Gus Mortson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gus Mortson |
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Mortson during his time at St. Michaels College, c. 1944
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| Born | January 24, 1925 New Liskeard, ON, CAN |
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| Died | August 8, 2015 (aged 90) Toronto, ON, CAN |
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| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Defenceman | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Toronto Maple Leafs Chicago Black Hawks Detroit Red Wings |
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| Playing career | 1945–1967 | ||
James Angus Gerald "Old Hardrock" Mortson (January 24, 1925 – August 8, 2015) was a Canadian ice hockey player. He was a strong defenceman, which is a player who helps protect their team's goal. Gus Mortson played a total of 796 games in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for three famous teams: the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Chicago Black Hawks, and the Detroit Red Wings. He was known for his tough play and for getting into many fights on the ice.
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Gus Mortson's Hockey Journey
Before joining the big leagues, Gus Mortson played for the Tulsa Oilers for one season. This was in a league called the United States Hockey League.
Playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs
Gus Mortson joined the Toronto Maple Leafs team in the 1946–47 NHL season. While playing for the Maple Leafs, he and another player named Jimmy Thomson were given a special nickname: the "Gold Dust Twins." They were a very important pair on the team. Together, they helped the Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup four times! This is a huge achievement in hockey. They won in 1947, 1948, 1949, and again in 1951.
Moving to the Chicago Black Hawks
After his time with the Maple Leafs, Gus Mortson was traded to the Chicago Black Hawks on September 11, 1952. He played for the Black Hawks for six seasons. During the 1956–57 season, he led the entire league in "penalty minutes." This means he spent the most time in the penalty box for breaking rules during games. He was even the captain for the Chicago Black Hawks from 1954 to 1957.
Final Years with the Detroit Red Wings
On September 3, 1958, Gus Mortson was traded again, this time to the Detroit Red Wings. He played his last professional ice hockey game in 1967, when he decided to retire. Throughout his amazing career, Gus Mortson was chosen to play in the NHL All-Star Game eight times! This shows how skilled and popular he was as a player.
|-style="text-align: center;" | width="30%" |Preceded by
Bill Gadsby | width="40%" style="text-align: center;" |Chicago Black Hawks captain
1954–57 | width="30%" |Succeeded by
Ed Litzenberger |-
See also
In Spanish: Gus Mortson para niños
