Guyle Fielder facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Guyle Fielder |
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| Born | November 21, 1930 Potlatch, Idaho, U.S. |
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| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | ||
| Weight | 160 lb (73 kg; 11 st 6 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Chicago Black Hawks Detroit Red Wings Boston Bruins |
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| Playing career | 1951–1973 | ||
Guyle Abner Fielder (born November 21, 1930) is a former professional ice hockey player from the United States and Canada. He played as a center. Fielder is most famous for his long and successful time in the minor Western Hockey League (WHL), where he played from 1952 to 1973. He also played a few games in the top National Hockey League (NHL) between 1951 and 1958. Guyle Fielder is one of the top four all-time leading scorers in North American professional ice hockey history. He holds many records for minor-league ice hockey, including the most games played, assists, and points scored in a career.
Playing Career Highlights
Guyle Fielder moved to Nipawin, Saskatchewan in Canada with his parents when he was young. He played junior hockey in Prince Albert and Lethbridge before becoming a professional player.
Fielder's time in the National Hockey League (NHL) was short, with only 15 regular season and playoff games. He played for the Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, and Boston Bruins. However, he spent most of his career, 22 seasons, in the Western Hockey League (WHL). He played mainly for the Seattle Totems. He also played for the New Westminster Royals, the Salt Lake Golden Eagles, and the Portland Buckaroos. He even played one season for the St. Louis Flyers in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Fielder was a standout player in the minor leagues. He won the "Rookie of the Year" award with New Westminster in 1952. He was named the WHL's Most Valuable Player (MVP) six times. This included winning the award four years in a row, from 1957 to 1960. He was also the league's top scorer nine times. Three times, he was honored as the most gentlemanly player. After his one season in the AHL in 1953, he also won their "Rookie of the Year" award. He retired after playing his final season for the Portland Buckaroos in 1973.
Guyle Fielder achieved amazing scoring feats. He had four seasons where he scored more than 100 points. He also had 10 seasons where he made 70 or more assists. In 1957, his 122 points broke the professional record at that time. When he retired, he had scored 438 goals and made 1,491 assists, totaling 1,929 points. His total points set a new professional record, even more than Gordie Howe had at that point. It is still the all-time record for minor league hockey. His assist total is also the highest ever in the minor leagues. Fielder played in 1,487 games, which is another all-time minor league record.
The Seattle Kraken, a modern NHL team, created the Guyle Fielder Award. This award recognizes a player who shows "perseverance, hustle, and dedication" throughout the season. Yanni Gourde was the first player to win this award on April 29, 2022.
Career Achievements and Awards
Guyle Fielder received many awards and honors throughout his impressive career:
- Ed Bruchet Trophy (MVP of the WCJHL) – 1950
- WHL Rookie of the Year – 1952
- Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award winner (AHL Rookie of the Year) – 1953
- 9× WHL leading scorer – 1954, 1957–1960, 1963–1965, 1967
- 6× George Leader Cup winner (WHL MVP) – 1957–1960, 1964, 1967
- 3× Fred J. Hume Cup winner (most gentlemanly player in the WHL) – 1966, 1967, 1969
- AHL First All-Star Team – 1953
- WHL First All-Star Team – 1954, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1967
- WHL Second All-Star Team – 1961, 1965, 1966, 1968
