Arthur Wirtz’ entry to the Hockey Hall of Fame was based on the financial support he gave the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings, and he did legitimately make both franchises more viable. He formed a business partnership with James E. Norris to buy the Detroit Falcons (later renamed the Red Wings) and after helping to bring that team to prominence, he parted amicably with the estate of Norris (who passed away) and bought the Chicago Blackhawks. The team returned to the top of the heap when they won the Stanley Cup in 1961; there first in 23 years.

A star Defenceman on the 1950’s Montreal Canadians, Tom Johnson is not often the first (or even second or third) player you think of when you discuss that franchise, but Johnson’s peak coincided with the best period of the Habs’ storied history. In 1959, Johnson won the Norris Trophy and was named to the First Team All Star roster and was a key part of Montreal’s five consecutive Stanley Cups. Tom Johnson may not have been the fastest skater, but his ability to use his stick and steal the puck from his opponents created countless counter attacks. 

Another longtime administrator who dedicated his professional career to the sport of Hockey, Robert Lebel rose up the ranks to take over as the President of the Quebec Amateur Hockey League in 1955. Shortly thereafter he took over as the President of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association and in 1960 was elected as the President of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Quite an impressive five year period, don’t you think?   Overall, his lifelong work to growing Hockey in Canada and to a lesser extent internationally, paved his induction to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

An excellent two way Defenceman, Bill Gadsby did not have the best of fortune with the teams he played on, as even in the Original Six era, he only played 67 playoff games. Most of those playoff games were on good Red Wings teams from the 60’s, when he was still a good player, but not at his prime like he was the decade before.