Eddy Shore was an NHL hockey legend and is considered one of the greatest defensemen in the history of ice hockey. He played the majority of his career in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Boston Bruins.
Shore was known for his physical and aggressive style of play, often leading the league in penalty minutes while also contributing offensively.
His full name was Edward William Shore and he was born on November 25, 1902, in Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan, Canada, and passed away on March 16, 1985, in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States.
During his career, which spanned from 1926 to 1940, Shore won the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player four times. He was also part of two Stanley Cup-winning teams with the Boston Bruins in 1929 and 1939.
The Legendary Toughness of Eddy Shore
Shore was infamous for his physical style of play and toughness. In one game against the Montreal Maroons in 1933, Shore was involved in a violent collision that left him with a serious head injury. Despite being knocked unconscious, he returned to the game later and scored the winning goal in overtime.
In another incident in 1933, during a game in Montreal, Shore was involved in a scuffle with a fan. The fan had been heckling him throughout the game, and after an altercation, Shore punched the fan. He was later fined $100 by the league for the incident.
The Eddie Shore and Ace Bailey incident is one of the most infamous and tragic incidents in NHL history. It occurred on December 12, 1933, during a game between Shore’s Boston Bruins and Bailey’s Toronto Maple Leafs.
During the game, Shore delivered a hard check on Bailey, causing him to fall and hit his head on the ice. The impact of the fall resulted in a severe head injury for Bailey. He was unconscious and bleeding on the ice, and his life was in immediate danger.
Shore, realizing the seriousness of the situation, immediately rushed to Bailey’s aid. He accompanied him to the hospital and stayed by his side throughout the night. Bailey eventually survived but suffered a fractured skull and a career-ending head injury.
This incident had a profound impact on Shore. It made him reflect on the consequences of his aggressive style of play and the potential for serious injury in the game. From that point on, Shore toned down his physicality and changed his approach to the game.
The incident also led to a remarkable gesture of reconciliation and forgiveness. In 1934, a benefit game was organized between NHL stars (including Eddy Shore), and the Toronto Maple Leafs to raise funds for Bailey’s medical expenses. This game in 1934 is considered to be the first all-star game which has become a yearly tradition in the NHL.
Off the ice, Eddy Shore was known for his entrepreneurial spirit. He owned multiple minor league hockey teams, including the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League (AHL), which he also played for and later coached.
Eddy Shore’s impact on the game of hockey was significant, both as a player and as a pioneering figure in the development of the sport. His aggressive style of play and dedication to physical fitness set new standards for defensemen and left a lasting legacy in the NHL.
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