gold star for USAHOF
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.
A gifted skater, Si Griffis transcended effortlessly from the seven man to six man game. Initially a Rover, Griffis moved to Defence and was among the best in his day. The American born (yet Canadian raised) player first became a star in Northwest Ontario leading the Rat Portage (later Kenora) Thistles to prominence leading them to Stanley Cup in 1907. Later, he would ply his trade in the West, captaining the Vancouver Millionaires to the Cup in 1915.
Dubbed “Bootnose” from an unfortunate incident on the losing end of a Rocket Richard punch, Sid Abel should be remembered for more than a colorful nickname from a head butt to a fist. Abel was the Centre of the Detroit Red Wings “Production Line” with Ted Lindsay and Gordie Howe and was a part of three Stanley Cup wins for Motown. His best season was the 1948-49 campaign where Abel captured the Hart Trophy and led the NHL in Goals. After his playing career was done, he became a successful coach, also for Detroit which was the position he held when he was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969. Abel would also have his number 12 retired by the Red Wings.
banker and shipping magnate in Canada’s formative years, Montagu Allan used his wealth to help perpetuate the growth of Hockey. He donated the “Allan Cup” which was awarded to the Senior Amateur’s Men Championship of Canada. Initially, the trophy was in a “challenge” format, but evolved into an annual tourney.   The Allan Cup is still in play today.
Sprague Cleghorn was not just a talented skill player with the puck; he was a feared defender who some called the dirtiest of his era. Regardless, of what label he had, he was a Hall of Famer in every capacity. The punishing Cleghorn was a vital part of two Stanley Cup wins for the Ottawa Senators and later two for the Canadians. Cleghorn was a rough player, but even from the defensive position was still a threat and posted 169 goals, which made him number two all time for blueliners when he retired. 
One of the smoothest playmakers of his day, Stan Mikita won the Art Ross Trophy four times and led the National Hockey League in assists three times. He was part of the Chicago Blackhawks rejuvenation of the 60’s, and though they only won the Cup once, they were a solid squad throughout the decade.
Although Steamer Maxwell (Another cool ass name in the early days of sports) never turned professional, it was not because he was not good enough. FredSteamer” Maxwell had the skills, but he chose to remain in the amateur ranks. With that said, did he have enough of career to justify his Hall Of Fame entry? We have looked up and down at his resume and we aren’t so sure. He did coach his amateur team to a Gold Medal in the 1920 Olympics, and that may have been the primary reason he got in.
A bit of a bubble inductee in our eyes, Steve Shutt was a very good offensive star for the Montreal Canadians dynasty in the 1970’s. The Left Winger was on a line with Guy Lafleur for a large part of his Habs tenure, and as such was rewarded with numerous scoring opportunities. Shutt led the NHL in goals in the 1976-77 season and three times was named to a Post Season All Star Team. He was a five time Stanley Cup winner and elevated his game during the playoffs. He was a bit of a beneficiary to be on a line with Lafleur and on the Canadians in general, but there are others in the Hall who shares similar resumes.
Easily one of the greatest Detroit Red Wings of all time, Steve Yzerman spent his entire 22 year career in Motown and amassed a whopping 1,755 points for them. Yzerman was a godsend to the struggling Red Wings, who were an awful team in the early 80’s, and slowly became a power under Yzerman’s leadership. That was not a misnomer, as he would become the youngest captain in the franchise’s history. He entered the NHL as a good scorer, but he reached elite status for a six year stretch where from 1988 to 1993 he topped the 100 point mark. As he got older, he still was a decent scorer, but he was more than just a leader, as his defensive skills shone through as new offensive stars came to play for Detroit. His loyalty, hard work and dedication paid off as “Stevie Y” was the leader of a now powerful Red Wings team and won three Stanley Cups there. Yzerman not only became a legend in Detroit, but across the border in his native country of Canada, where his leadership was instrumental on their successful International teams. He would later take over as the General Manager for Canada in their 2007 and 2008 World Championships and was the Executive Director for the successful Canadian 2010 Winter Olympic Hockey Team.
The first Russian born player in the National Hockey League, Sweeney Schriner was a lot more than the answer to that trivia question. Schriner was only in “Mother Russia” for the first month in his life, and for all intensive purposes was like any other Canadian kid obsessed with Hockey. Schriner made an immediate impact in the pro ranks winning the Calder Trophy and leading the NHL twice in scoring while a member of the New York Americans.   Schriner was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in what was then an unprecedented five for one deal. His production slipped a bit, but he was still a big part of the Leafs 1942 Stanley Cup win.   
A very consistent producer for the Detroit Red Wings, Syd Howe (no relation to Gordie Howe) bounced around the NHL a bit before landing in Michigan. Howe was not just a good scorer; he was adept at penalty killing, playmaking and defensive checking. We almost wish that he didn’t have the last name of Howe, so that he would not be in the shadows of Gordie.
  
A career Centre for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Syl Apps won a large share of hardware for the Buds. Considered by his peers, his fans and his employers to be one of the classiest guys in the sport, Apps was also a very skilled player. He would twice lead the NHL in assists and retired with a point per game average. He won the first ever Calder Trophy in1937 as the Rookie of the Year, and won the Lady Byng in 1942 and three Stanley Cups. Apps would go down as one of the best captains the Toronto Maple Leafs ever had.
A very good two way defenseman, Sylvio Mantha won a series of Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadians. Despite his reputation for offensive prowess, Mantha was a very capable defender and was an integral part of the Habs four Stanley Cups that he was a part of. A two time Second Team Post Season All Star, Sylvio Mantha is a legitimate member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
The first Hockey player to win the Stanley Cup as a player five times, Ted Kennedy made the most of all of his abilities. He was a dynamic faceoff artist and skilled forechecker. He was not the best skater in the league, but he was able to put himself in perfect positions to get by his opponents effortlessly. 
Unarguably the best Left Wing of the 1950’s, Ted Lindsay was admitted right away to the Hockey Hall of Fame without having to wait the mandatory three year period after retirement. (Though, it should be noted that Lindsay retired once in 1960 and could have gone in before he returned in ’64) “Terrible” Ted was considered one of the toughest players in the NHL and spent his fair share of time in the penalty box, he was also a very good offensive producer and won the Art Ross once and led the league in assists twice. He was also a First team All Star a whopping eight times. 
The “Finnish Flash” had one of the most spectacular rookie seasons in NHL history. Teemu Selanne scored a whopping 76 goals and 132 points for the Winnipeg Jets and became an instant sensation. Statistically, Selanne did not reach those heights again, although he would have three more seasons where he hit the century mark in points. Selanne remained a star into his 40’s and was putting pucks in the net at an age where many people struggle to get off of the couch
Some Hockey experts have referred to Terry Sawchuk as the greatest Goalie of all time. Those who don’t agree with that previous statement will at least agree that he deserves to be a part of the conversation.
At the risk of breaking the illusion to many young donut fans, there really WAS a Tim Horton, and he was one hell of a Hockey player. Horton entered the NHL in the mid 50’s and immediately made an impact being named to the Second Team All Star squad in his second full season. A devastating collision with the New York Rangers’ Bill Gadsby slowed his career a bit, but when he returned to form, he was still a dominant force on the blue line.
Another player who had a wait maybe a year longer than he should have, CecilTiny” Thompson was a backstopping legend in the early days of the National Hockey League. Thompson was a workhorse who constantly won games for the Bruins and eventually helped them win the Stanley Cup in 1929. The workhorse was consistently the top netminder in multiple categories and in all likelihood should have been inducted in the class the year previously. Regardless, Thompson achieved the penultimate goal in Toronto and became a Hall of Famer; albeit later than he should have.
Considered a legend in coaching, it is forgotten just how good a Hockey player that Toe Blake was. He broke in with the Montreal Maroons, but after only playing a handful of games there, he joined the cross town Montreal Canadians and slowly worked his way up the ladder to stardom. Toe’s skills improved and he was rewarded with the Hart Trophy in 1939 and that year was his first of three post season First Team All Star spots. A couple of years later Blake was put on the “Punch Line” with Maurice Richard and Elmer Lach and he remained a consistent producer. “Old Lamplighter” would also become the Canadians Captain for eight seasons.