Kent Douglas | |||
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Cobalt, ON, CAN |
February 6, 1936||
Died | April 12, 2009 Wasaga Beach, ON, CAN |
(aged 73)||
Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | ||
Weight | 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb) | ||
Position | Defence | ||
Shot | Left | ||
Played for |
Toronto Maple Leafs Oakland Seals Detroit Red Wings New York Raiders |
||
Playing career | 1956–1976 |
For the American actor sometimes known as Kent Douglass see Douglass Montgomery.
Kent Gemmell Douglas (February 6, 1936 – April 12, 2009) was a professional ice hockey defenceman and coach.
Douglas started his career with the Kitchener Canucks in the Ontario Hockey Association. He spent two seasons with the Canucks before spending eight seasons in the American Hockey League and the Western Hockey League with the Springfield Indians, Winnipeg Warriors and the Vancouver Canucks. In Springfield, Douglas came under the tutelage of Hall of Famer Eddie Shore, the then owner of the Indians. There, Douglas learned Shore's tough defensive style of play which contributed to the Indians three consecutive Calder Cup championships from 1960–1962.
In 1962–63, Douglas made his first trip to the National Hockey League. He played with the Toronto Maple Leafs and continued his aggressive style of play during his rookie season in the NHL. In 70 games, Douglas recorded 22 points and 105 PIM. The Leafs, that year, made it to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they played the Detroit Red Wings. Toronto defeated the Red Wings in five games to win the Stanley Cup giving Douglas a Stanley Cup in his first season in the NHL. Douglas was also awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year in the NHL - the first defenceman to do so. The following season, Douglas split his time between the Leafs and the Rochester Americans of the AHL. He played 41 games with the Leafs and 27 games with the Americans that season. His 41 games with the Leafs saw him record only one point.