Flash Hollett

Frank William "Bill, Flash" Hollett (April 13, 1911 – April 20, 1999) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings. Hollett was born in North Sydney, Nova Scotia, but grew up in Toronto, Ontario.

Flash Hollett
Born (1911-04-13)April 13, 1911
North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
Died April 20, 1999(1999-04-20) (aged 88)
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Syracuse Stars (IHL)
Buffalo Bisons (IHL)
Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
Ottawa Senators (NHL)
Boston Bruin Cubs (CAHL)
Boston Bruins (NHL)
Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
Playing career 19321946

Playing career

Hollett was first noticed by Maple Leafs owner Conn Smythe as he was playing lacrosse with Lionel Conacher.[1] He apprenticed in the minor leagues before being loaned to the Senators for the 1933–34 NHL season. After that - which was the original Senators' final season in Ottawa - Hollett played for the Leafs for a season and a half before being sold to the Bruins for $16,000, at the time one of the highest prices ever paid for a player.

Known for his swift skating stride and strong puckhandling ability, Hollett became one of the top offensive defencemen of his day. He played for eight seasons in Boston, and was a star defenceman on the Bruins' Stanley Cup championship teams of 1939 and 1941. In 1942, he set a record for goals by a defenceman with 19, a mark he tied the following season, after which he was named to the league's Second All-Star Team.

Hollett was traded to the Red Wings midseason in 1944, and the following year broke his own mark for goals in a season by a defenceman with 20[2] en route to a citation on the league's First All-Star Team; this record would stand for a quarter-century before being surpassed by Bobby Orr.

Retirement

After his record-setting season, Hollett's offensive numbers declined sharply in 1946, with the previously war-depleted NHL regaining many former stars. In the wake of an acrimonious contract dispute with Detroit general manager Jack Adams, he was traded to the New York Rangers, but following his wife's wishes to live closer to home in Ontario, Hollett retired from the NHL.[1]

He played for five more seasons in senior leagues, most notably for the Toronto Marlboros, which he led to the Allan Cup in 1950, his last in organized hockey. He coached the Marlboros for a single season in 1951, recording a 19–12–1 record.

Hollett retired having scored 132 goals and 181 assists for 313 points in 565 NHL games; at the time of his retirement, he was the highest scoring defenceman in league history. In 79 NHL playoff games, he added 8 goals and 26 assists for 34 points. Hollett was the last member of the original-era Ottawa Senators still active at the time of his retirement.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1932–33 Syracuse Stars IHL 1902216 63039
1933–34 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 40004
1933–34 Buffalo Bisons IHL 135498
1933–34 Ottawa Senators NHL 30741121
1934–35 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 4810162638 70006
1935–36 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 111458
1935–36 Syracuse Stars IHL 42138
1935–36 Boston Bruins NHL 61232
1935–36 Boston Cubs Can-Am 186152124
1936–37 Boston Bruins NHL 48371022 30002
1937–38 Boston Bruins NHL 484101454 30110
1938–39 Boston Bruins NHL 4410172735 121342
1939–40 Boston Bruins NHL 4410182818 51232
1940–41 Hershey Bears AHL 54262
1940–41 Boston Bruins NHL 419152423 113478
1941–42 Boston Bruins NHL 4819143321 50112
1942–43 Boston Bruins NHL 5019254419 90994
1943–44 Boston Bruins NHL 2597164
1943–44 Detroit Red Wings NHL 276121834 50006
1944–45 Detroit Red Wings NHL 5020214139 143476
1945–46 Detroit Red Wings NHL 38491316 50220
1947–48 Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen OHA-Sr. 156111724
1948–49 Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen OHA-Sr. 316152120 72354
1948–49 Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen Al-Cup 133101311
1949–50 Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen OHA-Sr. 427273429 1418914
1949–50 Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen Al-Cup 17512178
NHL totals 565132181313350 808263438

References

  1. Legends of Hockey – NHL Player Search – Player – Flash Hollett
  2. Hockey’s Book of Firsts, p.23, James Duplacey, JG Press, ISBN 978-1-57215-037-9
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