Loss Of A Legend

The hockey world lost one of the great ambassadors to the game today who played with the original six New York Rangers followed by the Leafs where he won his only Stanley Cup is playing in hockey heaven.

At the young age of 83 the hockey world lost Andy Bathgate who was a true ambassador to the game.

He is a Hockey Hall of Famer who began with the New York Rangers and won his only Stanley Cup with the Toronto Maple Leafs, died Friday.

Originally from Winnipeg he made his mark by consistently leading the Rangers in scoring in the 1950s and early 1960s.

He won the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s MVP after earning 88 points in only 70 games with a Rangers team that finished fifth and out of the playoffs.

In the 1958-’59 season he became the first New York Ranger player to score 40 goals in a season.

In the 61-62 season he tied the NHL scoring lead, but the league’s Art Ross Trophy was given to Black Hawks forward Bobby Hull as he had more goals, a then record-tying 50.

He is also the player who hit Jacques Plante in the face with a shot in 1959, prompting the Montreal Canadiens netminder to wear a mask facial full-time, to the frustration of the team and coaching staff.

He (Bathgate) later mentioned it wasn’t an accident as earlier in the game, Plante had tripped him into the boards, nearly causing a serious injury.

He told the Hall of Fame “Later he had his stick out and I gave him a shot right on his cheek and it wasn’t a slap-shot.

“He went off and came back with the mask on and we thought it was a joke, but he revolutionized the game and I’m not taking credit, but it changed the game for sure.”

Bathgate was known for his playmaking skills and a powerful slap-shot and was signed by the Rangers as a 17-year-old free agent in 1949.

He spent three years with the Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters of the Ontario Hockey Association, winning a Memorial Cup in 1952.

That year, he got his first call-up with the Rangers.

He had 40 points in his first full season in 1954-’55 and emerged as a star the following year with a 66-point campaign. Bathgate averaged over a point a game with the Rangers over the next nine seasons.

He was named New York’s captain in 1961 and wore the ‘C’ until his was sent to the Maple Leafs in a seven-player trade in February 1964.

Bathgate had nine points in 14 playoff games for Toronto that year and scored the game-winner that gave the Maple Leafs a third straight Stanley Cup.

“We went to Game 7 in Toronto tied three games apiece,” Bathgate said. “I got a clean cut breakaway in the first period against (Terry) Sawchuk.

“I put it up over Sawchuk’s left shoulder. I knew he couldn’t lift that arm (due to an injury).”

Two seasons later, he was dealt to Detroit in another multi-player trade.

Dogged by knee injuries for much of his career, Bathgate was left unprotected for the expansion draft in 1967 and was claimed by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

He played one season there, then played two seasons of minor pro hockey in Vancouver before skating in his last NHL season in 1970-’71 with the Penguins.

Bathgate had 973 points (349-624) in 1,069 career regular-season games. He also had 35 points (21-14) in 54 career playoff games.

He was named to the Hall of Fame in 1978. In 2009, his No. 9 jersey was honoured by the Rangers along with defenceman Harry Howell’s No. 3.

The eight-time all-star played his last National Hockey League season in 1970-’71 with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Bathgate had 973 points (349-624) in 1,069 career regular-season games. He also had 35 points (21-14) in 54 career playoff games.

A true Ambassador to the game!!