Shore, Edward William (1902-85)

One of the most intimidating and talented defensemen to play in the NHL, Eddie Shore was born in Fort Qu'Appelle on November 25, 1902. He played two seasons with the Melville Millionaires before joining the Regina Caps in 1924-25 and the Edmonton Eskimos the following season. When the Western Canada Hockey League folded at the end of the 1925-26 season, Shore was traded to the Boston Bruins, where he established a new record of 130 penalty minutes in his first NHL campaign. Shore anchored the Bruins to their first-ever Stanley Cup championship in the 1928-29 season. Known for his crushing body checks, Shore collided with Toronto's Ace Bailey in a December 1933 game, ending the latter's playing career. Despite this, Bailey shook Shore's hand at centre ice prior to the start of the Ace Bailey Benefit Game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and a team of All-Stars in February 1934. Shore himself suffered numerous serious injuries as a result of his violent style of play.

Shore was once again a pivotal factor in the Bruins' second Stanley Cup title in 1938-39, but he knew his NHL days were numbered. The following season, he purchased the Springfield Indians of the American hockey League and became player-owner. Shore ended his NHL career with the New York Americans, and devoted himself to the Springfield franchise until he sold it in 1976. In fourteen NHL seasons, Eddie Shore registered 284 points and 1,047 penalty minutes in 550 regular season games. A seven-time First All-Star, he is the only defenseman to win the Hart Memorial Trophy on four occasions. Shore was inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1945 and the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. He died in Springfield, Massachusetts on March 16, 1985.

Daria Coneghan, Holden Stoffel

Further Reading