Charlie Conacher | |||
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Hockey Hall of Fame, 1961 | |||
Born |
Toronto, ON, CAN |
December 20, 1909||
Died | December 30, 1967 Toronto, ON, CAN |
(aged 58)||
Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
Weight | 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb) | ||
Position | Right Wing | ||
Shot | Right | ||
Played for |
Toronto Maple Leafs Detroit Red Wings New York Americans |
||
Playing career | 1929–1941 |
Charles William "The Big Bomber" Conacher, Sr. (December 20, 1909 – December 30, 1967) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and New York Americans in the National Hockey League. An early power forward, Conacher was nicknamed "The Big Bomber," for his size, powerful shot and goal scoring. He led the NHL five times in goals, and twice led in overall scoring. Over five seasons from 1931-32 to 1935-36 Conacher was named to three NHL First All-Star Teams and two NHL Second All-Star Teams. He is an Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. In 2013, Charlie Conacher was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. On January 1, 2017, in a ceremony prior to the Centennial Classic, Conacher was part of the first group of players to be named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history.
Conacher played three years of junior hockey, most notably with the Toronto Marlboros. Playing with future Maple Leafs teammate Harvey "Busher" Jackson, he achieved staggering scoring numbers, leading the Marlboros to the Memorial Cup playoffs in 1928 and 1929. In 28 playoff games with the Marlies in those two seasons, Conacher scored 50 goals, including 28 goals in the 1929 playoffs to lead his team to a Memorial Cup championship, its first of six eventual titles.
Signed the next season by the Maple Leafs with Jackson, Toronto manager Conn Smythe paired the two with former farmhand Joe Primeau. The trio, nicknamed the "Kid Line" for their inexperience - Primeau was 23, Conacher and Jackson both 18 - became an immediate sensation in Toronto, as Conacher scored his first NHL goal in Toronto's opening 2-2 tie with the Chicago Black Hawks on November 14. Although he missed six games at the end of the season with an infected hand, he finished the season with 20 goals.