gold star for USAHOF

1973 Hockey Inductees

Headlined by the best Defenceman of his era, Doug Harvey the 1973 Class is a little thin beyond him. With Tommy Smith (deserving but forgotten) and Chuck Rayner (A Hart Trophy winner that we could make a case against) also entering, this class really is the Doug Harvey show.
Depending on whom you ask, the induction of Chuck Rayner to the Hockey Hall of Fame may be a bit of a curious one. Overall, Rayner’s career was not an extensive one (Interrupted by his service in World War II), but upon his return to the NHL, he did win the Hart Trophy and was a Second Team All Star three times. His other claim to…
The unquestioned top Defenceman in his era (so why didn’t he get fast tracked to the Hall of Fame like others around this time? We’ll get to that in a bit) Doug Harvey won seven Norris Trophies to testify to that fact. His brilliant offensive rushes were equally matched by his defensive prowess and desire to stop offensive attackers at any cost. Harvey was the top…
Hartland Molson (Yes, Canadians, he is from THAT Molson family) would become the President and Chairman of the Montreal Canadians and under his watch, the Habs became the most valuable commodity in the sport of Hockey. Molson also worked on behalf of the NHL Finance funds and was a big part in owner/player relations. Maybe, Gary Bettman could have used him the last twenty years.
On the Stanley Cup for helping out the Ottawa Silver Seven for a few games in 1905, Tommy Smith turned professional the following year with the Pittsburgh Professionals in the IHL and led the league in scoring. Smith actually never stayed anywhere long, but regardless of what team and what league he played in, was usually put in goals by the truckload. Tommy Smith would win…