Taffy Abel

Taffy Abel
Born (1900-05-28)May 28, 1900
Sault Ste. Marie, MI, USA
Died August 1, 1964(1964-08-01) (aged 64)
Sault Ste. Marie, MI, USA
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb)
Position Defense
Shot Left
Played for New York Rangers
Chicago Black Hawks
National team  United States
Playing career 1924–1934
Olympic medal record
Men's ice hockey
1924 Chamonix Team Competition

Clarence John "Taffy" Abel (May 28, 1900 – August 1, 1964) was a professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was a member of two Stanley Cup championship teams. He was the first United States-born player to become a NHL regular. He is a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.

Playing career

Clarence "Taffy" Abel was a silver medalist on the United States in the 1924 Olympics, serving as flagbearer for the U.S. delegation.[1] Abel scored 15 goals for the United States in the tournament.[2]

As a member of the Minneapolis Millers of the CHL during the 1925-26 season, Abel was named to the CHL's First All-Star team at the defense position.

Abel played in the NHL for eight years. He was signed by Conn Smythe to the New York Rangers, largely based upon his strong performance at the Winter Olympics in 1924.[3] With the Rangers, he wore sweater number 4, and, paired with defenseman Ching Johnson, was a key member of the Stanley Cup winning Rangers team in 1927-28. After the 1929 season, Abel's rights were sold to the Chicago Black Hawks, where he played five more years, wearing sweater number 2.[4] Abel was a member of the Cup-winning Black Hawks in 1933-34, his last NHL season.

Abel returned to Sault Ste. Marie after retirement, coaching ice hockey and operating a tourist hotel.[5] At the age of 64, on August 1, 1964, Clarence Abel died in his home in Sault Ste. Marie. Nine years later, he was inducted into the United States Hall of Fame as a player.

The home rink for the Lake Superior State University hockey program is named after Taffy Abel.

Career statistics

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1924 United States (Olympics) 5 15 0 15 — — — — —
1924–25 St. Paul Hockey Club USAHA 39 8 0 8 n/a — — — — —
1925–26 Minneapolis Millers CHL 23 0 1 1 28 — — — — —
1926–27 New York Rangers NHL 44 8 4 12 78 2 0 1 1 6
1927–28 New York Rangers NHL 23 0 1 1 28 9 1 0 1 14
1928–29 New York Rangers NHL 44 3 1 4 41 6 0 0 0 8
1929–30 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 38 3 3 6 42 2 0 0 0 10
1930–31 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 43 0 1 1 45 9 0 0 0 8
1931–32 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 48 3 3 6 34 2 0 0 0 2
1932–33 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 47 0 4 4 63 — — — — —
1933–34 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 46 2 1 3 28 8 0 0 0 8
NHL totals 333 19 18 37 359 38 1 1 2 56

References

  1. ↑ http://pressbox.teamusa.org/Pages/Luge-Athlete-Mark-Grimmette-Selected-as-Flag-Bearer-for-2010-U-S--Olympic-Team.aspx
  2. ↑ "Clarence "Taffy" Abel". NHL.com. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Clarence "Taffy" Abel". New York Rangers. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
  4. ↑ The National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book/2009. Triumph Books. 2007. p. 604. ISBN 978-1-60078-148-3.
  5. ↑ Podnieks, p. 3

External links

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