Russell Oatman
| Russell Oatman | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 19, 1905 Tillsonburg, ON, CAN |
| Died | October 25, 1964 (aged 59) |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
| Weight | 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb) |
| Position | Left Wing |
| Shot | Left |
| Played for | Minneapolis Rockets Victoria Cougars Detroit Cougars Montreal Maroons New York Rangers Hamilton Tigers Niagara Falls Cataracts |
| Playing career | 1920–1930 |
Warren Russell Oatman (February 19, 1905 – October 25, 1964) - was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. Oatman played 121 games in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Cougars, Montreal Maroons and New York Rangers. His brother Eddie Oatman also played professional ice hockey. Russell had only one son Gerry Oatman as well as three grand children Debbie, Gerry Jr. and his professional hockey playing brothers namesake Eddie Oatman.
Playing career
Although Oatman was born in Ontario, Oatman is first recorded playing organized hockey in Victoria, British Columbia in 1920. He played one season with the Minneapolis Rockets before joining the Victoria Cougars in 1925. The Cougars, Stanley Cup champions at the time, advanced to the 1926 Stanley Cup Final against the Montreal Canadiens, but were defeated. The Cougars' player rights were sold to the owners of the new Detroit franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL) and Oatman joined the new Detroit Cougars. He was traded to the Montreal Maroons in January 1927. He played for the Maroons until December 1928 when he was traded to the New York Rangers. Oatman's time in the NHL ended when he was traded by the Rangers to the minor-league Hamilton Tigers in October 1929. He was later traded that season by the Tigers to the Niagara Falls Cataracts in January 1930.
The end of Oatman's hockey career came on the night of March 13, 1930. While travelling with Niagara Falls Cataracts team-mate Steve Yankoski for a game, the car went off the road to avoid a head-on collision, but crashed into a hydro pole. Oatman suffered a broken left leg, which required surgery and a permanent steel plate. He would work in Toronto for a pharmaceutical company, and coach minor league hockey teams.