A strong argument can be made that the first true power forward in hockey was Charlie Conacher, and at the very least, he was one of the first to define the role.
Conacher was a dynamo in junior, leading the Toronto Marlboros to two Memorial Cup wins (1928 & 1929). Conacher stayed in Toronto as a pro, signing with the Maple Leafs, and he rapidly became a star, scoring a goal in the opening game in the 1929-30 season.
The Canadian earned the nickname of the “Big Bomber," using his strength and powerful shot to terrorize opposing netminders. Taking Toronto to a Stanley Cup in 1932, Conacher became the first player to lead the NHL in Goals five times, and he was also a First Team All-Star three times and a Second Team All-Star twice. Conacher was also the runner-up for the Hart Trophy in 1934-35 and was a two-time scoring champion. Considered to be the top Right Wing in the first half of the 1930s, his bruising style caught up with him, and injuries piled up.
Conacher was traded to the Detroit Red Wings, and as a Maple Leaf, he scored nearly a Point per Game (324 Points in 328 Games).
Conacher entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1961, and he was part of the group that had a banner honored by the Leafs in 1998. His #9 (along with Ted Kennedy) was officially retired by Toronto in 2016.
Comments powered by CComment