Buddy O’Connor

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Buddy O'Connor bigraphy, stories - Canadian ice hockey player

Buddy O’Connor : biography

June 21, 1916 – August 24, 1977

Herbert William "Buddy" O’Connor (June 21, 1916 in Montreal, Quebec – August 24, 1977) was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played for the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers in the National Hockey League.

Career statistics

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1941–42 Montreal Canadiens NHL 36 9 16 25 4 3 0 1 1 0
1942–43 Montreal Canadiens NHL 50 15 43 58 2 5 4 5 9 0
1941–42 Montreal Canadiens NHL 44 12 42 54 6 8 1 2 3 2
1942–43 Montreal Canadiens NHL 50 21 23 44 2 2 0 0 0 0
1945–46 Montreal Canadiens NHL 45 11 11 22 2 9 2 3 5 0
1946–47 Montreal Canadiens NHL 46 10 20 30 6 8 3 4 7 0
1947–48 New York Rangers NHL 60 24 36 60 8 6 1 4 5 0
1948–49 New York Rangers NHL 46 11 24 35 0
1949–50 New York Rangers NHL 66 11 22 33 4 12 4 2 6 4
1950–51 New York Rangers NHL 66 16 20 36 0
NHL totals 509 140 257 397 34 53 15 21 36 6

Playing career

O’Connor played for the Montreal Canadiens from 1941 to 1947 and won two Stanley Cups during his career in 1944 and 1946 while playing for the Canadiens.

In 1947, O’Connor was traded to the New York Rangers. He had 60 points that season to finish second in the scoring race. He was also awarded the Hart Trophy and Lady Byng Trophy and was the first player to win both in the same year.Duff, Bob and Shea, Kevin (2011). Hockey Hall of Fame MVP Trophies & Winners. Firefly Books Ltd. p. 67. These achievements were reflected in his being named Canada’s athlete of the year for 1948.

O’Connor played for the Rangers until 1951. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988, becoming the first inductee into the now defunct Veteran category.

In 2009, O’Connor was ranked No. 38 on the all-time list of New York Rangers in the book 100 Ranger Greats (John Wiley & Sons).