A somewhat puzzling induction, Tom Hooper’s induction is largely based on his performance in the Kenora Thistles Stanley Cup win in 1907 where he scored three goals in the second game. Hooper would win another Cup, but was largely ineffective in that win for his Montreal Wanderers. Hooper had a good career, but his is one of the pre-NHL inductions that we will openly question.

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.

Thought to be one of the fastest skaters in his day, Samuel “Rusty” Crawford was a very good goal scorer who had his best run in a five year stint with the Quebec Bulldogs in the old National Hockey Association. Crawford out in over sixty goals in that period and won a Cup. Later, he finally joined the NHL and won the Stanley Cup with the Toronto Arenas. Crawford would not stay in the National Hockey League, but would continue to play semi-pro until the age of 45.

One of the top netminders in the first decade of the 1900’s, Riley Hern posted a sick winning percentage everywhere he went. Hern’s best days were with the Montreal Wanderers where he won four Stanley Cups there. In all likelihood, he might have been able to have won more, but he retired at the age of 30 when his clothing business took off. In his era, like all the others since, a four time Cup winning Goalie can always be insured of a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame.