Doug Bentley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Doug Bentley
Hockey Hall of Fame, 1964
Born	(1916-09-03)September 3, 1916 Delisle, Saskatchewan, Canada
Died	November 24, 1972(1972-11-24) (aged 56) Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height	5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight	145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb)
Position	Left Wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Chicago Black Hawks New York Rangers
Playing career	1939–1954

Douglas Wagner Bentley (born September 3, 1916 – died November 24, 1972) was a famous Canadian ice hockey player. He played as a left winger for 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). Doug played for the Chicago Black Hawks and the New York Rangers. His hockey career, both amateur and professional, lasted for almost 30 years!

Doug was chosen for four NHL All-Star teams during his career. He was the top scorer in the NHL in points and goals in the 1942–43 season. He also led the league in goals again in 1943–44. He made history in the NHL when he played on the league's first ever "all-brother line" with his brothers Max and Reg in 1943. After injuries forced him to leave the NHL in 1951, he came back in 1953–54 for one last season with the Rangers, playing alongside Max again. Doug Bentley was honored by being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1964.

Early Life and Family Hockey

Doug Bentley was born on September 3, 1916, in Delisle, Saskatchewan, Canada. He was one of 13 children, and the fifth of six boys in his family. His father, Bill, came from England and was a speed skating champion. Bill Bentley became the mayor of Delisle and even helped build the town's indoor skating rink.

All the Bentley children were great athletes, and all six brothers played hockey. Their father believed that all his sons could have played in the NHL. However, the older brothers often had to help on the family farm. Doug was a smaller player, weighing only 145 pounds. But he was incredibly fast on the ice! His father taught him to use his speed to get around bigger players. The brothers practiced a lot, playing street hockey in summer and on the ice in winter. Their father even made a special narrow rink. This forced them to learn how to control the puck while making quick, sharp turns.

Doug's Hockey Journey

Starting in Senior Hockey

Doug Bentley started his hockey career playing for different amateur teams in Saskatchewan. He played for his hometown team, the Delisle Tigers, in 1932–33. Then he played in Saskatoon and Regina. He spent three seasons with the Moose Jaw Millers starting in 1935–36. In 1936–37, he was the top scorer in the South-Saskatchewan Senior Hockey League.

In 1937, Doug and future Hall of Famer Elmer Lach tried out for the Toronto Maple Leafs. But they were told they were too small for the NHL! The manager, Conn Smythe, supposedly called them "peanuts." After this, Doug moved to Alberta with his brother Reg. They joined their older brothers Max, Wyatt, and Roy on the Drumheller Miners team.

Becoming a Star with the Chicago Black Hawks

The Chicago Black Hawks signed Doug Bentley in 1939. Even though some thought he was too small, he had become a top player in his league. In his first season with Chicago, he scored 12 goals and 19 points. His brother Max joined the team in the 1941–42 season, and they played on the same line.

Doug became a huge star in the 1942–43 season. He led the NHL in scoring with 73 points! This tied an NHL record for points in a season. He was the first Black Hawks player to be the league's top scorer. He also finished second in voting for the Hart Memorial Trophy, which is given to the most valuable player.

The Famous All-Brother Line

During World War II, many hockey players went to serve in the military. The Black Hawks needed more players. Doug and Max convinced the team to sign their brother Reg. On January 1, 1943, the three brothers made history! They became the first ever "all-brother line" to play together in the NHL. Just two nights later, Max and Doug helped Reg score his first (and only) NHL goal. This is the only time in NHL history that three family members have scored a goal and assisted on it together! While Max and Doug were big NHL stars, Reg only played 11 games in the league.

In the 1943–44 season, Doug led the NHL in goals again with 38. He was named a First Team All-Star for the second year in a row. His career was paused in 1944 when he had to return to Canada for the rest of the war. He played for a local team, the Laura Beavers, and helped them win a championship.

The "Pony Line"

After the war, Doug returned to the Black Hawks and was reunited with Max. They formed a super-fast line with Bill Mosienko. Because all three players were small and incredibly fast, they were called the "Pony Line." They became one of the best scoring lines in the league. Doug scored 40 points in just 36 games. In 1946–47, he had 55 points and was named a First Team All-Star for the third time. He also played in the very first NHL All-Star Game in 1947.

In 1947–48, the Black Hawks traded Max Bentley to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Doug was very surprised by this trade and even thought about retiring. But he decided to keep playing for Chicago. He continued to have great seasons, scoring 57, 66, and 52 points in the next three years. He was named to the second All-Star team in 1949. He also played in four more All-Star Games between 1948 and 1951. A Chicago newspaper even called him the city's best hockey player of the first half of the century in 1950.

Player-Coach and Return to the NHL

Injuries started to bother Doug in 1950–51, limiting him to 44 games. In 1951–52, he only played eight games for the Black Hawks. They then allowed him to return to Saskatchewan. He joined the Saskatoon Quakers of the Pacific Coast Hockey League (PCHL) as a player-coach. This meant he played on the team and also helped lead them. Doug played 35 games for the Quakers and then helped them win the championship in the playoffs!

Doug stayed with Saskatoon in 1952–53. After that season, the New York Rangers wanted him back in the NHL. They also got his brother Max. Doug played 20 games with the Rangers, scoring 12 points. After the Rangers' season ended, he went back to Saskatoon to coach the Quakers in their playoffs. He continued to be the Quakers' player-coach until 1955.

In the middle of the 1955–56 season, Doug decided to stop coaching the Quakers. He didn't want to cause any problems for his replacement. He then played for the Brandon Regals to finish that season.

Life After Playing

Doug Bentley didn't play hockey in the 1956–57 season. Instead, he and Max started a new junior hockey team in Saskatoon. Doug first managed the team. After playing a few games for the Saskatoon/St. Paul Regals in 1957–58, he became the head coach of the junior team. He coached until 1961.

He later became a scout for the Los Angeles Blades in 1961–62. He even played a few games when the team had injuries. In 1962–63, Doug became the player-coach for the Long Beach Gulls, coaching against his brother Max, who coached another team.

In 1964, Doug returned to Saskatchewan to coach the senior Saskatoon Quakers for one season. This was the same year he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame! He coached a couple more teams before retiring from coaching in 1968.

Personal Life

Besides hockey, Doug and his brothers also played baseball in the 1950s. They played for their hometown of Delisle and for the Saskatoon Gems. Doug played as an outfielder.

Doug and his wife Betty had three daughters and one son. Their son, Doug Jr., also played hockey. Doug Sr. spent a lot of his time away from the rink on the family farm near Delisle. They had a big farm where they raised cattle and grew wheat. Doug Bentley bravely battled cancer later in his life. He had surgeries in 1969 and 1970. Sadly, he passed away from the disease on November 24, 1972.

See also

• List of family relations in the NHL