Busher Jackson

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Busher Jackson bigraphy, stories - Canadian ice hockey player

Busher Jackson : biography

January 17, 1911 – June 25, 1966

Ralph Harvey "Busher" Jackson (January 17, 1911June 25, 1966) was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played 15 National Hockey League (NHL) seasons between 1929 and 1944 for the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Americans and Boston Bruins. He was a member of the famed Kid Line with Joe Primeau and Charlie Conacher, one of the early NHL’s dominant scoring trios. Jackson led the league in scoring in 1931–32 and was member of Toronto’s 1932 Stanley Cup championship team. He was named to five NHL All-Star Teams and played in three benefit all-star games, including the Ace Bailey Benefit Game, the first all-star game in NHL history.

Off the ice, Jackson was well known for his high-spending lifestyle and drinking habit that prompted his trade from Toronto to New York in 1939. He was remembered as one of hockey’s tragic figures following his retirement, struggling with alcoholism and financial difficulty. He was a figure of controversy within the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee as Jackson’s lifestyle and personal problems were used to block his induction. He finally earned a place in the Hall of Fame in 1971, five years after his death. Jackson is also an honoured member of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, inducted in 1975.

Career statistics

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1927–28 Toronto Marlboros OHA-Jr. 4 4 0 4 2 2 0 0 0 0
1928–29 Toronto Marlboros OHA-Jr. 9 10 4 14 0 3 7 2 9
1928–29 Toronto Marlboros Mem. Cup 13 15 10 25 4
1929–30 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 32 12 6 18 29
1930–31 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 43 18 13 31 81 2 0 0 0 2
1931–32 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 48 28 25 53 63 7 5 2 7 13
1932–33 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 48 27 17 44 43 9 3 1 4 2
1933–34 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 38 20 18 38 38 5 1 0 1 8
1934–35 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 42 22 22 44 27 7 3 2 5 2
1935–36 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 47 11 11 22 19 9 3 2 5 2
1936–37 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 46 21 19 40 12 2 1 0 1 2
1937–38 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 48 17 17 34 18 6 1 0 1 8
1938–39 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 42 10 17 27 12 7 0 1 1 2
1939–40 New York Americans NHL 43 12 8 20 10 3 0 1 1 2
1940–41 New York Americans NHL 46 8 18 26 4
1941–42 Boston Bruins NHL 27 5 7 12 8 5 0 1 1 0
1942–43 Boston Bruins NHL 44 19 15 34 38 9 1 2 3 10
1943–44 Boston Bruins NHL 42 11 21 32 25
NHL totals 636 241 234 475 437 71 18 12 30 55