Ken Hodge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ken Hodge |
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Hodge in 2011
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| Born | 25 June 1944 Birmingham, England, UK |
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| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 214 lb (97 kg; 15 st 4 lb) | ||
| Position | Right wing | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Chicago Black Hawks Boston Bruins New York Rangers |
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| Playing career | 1964–1980 | ||
Kenneth Raymond Hodge, Sr. (born June 25, 1944) is a former professional hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Chicago Black Hawks, Boston Bruins, and New York Rangers. Ken was born in Birmingham, England. However, he grew up in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Contents
Ken Hodge: A Hockey Star
Early Days and Junior Hockey
Ken Hodge was one of the few players born in Britain to play in the NHL. The Chicago Black Hawks signed him when he was a teenager. He had a fantastic junior hockey career. He played for the St. Catharines Black Hawks in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA).
In the 1965 season, he led the league in goals and points. He scored 123 points in 65 games. After this great season, he joined the Chicago Black Hawks for good the next year.
Becoming a Boston Bruins Legend
Ken Hodge was a big forward for his time, standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 215 pounds. He was known as a strong, physical player. After two seasons with the Black Hawks, he was traded to the Boston Bruins. This was a huge trade that also involved his teammates Phil Esposito and Fred Stanfield.
This trade helped the Bruins become a very powerful team. In the 1968 season, Esposito, Hodge, and Ron Murphy formed a line that broke the NHL record for points by a forward line. Ken Hodge scored an impressive 45 goals and 45 assists that season.
Record-Breaking Seasons
The 1970 season was amazing for the Bruins. They became one of the best offensive teams ever seen in the league. Ken Hodge played on a very strong line with Phil Esposito and Wayne Cashman. He broke the league record for points by a right winger with 105 points. He finished fourth in NHL scoring that year.
In fact, the top four scorers in the NHL that season all played for the Bruins. These were Phil Esposito (152 points), Bobby Orr (139), Johnny Bucyk (116), and Ken Hodge (105). This was the first time in NHL history that the top four scorers were all from the same team. Because of his great play, Hodge was named a First Team All-Star. He was also invited to the 1971 NHL All-Star Game.
In the 1971 season, injuries slowed Hodge down. But he bounced back in the playoffs. He scored 17 points in 15 games. This helped the Bruins win their second Stanley Cup in three years during the 1971–72 season.
The next year, in 1972-73, Hodge had an 81-point season. He was invited to the NHL All-Star Game for the second time. In 1973, he scored 50 goals and 105 points. He finished third in league scoring. Again, the top four scorers in the league were all Bruins players. This included Esposito (145), Orr (122), Cashman (89), and Hodge. This was only the second time in NHL history this happened.
Hodge was again named a First Team All-Star. He played in his third All-Star Game. He also became the first player born outside of Canada to score 50 goals in a season. He was the only one to do so until Jari Kurri from Finland achieved it in 1984.
Moving to New York
In November 1975, Phil Esposito was traded to the New York Rangers. This affected Ken Hodge's scoring. His time with the Bruins became difficult. On May 26, 1976, Hodge was also traded to the Rangers. The Rangers hoped he would help them succeed, just like he did with the Bruins. This trade meant the Bruins gave up Rick Middleton, who was younger and faster than Hodge.
In 2023, Ken Hodge was named one of the Top 100 Best Bruins Players of all Time.
After Hockey: Retirement and Broadcasting
Ken Hodge had some success in New York during the 1976–77 season. His play then slowed down the following year. He was sent to the New Haven Nighthawks of the American Hockey League (AHL). Hodge retired after that. However, he came back to play in 1979–80 for the Binghamton Dusters in the AHL. This was his final professional season.
Ken Hodge finished his NHL career having played 881 games. He scored 328 goals and made 472 assists, totaling 800 points. He still lives in the Boston area today. He is active with the Bruins' alumni team and takes part in alumni events.
More recently, Hodge has worked as a broadcaster in Boston. He was the radio commentator for the Boston College men's hockey team. He covered their 2007–08 NCAA Championship season.
Family Life
During his time with the Bruins, Ken Hodge lived in Lynnfield, Massachusetts. He raised five children there. His home was famous for its large swimming pool. The pool was shaped like his Bruins' uniform number, which was 8. After living in Lynnfield for 50 years, Hodge has now moved to Florida.
Ken Hodge's son, Ken Hodge, Jr., was also a professional hockey player. He played from 1987 to 1998. Ken Hodge Jr. later coached the Tulsa Oilers. His younger brother, Brendon, played on that team and wore their father's number 8. Brendon Hodge is now an assistant coach for the Rapid City Rushmore Thunder varsity hockey team. They won the 2014 state championship.
Another son, Dan Hodge, was drafted by the Boston Bruins in 1991. He played in the American Hockey League and International Hockey League. In 2000, he won the Kelly Cup championship with the Peoria Rivermen in the East Coast Hockey League.
Achievements
- 1964–65 Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy winner (This award is given to the top scorer in the OHA junior league).
- Named a First Team All-Star in 1971 and 1974.
- Played in the All-Star Game in 1971, 1973, and 1974.
- Two-time Stanley Cup champion (1970 and 1972).
- Named One of the Top 100 Best Bruins Players of all Time.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1961–62 | St. Catharines Teepees | OHA-Jr. | 31 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 1962–63 | St. Catharines Black Hawks | OHA-Jr. | 50 | 23 | 23 | 46 | 97 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1963–64 | St. Catharines Black Hawks | OHA-Jr. | 56 | 37 | 51 | 88 | 110 | 13 | 6 | 19 | 25 | 28 | ||
| 1964–65 | St. Catharines Black Hawks | OHA-Jr. | 55 | 63 | 60 | 123 | 107 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 8 | ||
| 1964–65 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1964–65 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 1965–66 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 63 | 6 | 17 | 23 | 47 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||
| 1966–67 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 69 | 10 | 25 | 35 | 59 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 1967–68 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 74 | 25 | 31 | 56 | 31 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 1968–69 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 75 | 45 | 45 | 90 | 75 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 4 | ||
| 1969–70 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 72 | 25 | 29 | 54 | 87 | 14 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 7 | ||
| 1970–71 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 78 | 43 | 62 | 105 | 113 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 6 | ||
| 1971–72 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 60 | 16 | 40 | 56 | 81 | 15 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 62 | ||
| 1972–73 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 73 | 37 | 44 | 81 | 58 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | ||
| 1973–74 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 76 | 50 | 55 | 105 | 43 | 16 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 16 | ||
| 1974–75 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 72 | 23 | 43 | 66 | 90 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 1975–76 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 72 | 25 | 36 | 61 | 42 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 4 | ||
| 1976–77 | New York Rangers | NHL | 78 | 21 | 41 | 62 | 43 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1977–78 | New York Rangers | NHL | 18 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1977–78 | New Haven Nighthawks | AHL | 52 | 17 | 29 | 46 | 13 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 20 | ||
| 1979–80 | Binghamton Dusters | AHL | 37 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 881 | 328 | 472 | 800 | 779 | 97 | 34 | 47 | 81 | 120 | ||||
See also
- List of National Hockey League players from the United Kingdom
- List of NHL players with 100-point seasons
