Connie Madigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Connie Madigan |
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| Born | October 4, 1934 Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada |
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| Died | January 2, 2024 (aged 89) | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | ||
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | St. Louis Blues | ||
| Playing career | 1955–1976 | ||
Cornelius Dennis Madigan (born October 4, 1934 – died January 2, 2024) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. People often called him "Mad Dog." He was a defenceman, a player who helps protect the team's goal. Madigan played 20 games in the top league, the National Hockey League (NHL), with the St. Louis Blues during the 1972–73 season.
Most of his long career, from 1955 to 1976, was spent playing in minor leagues. Madigan made history as the oldest rookie in NHL history. He was 38 years old when he first played in the NHL!
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About Cornelius "Mad Dog" Madigan
Cornelius Dennis Madigan was born in Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada, on October 4, 1934. Before joining the NHL, he played for many years in other hockey leagues.
Playing in the Minor Leagues
In the late 1950s, Madigan played in senior leagues in Ontario and British Columbia. He then had a very successful career in the minor leagues. He played for the Fort Wayne Komets in the International Hockey League for three seasons. After that, he spent nine seasons with the Portland Buckaroos in the Western Hockey League.
Madigan was a highly recognized player in these leagues. He was chosen as a First Team All-Star in 1960, 1966, 1967, 1968, and 1969. He also earned Second Team All-Star honors in 1965, 1971, and 1972. In 1966, he was even named the best defenceman in his league.
Making History in the NHL
During the 1972–73 season, the St. Louis Blues in the NHL needed more players because many of their players were injured. They bought Madigan's playing rights from the Portland Buckaroos. In January 1973, Madigan joined the Blues at 38 years old. This made him the oldest rookie ever to play in the NHL!
He played well for the Blues in 20 regular-season games and 5 playoff games. After his time with the Blues, he finished his hockey career back with Portland for parts of two more seasons.
After Hockey
When Madigan retired, he had spent a lot of time in the penalty box during his minor league career. He was second in minor league history for total penalty minutes. Even many years later, he is still among the top players for career penalty minutes.
Besides his hockey career, Madigan also had a small part in a famous movie. He appeared in the 1977 film Slap Shot, a popular movie about hockey. In the movie, he played a character named Ross "Mad Dog" Madison.
Cornelius Madigan passed away on January 2, 2024, when he was 89 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Connie Madigan para niños
