Shorty Green

Wilfred “Shorty” Green actually wasn’t that short (he was 5 ft 10) but his slender frame made him appear so. Green was an amateur star and joined the pro ranks relatively late, but he was an instant leader on his team and a fan favorite for his hard hitting style despite his small frame. Green’s offensive production though is not one that resembles a Hall of Fame career, but it was he who led the first ever strike in the NHL feeling that his team (Hamilton) was underpaid and demanded that each player receive a 200 dollar bonus when he learned the franchise was not as hard up as claimed. The strike did not yield a bonus and the team was sold to New York and became the Americans. Green’s induction is largely based on being an early advocate for player’s rights.