Called the “Cannonball” because of his powerful shot, Didier Pitre was one of the more versatile and durable players of his or any time. The speedy skater started off as a Rover, later a Forward and as his skills naturally declined he transferred to Defence where his Hockey IQ was still serviceable in the professional ranks. Despite playing for multiple teams, Pitre was with the Habs for twelve seasons and was an important piece of the franchise’s early history.

Another somewhat curious induction to the Hockey Hall of Fame massive class of ’63, “Bullet” Joe Simpson may have gotten in just based on his cool nickname. Simpson was christened the “Bullet” due to his speed and his end to end rushes were known throughout the sport. Newsy Lalonde called him the greatest player ever (this may have also helped his induction) and he was a multiple time All Star for the Edmonton Eskimos in the Western Hockey League. He did make it to the National Hockey League and had a few years for the New York Americans, but he did not have a season there of note.

An incredible athlete in the Ottawa area during the turn of the century (He was also an excellent Lacrosse Goaltender and he played Fullback for the Ottawa Rough Riders), Bouse Hutton was the Goalie of the legendary Ottawa Silver Seven and was part of their Stanley Cup dominance for a stretch. Hutton posted impressive Goals Against Averages in an era where a double digit scores were common. Incidentally, Hutton would win the Stanley Cup, the CFL Championship and the Minto Cup (then awarded to the top Senior Lacrosse team in Canada) in the same calendar year. Can you imagine a similar trilogy of accomplishments by ANYBODY today?

The top goal scoring Centre for the Rat Portage/Kenora Thistles, Billy McGimsie averaged nearly three goals a game for his small town club. He spent his entire six year career there and was a large part of the team winning their lone Stanley Cup in 1907. The Thistles story is a good one, and McGimsie was a top player there, but does this team have too much love from the Hockey Hall of Fame?