Tommy Anderson was born in Scotland, but raised in Calgary, and played in the NHL for the Detroit Red Wings and the New York Americans. He made his NHL debut in 1934-35 with the Wings, one season before they won back-to-back Stanley Cups, and went to the Amerks for 1935-36. After Detroit sold him to the Amerks, he recorded four seasons of at least ten goals, and was still there in 1941-42 when they became the Brooklyn Americans. Anderson became the first player on a last place team to win the Hart Trophy in his last NHL season. Stranger still it was his first season ever as a defenseman !! Following that he enlisted for military duty and after returning would not get back to the big league. Upon his discharge he found the NHL was not interested in a 35 year old player. He continued to play in the minor leagues, first a season with the AHL Providence Reds and then a final season with PCHL's Hollywood Wolves in 1946-47. He would never get a hockey card issued, client wanted Canadian Gum Style cards for both his NHL stops. (Although there is no record of Anderson playing in Toronto the internet, and in fact the NHL site gallery, is full of photos of him in the Maple Leaf uniform. If anyone has any insight as to why this is would appreciate an update !!!)
Dan Hodgson was a slick offensive center who played parts of four NHL seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks in the late 80s. In 1982-83 he scored 56 goals for the Prince Albert Raiders and was drafted 85th overall by the Maple Leafs. He also played for Canada at the World Junior Championships in 1984 and 1985, winning gold at the latter tournament, and led the Raiders to the 1985 Memorial Cup, being named MVP of the tournament and named the Canadian Major Junior Player of the Year. Hodgson showed flashes of excitement for Toronto with 13 goals in 40 games as an NHL rookie in 1985-86 before he was dispatched to the AHL's St. Catharines Saints. The next season he received a new lease on life when he was sent to the Vancouver Canucks but was unable to produce points. After playing with the Milwaukee Admirals of the IHL in 1988-89, he signed with HC Fribourg-Gotteron of the Swiss League, spent two years in Munich and then played with Swiss clubs SC Langnau, Davos and Zurich before retiring in 2001. He would never get an NHL card.
Mark Messier was instrumental in the 1987 Canadian victory. Although he took a back seat to the likes of Gretzky, Lemieux and Coffey, his leadership stands out first and foremost. Messier was most often matched up against the famed Soviet Green Unit - the KLM Line with Krutov, Larionov and Makarov. Messier shutdown Larionov in particular. By doing so, he showed his teammates that he was willing to sacrifice goals and assists for the good of the team.
Jeff Norton starred for Cardinal Cushing Academy in 1983-84 then was drafted 62nd overall by the New York Islanders. He played three years at the University of Michigan where he was a second team CCHA all-star in 1987. The talented rearguard spent the 1987-88 seasons with Team U.S.A. and took part in the Calgary Olympics, joining the Islanders following the Games. That would be the first of his 15 NHL seasons during which he also play with San Jose (three times), St. Louis, Edmonton, Tampa Bay, Florida (twice), Pittsburgh and finish up in Boston for 3 games retiring after the 2001-02 season. Here is his only Bruins card.
Mike Condon played high school hockey in Massachusetts before joining Princeton for 4 seasons of varsity. Turned pro in 2012-13 with 9 games in the ECHL and AHL followed by another season with Wheeling in the ECHL where he posted 6 shutouts and a 2.18 GAA. That earned him a free agent contract with Montreal and he played 55 games as a rookie in 2015-16. The next year saw him on the move when Pittsburgh claimed him on waivers. After playing a single game as a Penguin he was traded to Ottawa on Nov. 2, 2016, client requested cards for these 2 stops. He had a number of 2015-16 Canadiens rookie cards issued.
Sometime ago I purchased a copy of Montreal Canadiens book that was signed by a group of Habs players after their 1985-86 Stanley Cup win. The reason was John Kordic was one of the signatures and later a Toronto Maple Leaf. This is an almost impossible to find graph at any price so when I was able to get the book for a fifth of his going rate I was ecstatic. I neatly cut out the frontal page of signatures and gave the book to my grandson who unfortunately has been brainwashed by his father into a Habs fan ;(
I'll end this post with the resulting PaperCut Autograph cards that were created from this page, all except Kordic are available for purchase and all have finished backs like the Kordic.
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.