- Johnny Bucyk
Infobox Ice Hockey Player
image_size =
position = Left Wing
played_for =Boston Bruins Detroit Red Wings
shot = Right
height_ft = 6
height_in = 0
weight_lb = 215
nationality = CAN
birth_date = birth date and age|1935|5|12
birth_place =Edmonton ,Alberta , CA
career_start = 1955
career_end = 1978
halloffame = 1981John Paul "Chief" Bucyk (born on
May 12 , 1935, inEdmonton ,Alberta ) is a retired professionalice hockey left winger andHockey Hall of Famer . As of 2008, he has been a member of theBoston Bruins ' organization for an unprecedented fifty consecutive years.Playing career
Bucyk was a skilled left winger who was (at 6', 215 lb) the largest of his day. While he never was regarded as the best at his position (being a contemporary of superstars
Bobby Hull andFrank Mahovlich ), he had a long and stellar career, and retired as the fourth leading point scorer of all time and having played the third most games in history. Despite his reputation for devastating hip checks, he was a notably clean player who won theLady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship in 1971 and 1974.Bucyk played junior hockey for four seasons for his hometown Edmonton Oil Kings before signing with the
Detroit Red Wings in 1955. Two modest years later in 1958, he was traded to the Bruins in a surprising deal forTerry Sawchuk , one of the greatest goaltenders of the day. To this day, the deal is considered one of the most one-sided trades in NHL history. While Sawchuk's best days proved to be behind him, Bucyk more than justified the deal by becoming an immediate star in Boston with hisUke Line partners ofVic Stasiuk andBronco Horvath , helping Horvath to finish fifth in the league in scoring in 1958 and second in 1960, tying withBobby Hull of Chicago in goals.However, thereafter the team fell on hard times in the sixties, finishing in last place five straight seasons, during which time Bucyk -- generally paired with centre
Murray Oliver and winger Tommy Williams -- led the team in scoring several times. When the Bruins became a powerhouse in the late Sixties, Bucyk -- by then the team captain -- rose with the pack, with great production including a 51-goal season in the 1970–71 season in his mid-thirties, and helping the Bruins to win twoStanley Cup titles in 1970 and 1972. Bucyk proved particularly effective playing on the left side on Boston's greatly feared power play unit, which featuredPhil Esposito , John McKenzie,Bobby Orr andFred Stanfield .Bucyk starred into his penultimate season (during which he surrendered his team captaincy, while suffering an injury, to
Wayne Cashman ), and ended his playing career after the 1978 season, after which the Bruins retired his number #9 jersey. He scored 545 goals as a Bruin, the most in franchise history. OnlyRay Bourque has subsequently passed his team mark for points and assists.Bucyk remains affiliated with the Bruins, serving on various occasions as a broadcaster and in the front office. He is currently the team's director of road services.
Bucyk was inducted into the
Hockey Hall of Fame in 1981.Career statistics
Achievements and facts
* Is currently 22nd of all-time
National Hockey League goal scorers and 21st all-time of point scorers.
* Retired as the leading career point scorer among left wings, a record recently surpassed byLuc Robitaille .
* Is currently tenth all-time in NHL games played.
* Recorded sixteen twenty-goal seasons.
* Named a First Team All-Star in 1971 and a Second Team All-Star in 1968.
* Won theLady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship in 1971 and 1974
* WonLester Patrick Trophy for contributions to hockey in the United States in 1977.
* Played in the All-Star Game in 1955, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1970 and 1971.
* Leads the Bruins in career goals and longest consecutive game streak; second toRay Bourque in career games, assists and points.
* Known as the "Chief" due to presumed Native American looks; in fact, he was of Ukrainian ancestry.
* When the Bruins ended their twenty-nine year championship drought in 1970, Bucyk was given the honour of being the first player of the team to hoist the Stanley Cup around theBoston Garden .
* His nephew Randy Bucyk played for the Northeastern University Huskies and theMontreal Canadiens andCalgary Flames organizations, playing in 19 NHL games total and playing for the Canadian national team in 1989.
* Oldest player to score 50 goals (51 goals in 1970–71) at age 35.
* Also oldest player scoring 50 or more for 1st time in career. (1970–71).
* In 1998, he was ranked number 45 on "The Hockey News "' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.ee also
*
List of NHL statistical leaders
*List of NHL players with 1000 points
*List of NHL players with 500 goals
*List of NHL players with 1000 games played External links
*Legendsmember|Player|P198101|Johnny Bucyk
*hockeydb|648|Johnny Bucyk
* [http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=289012 Bruins, fans play 'Hail to the Chief']
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