Dave Schultz (ice hockey)

For other people of the same name, see David Schultz (disambiguation).
Dave Schultz
Born October 14, 1949 (1949-10-14) (age 62)
Waldheim, SK, CAN
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for NHL
Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Los Angeles Kings
Buffalo Sabres
AHL
Quebec Aces
Richmond Robins
Rochester Americans
EHL
Salem Rebels
NHL Draft 52nd overall (Round 5, Pick 4), 1969
Philadelphia Flyers
Playing career 1969–1980

David William "The Hammer"[1] Schultz (born October 14, 1949) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. Schultz is renowned as one of hockey's greatest enforcers and holds the NHL record for most penalty minutes in a single season, at 472.[2]

Contents

Playing career

Schultz was known as a point producer in junior hockey, but became an 'enforcer' in his first year of pro hockey with Salem of the EHL, prior to joining the Philadelphia Flyers, where he would become famous.

Schultz earned the nickname "The Hammer" for his aggressive style of hockey. He was one of the most notable enforcers on the Philadelphia Flyers' infamous "Broad Street Bullies." After winning two Stanley Cups with the Flyers (1973–4 and 1974–5), "The Hammer" drifted through several teams (Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings and Buffalo Sabres) in search of a permanent position. When GMs tried to find some "muscle" for their fledgling clubs, they thought of him.

Schultz was more than a traditional enforcer; he scored 20 goals for Philadelphia in 1973–4. He also scored the series-clinching goal in overtime in the first round of the 1974 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Atlanta Flames.

After injuring his wrist in a fight, Schultz once put boxing wraps on his hands for protection. As things usually went, Dave had several fights in ensuing games, while wearing the wraps. However, soon after, enforcers in both the National Hockey League and World Hockey Association started wearing similar hand protection. This was not to protect an already injured hand/wrist, but to prevent themselves from injury in a fight. Soon after this trick became popular, both the WHA and NHL passed what became known as the "Schultz Rule" — thus banning the boxing wraps' temporary involvement in professional ice hockey.

Biography

Schultz co-authored a book entitled The Hammer with Stan Fischler[3] that provides insights into the world of a professional ice hockey enforcer.

He also sang a local Philadelphia hit song called "The Penalty Box" in the mid 1970s.

Awards

Records

Career statistics

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1969–70 Salem Rebels EHL 67 32 37 69 356 — — — — —
1969–70 Quebec Aces AHL 8 0 0 0 13 — — — — —
1970–71 Quebec Aces AHL 71 14 23 37 382 1 0 0 0 15
1971–72 Richmond Robins AHL 76 18 28 46 392 — — — — —
1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
1972–73 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 76 9 12 21 259 11 1 0 1 51
1973–74 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 73 20 16 36 348 17 2 4 6 139
1974–75 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 76 9 17 26 472 17 2 3 5 83
1975–76 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 71 13 19 32 307 16 2 2 4 90
1976–77 Los Angeles Kings NHL 76 10 20 30 232 9 1 1 2 45
1977–78 Los Angeles Kings NHL 8 2 0 2 27 — — — — —
1977–78 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 66 9 25 34 378 — — — — —
1978–79 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 47 4 9 13 157 — — — — —
1978–79 Buffalo Sabres NHL 28 2 3 5 86 3 0 2 2 4
1979–80 Buffalo Sabres NHL 13 1 0 1 28 — — — — —
1979–80 Rochester Americans AHL 56 10 14 24 248 4 1 0 1 12
NHL totals 535 79 121 200 2294 73 8 12 20 412

References

  1. ^ "Part V -- Top enforcers". espn.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/preview2005/news/story?id=2172431. Retrieved 11 October 2010. 
  2. ^ "1969 NHL DRAFT PICK: Dave Schultz". hockeydraftcentral.com. http://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1969/69052.html. Retrieved 11 October 2010. 
  3. ^ "The Hammer: Confessions of a Hockey Enforcer". bookfinder.com. http://www.bookfinder.com/dir/i/The_Hammer-Confessions_of_a_Hockey_Enforcer/0671431811/. Retrieved 11 October 2010. 

External links