99. Gus Mortson

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When you have a nickname of “Old Hardrock,” you get an idea of just what type of Defenseman Gus Mortson was. From Northern Ontario, he was paired with another youngster, Jim Thomson, and they would become the ”Gold Dust Twins”.

When you are referred to as a rock, it implies that you were just that on defense, and this was precisely what Mortson was. He was an old-school blueliner (even in that era) who would lead the NHL in Penalty Minutes four times, and he was named a First Team All-Star in 1950. Mortson’s defensive prowess was a large part of the Maple Leafs' rebuilding in the mid-40s, and he would help them win four Stanley Cups.

The Bullet Points

Country of Origin: New Liskeard, Ontario, Canada
Eligible Since: Monday, 01 January 1962
Position: Defence
Games Played: 797
Notable Statistics:
46 Goals
152 Assists
198 Points
N/A Plus/Minus**
1,378 PIM
N/A Blocked Shots*
N/A Hits*
N/A Takeaways*
N/A Giveaways*
54.4 Point Shares

54 Playoff Games
5 Goals
8 Assists
13 Points
N/A Plus/Minus**
N/A Blocked Shots*
N/A Hits*
N/A Takeaways*
N/A Giveaways*

*These stats were first implemented in the 2007/08 Season.
**Plus/Minus was a stat in the 1959/60 Season.
Played For: Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs
Non-NHL Teams: St. Michael's Majors (OHA)
Major Accolades and Awards:
Stanley Cup Rings (4) (Toronto Maple Leafs 1947, 1948, 1949 & 1951)
First Team All-Star (1) (1950)
All-Star (8) (1947, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954 & 1956)
Most Short-Handed Goals (1) (1947)
Most Penalties in Minutes (4) (1947, 1951, 1954 & 1957)
Notable Top Ten Finishes: 9 Top Ten Penalties in Minutes Finishes
2 Top Ten Short-Handed Goals Finishes
5 Top Ten Defensive Point Share Finishes
Rankings: None