Gus Mortson

James Angus Gerald "Old Hardrock" Mortson (January 24, 1925 – August 8, 2015) was a Canadian retired ice hockey defenceman. He played a career total of 796 regular season games in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Black Hawks, and Detroit Red Wings. He was known for his physical play and got into many fights.

Gus Mortson
Gus Mortson 1944.png
Mortson during his time at St. Michaels College, c. 1944
Born (1925-01-24)January 24, 1925
New Liskeard, ON, CAN
Died August 8, 2015(2015-08-08) (aged 90)
Toronto, ON, CAN
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Defenceman
Shot Left
Played for Toronto Maple Leafs
Chicago Black Hawks
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career 1945–1967

Career

Before playing in the NHL, Mortson played 1 season with the Tulsa Oilers of the United States Hockey League (USHL). He joined the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1946–47 NHL season. During his time with the Maple Leafs, he and Jimmy Thomson were known as the "Gold Dust Twins". The two of them helped the Maple Leafs win four Stanley Cups in 1947, 1948, 1949, and 1951.

On September 11, 1952, the Maple Leafs traded Mortson along with Ray Hannigan, Al Rollins and Cal Gardner in exchange for Harry Lumley.[1] Mortson played 6 seasons for the Black Hawks and he led league in penalty minutes for the fourth time in the 1956–57 season. On September 3, 1958, the Black Hawks traded him to the Detroit Red Wings for future considerations.[1] He retired from playing professional ice hockey in 1967. He played in 8 NHL All-Star games.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Gus Mortson - Notes". NHL. Retrieved 2014-11-11.

Other websites

Preceded by
Bill Gadsby
Chicago Black Hawks captain
195457
Succeeded by
Ed Litzenberger