George Owen (ice hockey)

Harvard George Owen Jr. (December 2, 1901 – March 4, 1986) was a Canadian-American professional ice hockey defenceman for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League.

George Owen
Owen (circa. 1920)
Born(1901-12-02)December 2, 1901
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
DiedMarch 4, 1986(1986-03-04) (aged 84)
Milton, Massachusetts, USA
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
PositionDefence
ShotLeft
Played forBoston Bruins
Playing career1928–1933

Career

Owen was a three-sport star at Harvard University, playing football, baseball and hockey.[1] He was awarded the university's Wingate Cup for best all-around athletic ability.[2]

After he graduated, Owen entered the brokerage business while continuing to play hockey for the Boston University Club. He was invited to play for the United States Olympic Team in 1924, but declined because of business obligations.[3]

The Toronto Maple Leafs held Owen's professional rights; however, as Owen did not want to leave Massachusetts, the Maple Leafs traded his rights to the Boston Bruins on January 10, 1929, in exchange for Eric Pettinger.[4] Owen played five seasons with the Bruins, pairing on defense with players including Lionel Hitchman and Eddie Shore, and won the Stanley Cup with the team in 1929.[5]

Legend has it Owen was the first player to don a helmet in an NHL game, wearing the same leather helmet that he had worn when playing college football. However, Marty Burke of the Montreal Canadiens is known to have worn a helmet briefly during a game in December 1928, before Owen entered the NHL.[6]

Following his playing career, Owen became head coach of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology men's ice hockey team.[7][8] He later coached football, baseball and hockey at Milton Academy.[1] After retiring from Milton Academy, Owen worked as a scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates.[1]

Personal life

Owen was born in Hamilton, Ontario and moved to Massachusetts as a teenager, attending Newton High School in suburban Boston.[9]

He died of a stroke in Milton, Massachusetts in 1986.[1]

Halls of Fame

Career statistics

  Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1918–19Newton High SchoolHigh-MA
1919–20Harvard CrimsonIvy
1920–21Harvard CrimsonIvy1110010
1921–22Harvard CrimsonIvy
1922–23Harvard CrimsonIvy
1923–24Boston A. A. UnicornsUSAHA1210010
1924–25Harvard CrimsonIvy
1925–26Boston A. A. UnicornsUSAHA2022
1926–27Boston University ClubMBHL
1927–28Boston University ClubMBHL
1928–29Boston BruinsNHL275494850000
1929–30Boston BruinsNHL4294133160226
1930–31Boston BruinsNHL3812132533523513
1931–32Boston BruinsNHL4212102229
1932–33Boston BruinsNHL346281050006
NHL totals1834433771512125725

References

Sporting positions
Preceded by Boston Bruins captain
1931–32
Succeeded by