Sid Abel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sid Abel |
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| Hockey Hall of Fame, 1969 | |||
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| Born | February 22, 1918 Melville, Saskatchewan, Canada |
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| Died | February 8, 2000 (aged 81) Farmington Hills, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | NHL Detroit Red Wings Chicago Black Hawks AHL Pittsburgh Hornets Indianapolis Capitals |
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| Playing career | 1938–1954 | ||
Sidney Gerald Abel (born February 22, 1918 – died February 8, 2000) was a famous Canadian hockey player. He was also a coach and general manager in the National Hockey League (NHL). Most famously, he played for the Detroit Red Wings.
Sid Abel helped his teams win the Stanley Cup three times: in 1943, 1950, and 1952. In 2017, he was named one of the "100 Greatest NHL Players" of all time. This shows how important he was to the sport!
Contents
Playing Career: From Junior to NHL Star
Sid Abel was born in Melville, Saskatchewan, Canada. He started playing junior hockey with the Flin Flon Bombers. In 1938, he joined the Detroit Red Wings. For his first two seasons, he played for both the Red Wings and their minor league teams.
By 1940, Sid became a full-time player for the Red Wings. He was so good that he was named captain of the team in 1942.
Serving His Country During Wartime
In 1943, Sid Abel paused his hockey career to serve in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. He played hockey for the RCAF team in Montreal during this time. When the war ended, he rejoined the Red Wings in 1946 and became captain again.
The Famous "Production Line"
In 1947, the Red Wings coach, Jack Adams, put Sid Abel on a forward line with two other amazing players: Ted Lindsay and a young rookie named Gordie Howe. This trio became one of the most famous lines in hockey history! They were called the "Production Line" because they scored so many points.
Even though Sid had some health issues, this line led the team to the playoffs. The next season, Lindsay, Abel, and Howe were the top scorers for the Red Wings. They helped the team reach the Stanley Cup Finals.
By 1949, the "Production Line" helped the Red Wings finish first in the NHL for seven years in a row. This is still an NHL record! Sid Abel had his best season that year, scoring many goals and assists. He won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's Most Valuable Player. He was also named to the First All-Star team.
For the next three seasons, the "Production Line" continued to be the best scoring line in the league. In 1950, Lindsay, Abel, and Howe were the top three scorers in the entire league! Sid Abel won his second Stanley Cup in 1950 and was again named to the First All-Star team.
Player-Coach Role
In 1952, Sid Abel was traded to the Chicago Black Hawks. He became the coach of his new team. For the next two seasons, he was a player-coach, meaning he played in games while also coaching the team. He was the last full-time player-head coach in NHL history.
Sid Abel wore several different numbers during his career, but his most famous number, 12, was later retired by the Red Wings to honor him.
Coaching and Management Career
After his playing days, Sid Abel continued to be a big part of hockey. He coached the Chicago Black Hawks for two seasons. Then, he returned to the Red Wings in 1957. He coached the Red Wings until 1970.
Sid Abel also served as the Red Wings' general manager from 1962 to 1971. A general manager helps build the team by signing players and making trades.
Later, in 1974, he became the general manager for a new team called the Kansas City Scouts. He even coached the Scouts for a few games in 1975-76.
After his coaching and management career, Sid Abel worked as a colour commentator for Red Wings radio and TV broadcasts. He would explain the game to fans alongside the play-by-play announcer.
Legacy and Family
Sid Abel was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969. This is a huge honor for hockey players. In 1998, he was ranked number 85 on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.
Sid Abel came from a hockey family. His older brother, George Abel, played for Canada's hockey team in the 1952 Olympics. George scored the winning goal in the final game, helping Canada win the gold medal! Sid's son, Gerry Abel, also played briefly in the NHL. His grandson, Brent Johnson, was a goaltender in the NHL for many years. Sid's son-in-law, Bob Johnson, was also an NHL goaltender.
Sid Abel passed away on February 8, 2000, just before his 82nd birthday.
Awards and Achievements
- 2-time NHL First Team All-Star (1949, 1950)
- 2-time NHL Second Team All-Star (1942, 1951)
- 3-time Stanley Cup champion (1943, 1950, 1952)
- Hart Memorial Trophy winner (1949) - This award is for the league's Most Valuable Player.
- His number 12 was retired by the Detroit Red Wings on April 29, 1995.
- Named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history in January 2017.
Images for kids
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Sid Abel in his Detroit Red Wings uniform.
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The banner for Sid Abel's retired number 12 hanging in Joe Louis Arena.
