Eddie Shack facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eddie Shack |
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Shack with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1960s
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| Born | February 11, 1937 Sudbury, Ontario, Canada |
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| Died | July 25, 2020 (aged 83) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb) | ||
| Position | Left wing | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | New York Rangers Toronto Maple Leafs Boston Bruins Los Angeles Kings Buffalo Sabres Pittsburgh Penguins |
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| Playing career | 1957–1975 | ||
Edward Steven Phillip Shack (born February 11, 1937 – died July 25, 2020) was a famous Canadian professional ice hockey player. People knew him by his fun nicknames, "the Entertainer" and "the Nose". He played for six different teams in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1959 to 1975. Eddie Shack spent over eight years with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he helped them win the amazing Stanley Cup four times! He won in 1962, 1963, 1964, and 1967.
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Early Life and Challenges
Eddie Shack was born in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, on February 11, 1937. His parents, Lena and Bill Shack, had moved there from Ukraine. He also had an older sister named Mary.
When Eddie was a young child, he was often sick. This made it hard for him to go to school regularly. Because of this, he struggled with reading and writing. He eventually left school completely. He started working as a salesman at a butcher shop. But he soon left that job to try out for a hockey team called the Guelph Biltmores. While playing for them, he worked at a meat market and on a coal truck to support himself.
Eddie met his wife, Norma Givens, in Peterborough, Ontario. They got married in 1962 and had two children together.
Playing Career Highlights
Eddie Shack played junior hockey for the Guelph Biltmores for five seasons, starting when he was just 15 years old. His best season was in 1956–57. That year, he led his league in assists and was a star player in the Memorial Cup playoffs.
The New York Rangers signed Eddie and sent him to their farm team, the Providence Reds, for a short time. He made it to the NHL in the 1958–59 season and played for the Rangers for two years.
In 1960, Eddie was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He played seven seasons there as a left wing. He was known for being a lively player who loved to stir things up on the ice. Fans really liked him, even though he wasn't always the top scorer. One sports writer said watching Eddie play was like seeing "a big puppy let loose in a wide field."
During the 1965–66 season, Eddie had a fantastic year, scoring 26 goals! He was so popular that a fun song was written about him called "Clear the Track, Here Comes Shack." This song even became number one on the Canadian pop music charts!
Eddie was part of the Maple Leafs team that won their last Stanley Cup in 1967. After that, he was traded to the Boston Bruins. He played well there, scoring 23 goals.
Later in his career, Eddie moved between several teams, including the Los Angeles Kings, the Buffalo Sabres, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Even with some injuries, he managed to score 20 goals or more three more times during these years. His best scoring year was in 1970–71, when he scored 27 goals! He returned to the Toronto Maple Leafs for the 1973–74 season and retired after the 1974–75 season.
Life After Hockey
After retiring from playing hockey, Eddie Shack became a popular person for advertisements in Canada. He was famous for promoting The Pop Shoppe soft drinks and Schick razors. For one razor ad, he even shaved off his moustache! He also helped promote a small chain of doughnut shops that had his name.
Eddie often played in special all-star games with other former hockey players. He also bravely shared that he had struggled with reading and writing for most of his life. After that, he became a strong supporter for programs that help people learn to read in his home province of Ontario.
His Passing
Eddie Shack passed away from throat cancer in a hospital in Toronto on July 25, 2020. He was 83 years old. He was survived by his wife, Norma, whom he had been married to for 58 years, and their two children.
Amazing Achievements
- Eddie Shack won the Stanley Cup four times: in 1962, 1963, 1964, and 1967.
- He famously scored the winning goal in the 1963 Stanley Cup. He joked that he scored it off his backside because he was just trying to get out of the way of the shot!
- He was chosen to play in the National Hockey League All-Star Game three times: in 1962, 1963, and 1964.
See also
- List of NHL players with 1000 games played
