card, here's his Bulls 1978-79 CTNW.
Dick Irvin turned pro with the Portland Rosebuds of the PCHA in 1916-17 but then spent 3 seasons in the military while playing senior hockey. The Regina Capitals were the benefactors of Irvin's return to the pro ranks in 1921-22. He helped the club win the WCHL title that year, but their Stanley Cup aspirations collapsed when they lost to the Vancouver Millionaires. In 1925-26 when the WHL disbanded at the end of the year, Irvin was one of several players purchased by the expansion Chicago Black Hawks of the NHL. Although his finest work as a player was behind him, Irvin still had an impact on the NHL. He was named the Hawks' first captain in 1926-27 and scored an impressive 36 points in 43 contests. That total put him second only to scoring champion Bill Cook of the New York Rangers. Early the next season, Irvin suffered a fractured skull and, even though he returned to play 39 games in 1928-29, he wasn't as effective and decided to retire as a player. He wouldn't earn a hockey card until the 1960-61 Topps OTG productions.
Igor Liba played with the New York Rangers and LA Kings in 1988-89 after a career in Czechoslovakia where he won two Czechoslovakian titles, was named the Czechoslovakian player of the year in 1984 and placed on the country's first all-star team in 1988. Liba helped Czechoslovakia win the silver medal at the 1979 World Junior Championships and represented his country at five World Championships beginning in 1982, including the gold medal triumph in 1985. Liba participated at the 1984, 1988 and 1992 Olympics as well as the Canada Cup in 1984 and 1987. The talented forward was originally drafted 94th overall by the Calgary Flames in 1983. His rights were traded to the Minnesota North Stars five years later but, a few months after that, he was sent to the New York Rangers. He registered seven points in ten games for the Blueshirts before he was traded to the Kings where he notched 18 points for his new club and played two playoff games before deciding the NHL wasn't for him. Here is his 1988-89 Rangers CTNW rookie creation.
Dusan Pasek played 48 games for the Minnesota North Stars in 1988-89 but was best known in international circles as a top domestic player in Czechoslovakia and appearances at the Olympics, World Championships and Canada Cup. During the 70s and 80s he represented Czechoslovakia at two World Junior Championships, three Canada Cups, five World Championships and two Olympiads. He was claimed 81st overall by Minnesota in 1982 and finally suited up for the club late in his career. He was a solid role player and helped the team make the playoffs before he returned to Europe to play in Czechoslovakia, Italy and Finland.
Fern Rivard played 9 seasons of pro hockey after spending 5 junior seasons in Quebec and Ontario appearing in 55 NHL games over 4 seasons with the Minnesota North Stars. He finished his NHL career with nine wins, 26 losses and eleven ties and a career 3.98 GAA. During the 1973-74 season, Rivard played in 13 games with Minnesota after being called up from the AHL's New Haven Nighthawks before making 1974-75 his last year of professional hockey without ever getting a hockey card.
Joe Sullivan starred as the goaltender on numerous championship hockey teams, starting with the University of Toronto Schools Junior A Memorial Cup winners in 1919. In 1920-21, he was captain of the Varsity junior team and a member of the Blues senior team which won the Intercollegiate and Canadian championships. He played on the Blues senior Intercollegiate champions in 1921-22, 1923-24, 1924-25 and 1925-26. In 1926-27, he joined the Varsity Grads, who went on to win the OHA title and the Allan Cup as national senior champions. In 1928, the Varsity Grads won the Olympic Gold Medal in St. Moritz, Switzerland, and Sullivan recorded shutouts in all three games. Here is an Old Judge style CTNW to honor his Olympic showing.
I'll close out this post with an "Odd Ball" batch of creations featuring a group of British Royal Marines who served in the Falkland Islands conflict.
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.