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Gus Mortson

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Gus Mortson
Mortson at St. Michaels College, c. 1944
Born (1925-01-24)January 24, 1925
New Liskeard, Ontario, Canada
Died August 8, 2015(2015-08-08) (aged 90)
Timmins, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Toronto Maple Leafs
Chicago Black Hawks
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career 1945–1967

James Angus Gerald "Old Hardrock" Mortson (January 24, 1925 – August 8, 2015) was a Canadian ice hockey defenceman in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Black Hawks, and Detroit Red Wings, winning four Stanley Cups with Toronto. He also played in eight NHL All-Star Games.

Early career

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Mortson grew up in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. He joined the St. Michael's Majors of the Ontario Hockey Association Jr. league in 1943–44 and played two seasons for them. He then turned professional and played for the United States Hockey League's Tulsa Oilers in 1945–46, compiling 48 points in 51 games.[1]

National Hockey League

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In 1946–47 Mortson joined the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs, where he played for the next six seasons. He and fellow defenceman Jim Thomson were known as the "Gold Dust Twins", and the two helped the Maple Leafs win Stanley Cups in 1947, 1948, 1949, and 1951. In the 1948 All-Star game, Mortson and Gordie Howe squared off and, as of 2015, are the only players to fight in an NHL All-Star Game.[2] In 1950, Mortson was named to the league's first all-star team.[1]

In 1952 Mortson was traded to the Chicago Black Hawks, along with Cal Gardner, Ray Hannigan, and Al Rollins, for Harry Lumley. Mortson played for the Black Hawks for six seasons. In 1956–57 he led the league in penalty minutes for the fourth time. He was then traded to the Detroit Red Wings in 1958 and played one season for them.[1] Mortson played 797 games and had 198 points and 1,380 penalty minutes in his 13-year NHL career.[1] He was known for his physical play and got into numerous fights.[3]

Later career

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After his NHL career ended, Mortson played professional hockey with the American Hockey League's Buffalo Bisons, and retired in 1967 while playing semi-professional with the Oakville Oaks of the Ontario Hockey Association Senior A League.[1]

Post-hockey and death

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After retirement from hockey Mortson was involved in the food and beverage business and lived in Oakville, Ontario.[4] In 1970, he moved to Timmins becoming a stockbroker[5] and later as a mining company representative.[4] He died in Timmins, Ontario, on August 8, 2015. He was 90 years old, survived by his wife Sheila and six children, and predeceased by one son.[6][4]

Awards and achievements

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Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Bold indicates led league

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1942–43 Kirkland Lake Lakers GBHL — — — — — — — — — —
1943–44 Toronto St. Michael's Majors OHA 25 5 11 16 16 12 2 2 4 12
1943–44 Oshawa Generals M-Cup — — — — — 8 1 4 5 4
1944–45 Toronto St. Michael's Majors OHA 17 6 12 18 18 6 1 5 6 8
1944–45 Toronto St. Michael's Majors M-Cup — — — — — 14 6 4 10 12
1945–46 Tulsa Oilers USHL 51 19 29 48 47 13 1 5 6 12
1946–47 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 60 5 13 18 133 11 1 3 4 22
1947–48 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 58 7 11 18 118 5 1 2 3 2
1948–49 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 60 2 13 15 85 9 2 1 3 8
1949–50 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 68 3 14 17 125 7 0 0 0 18
1950–51 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 60 3 10 13 142 11 0 1 1 4
1951–52 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 65 1 10 11 106 4 0 0 0 8
1952–53 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 68 5 18 23 88 7 1 1 2 6
1953–54 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 68 5 13 18 132 — — — — —
1954–55 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 65 2 11 13 133 — — — — —
1955–56 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 52 5 10 15 87 — — — — —
1956–57 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 70 5 18 23 147 — — — — —
1957–58 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 67 3 10 13 62 — — — — —
1958–59 Detroit Red Wings NHL 36 0 1 1 22 — — — — —
1958–59 Buffalo Bisons AHL 29 3 9 12 46 11 3 3 6 12
1959–60 Buffalo Bisons AHL 72 10 32 42 37 — — — — —
1962–63 Chatham Maroons OHA-Sr. 36 11 14 25 46 9 1 1 2 6
1963–64 Chatham Maroons IHL 29 2 14 16 60 — — — — —
1964–65 Oakville Oaks OHA-Sr. 31 7 18 25 78 11 1 5 6 18
1964–65 Buffalo Bisons AHL 3 0 3 3 0 — — — — —
1965–66 Oakville Oaks OHA-Sr. 27 7 15 22 48 7 0 2 2 2
1966–67 Oakville Oaks OHA-Sr. 13 3 3 6 8 — — — — —
NHL totals 797 46 152 198 1380 54 5 8 13 68

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Gus Mortson". legendsofhockey.net. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  2. ^ "Dual Citizenship: Gus Mortson".
  3. ^ Meharg, Bruce (2005). Legends of the Leafs. Author House. pp. 152–154.
  4. ^ a b c "Timmins NHL All-Star dies | Timmins Press". www.timminspress.com. Archived from the original on 2015-08-20.
  5. ^ "Former Maple Leafs defenceman Gus Mortson dies".
  6. ^ "Former Maple Leafs defenceman Gus Mortson dies". Toronto Sun. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
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Preceded by Chicago Black Hawks captain
1954–57 		Succeeded by
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