Nels Stewart facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nels Stewart
Hockey Hall of Fame, 1962
Nels Stewart in a Montreal Maroons uniform
Born	(1899-12-29)December 29, 1899 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Died	August 21, 1957(1957-08-21) (aged 57) Wasaga Beach, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Left
Played for	Montreal Maroons Boston Bruins New York Americans
Playing career	1925–1940

Robert Nelson "Old Poison" Stewart (born December 29, 1899 – died August 21, 1957) was a famous Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played for teams like the Montreal Maroons, New York Americans, and Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League (NHL). Nels Stewart is a respected member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. He was the first player to win the NHL's Hart Trophy more than once. Many people consider him the best goal scorer in the NHL before World War II. He held the league record for career goals for many years, from 1937 to 1952.

Nels Stewart's Hockey Journey

Stewart playing for the Cleveland HC in the USAHA.

Nels Stewart was born in Montreal, Quebec. He started playing hockey as an amateur at age 18. He played for the Cleveland Indians in the United States Amateur Hockey Association (USAHA). He was a top scorer, leading the league in goals in four of his five seasons there.

In 1925, Nels and his teammate Babe Siebert joined the new Montreal Maroons team in the NHL.

Becoming a Star Player

Nels Stewart was known by his nickname "Old Poison." With Siebert and other experienced players like Clint Benedict, Punch Broadbent, and Reg Noble, he helped the Maroons win the Stanley Cup championship in their very first season. Stewart himself led the league in both goals and total points that year. He became one of the few rookies in history to win the Hart Memorial Trophy, which is given to the NHL's Most Valuable Player.

Later, Stewart played as the center for a famous line of players called the "S Line." He played alongside Hooley Smith and Siebert. He was a star for the Maroons for seven seasons. In 1930, he won his second Hart Trophy after scoring 39 goals in 44 games, leading the league again.

Moving to Other Teams

During the Great Depression, the Maroons faced money problems. They eventually closed down in 1938. Because of this, they sold Nels Stewart to the Boston Bruins. He continued to play very well for the Bruins. He finished second in team scoring in each of his three full seasons with them, even though he sometimes played as a defenseman.

In 1935, he was traded to the New York Americans. He played most of his last five seasons in the league with this team. Stewart continued to be a strong player. In his second-to-last season, at age 36, he was fourth on the Americans in scoring with 35 points in 46 games.

He retired after the 1939-40 season. At that time, he was the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer. He had set this record in 1937 and held it until Maurice Richard broke it in 1952.

Later Life and Recognition

Nels Stewart passed away on August 21, 1957, at his summer home in Wasaga Beach, Ontario. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1952. In 1998, The Hockey News magazine ranked him as number 51 on their list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.

Nels Stewart's Unique Playing Style

Nels Stewart was not known for being a fast skater. This sometimes made it seem like he wasn't trying hard. Unlike other great players of his time who made long rushes down the ice, Stewart played a different way. He focused on hitting hard, getting rebounds, and scoring goals from tricky spots near the net.

A Dangerous Scorer

Bruins goaltender Tiny Thompson said that Stewart was the most dangerous goal scorer around the net. This was even when Stewart was 34 years old and close to retiring. Art Ross, another famous hockey figure, called him “the greatest inside player in the game.” Stewart was one of the first players to become a superstar by playing this tough, "garbage-collector" style. He opened the way for future players like Phil Esposito.

Stewart's skating was sometimes called "lazy" or "careless." However, he was actually quite agile and could trick opposing defensemen. He used "long, swerving strokes" to deke them.

Powerful Shot and Balance

Stewart was famous for scoring goals, especially around the net. He often scored multiple goals in a single game. This was partly because he had an incredibly hard and "heavy" shot. His shots were known to be so powerful that they sometimes injured goalies.

Stewart often shot from close to the net. He would wait patiently for a pass while moving around the crease. He had amazing balance on his skates and great hand-eye coordination. For example, in the 1926 Stanley Cup Finals, he was knocked down but still managed to hook the puck with his stick and score. He was very hard to knock off the puck and could even score with one hand. He sometimes held onto the crossbar with his other hand, which annoyed opposing goaltenders! He used a heavy stick with a special angle that helped him keep the puck close to his feet.

Master of Rebounds

One of Stewart's best skills was collecting rebounds. In a 1926 game against Victoria, the opposing goalie stopped four shots quickly. Stewart grabbed a rebound, went behind the net, and scored a backhand shot into the top corner. He often scored by getting his own rebounds.

Tough and Feisty Player

Nels Stewart was a large, strong center who used his size and toughness to help him score. He also gained a reputation as a fighter and an effective pest. He would stand up for his teammates and often got into fights. In 1927, he led the NHL in penalty minutes. He was also known for using his stick to hit opponents' wrists and ankles if he felt they were playing too rough. This led to famous fights, including one with Hall of Fame defenseman Red Horner.

Influence on Ted Kennedy

After he retired from playing, Nels Stewart coached the Port Colborne Sailors. There, he met a young player named Ted Kennedy in 1942-43. Like Stewart, Kennedy was not a very fast skater. But he also had good balance and stickhandling skills.

Stewart taught Kennedy how to make up for his lack of speed. He told him to become an expert at passing and to learn how to play well from the corners of the rink. Stewart worked hard with Kennedy on passing and how to be effective in front of the net. These skills became key parts of Kennedy's game. They helped him become captain of the Maple Leafs, win many Stanley Cups, and become one of the greatest Leafs players ever. Stewart's way of using his stick also seemed to influence Kennedy, who used a similar L-shaped stick.

Career Achievements and Facts

• Won the Hart Trophy in the 1926 and 1930 seasons.
• Led the NHL in scoring in 1926.
• Played in the 1934 Ace Bailey Benefit All-Star Game.
• Led the playoffs in scoring in 1926 with six goals and three assists for nine points in eight games.
• Led the league in penalty minutes in 1927 with 133.
• Holds the NHL record for the fastest two goals (four seconds apart), set on January 3, 1931, against the Boston Bruins. This record was later matched by Deron Quint in 1995–96.

Career Statistics