Bobby Bauer
Bobby Bauer | |||
---|---|---|---|
Hockey Hall of Fame, 1996 | |||
Born |
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada | February 16, 1915||
Died |
September 16, 1964 Kitchener, Ontario, Canada | (aged 49)||
Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) | ||
Weight | 160 lb (73 kg; 11 st 6 lb) | ||
Position | Right Wing | ||
Shot | Right | ||
Played for | Boston Bruins | ||
Playing career | 1935–1952 |
Robert Theodore Bauer (February 16, 1915 – September 16, 1964) was a
Prior to his NHL career, Bauer won the Memorial Cup with the St. Michael's Majors in 1934 as junior champions of Canada. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1942 and won the Allan Cup with the Ottawa RCAF Flyers as senior champions that year. Bauer turned to coaching following his NHL career and guided the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen to two Allan Cup championships. The Dutchmen were sent to represent Canada at the 1956 Winter Olympics where Bauer coached the team to a bronze medal. He also coached the Canadian entry at the 1960 Winter Olympics that won a silver medal. Bauer assisted his brother David in creating the Canadian national hockey team in the 1960s. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996.
Early life
Bauer was born on February 16, 1915, in Waterloo, Ontario. He was the second of 11 children to Edgar and Alice Bauer; His elder brother Frank was later Mayor of Waterloo and he had nine younger siblings: Eugene, Jerome, Alice, David, Raymond, Mary, Rita, Therese and Margaret.[1] Edgar was a Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester, Waterloo city councilor and executive in the Bauer family's automotive parts business.[2]
The Bauer children learned to play hockey in a backyard rink,
Playing career
"He was the brains of the line, always thinking, and a very clever playmaker."
—Woody Dumart[6]
All three players were signed by the
The Kraut Line earned full-time spots in Boston beginning in 1937–38; Bauer recorded a team-leading 20 goals in his rookie season as the trio led the Bruins to the team's first of four consecutive Prince of Wales Trophy wins as the NHL's best team in the regular season.[9] Following a 31-point regular season in 1938–39, Bauer added five points in 12 playoff games and was named to the NHL's second All-Star team.[10] The Bruins eliminated the New York Rangers, then defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs four games to one to capture Boston's first Stanley Cup championship in ten years.[11] In 1939–40, Schmidt led the NHL in points with 52 while Dumart and Bauer finished second and third respectively with 43 each.[12] It was the first time in league history that three linemates finished in the top three spots in NHL scoring.[13] Bauer was again named a second team All-Star, and with only two penalties in minutes (PIM), won the Lady Byng Trophy for the first time.[14]
"Bobby was our team. He was my right arm."
—Milt Schmidt[3]
A 39-point season in 1940–41 with only two PIM earned Bauer his third consecutive appearance on the All-Star team and a second Lady Byng Trophy.[10] In the playoffs, the Bruins reached the 1941 Stanley Cup Finals where they defeated the Detroit Red Wings in four straight games. Bauer scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal midway through the second period of a 3–1 victory in the deciding game.[15] Following the outbreak of the Second World War, all three members of the Kraut Line enlisted with the Canadian military by signing up for home defence.[16] At the same time, anti-German sentiment led to efforts to change the trio's nickname. They were briefly called the "Buddy Line" and the "Kitchener Kids", though they were again referred to as the Kraut Line following the war.[3]
The trio were called to active duty in January 1942, forcing them to leave the Bruins midway through the
Returning to the Bruins for the 1945–46 NHL season, Bauer was reunited with his Kraut Line teammates. Unlike many players who had left for the war, he remained in peak form.[18] However, after scoring 22 points that season,[4] Bauer contemplated retirement.[21] He chose to return for one additional season and was named the Bruins captain for 1946–47.[21] Bauer had his best year in the NHL: he recorded a team-leading 30 goals and finished seventh overall in league scoring with 54 points.[22] He was named to a fourth All-Star team and won the Lady Byng Trophy for the third time.[14] Following the season, he announced his retirement.[18]
Coaching career
Returning to Kitchener, Bauer joined the
Ending his playing career, Bauer became coach, general manager and president of the Dutchmen in 1952.[3] He coached the team to two OHA senior championships and Allan Cup victories: 1952–53 and 1954–55.[14] As the top senior team in the nation, the Dutchmen were sent to Italy to represent Canada at the 1956 Winter Olympics. Bauer was pleased with the way his team adapted to European rules and the Dutchmen were expected to bring home the gold medal.[25] However, the team was shocked by the American entry, a 4–1 loss. Though they still had a chance at gold due to the round robin format of the tournament, the Dutchmen were defeated by the Soviet Union – at the time a relatively unknown and emerging hockey power – by a 2–0 score despite outshooting the Soviets 23–9.[26] Canada was relegated to the bronze medal, at the time the worst finish in the nation's Olympic hockey history.[27]
Bauer retired as a coach following the Olympics.[7] However, the Dutchmen, augmented by players loaned from other teams, were again sent to represent Canada at the 1960 Winter Olympics. The team's coach, Bill Durnan resigned following a six-game losing streak, and after several other candidates were unable to take the necessary time off to coach the squad at the tournament, the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) convinced Bauer to return.[28] The Canadians lost only one game in the tournament, to the United States. The final game of the tournament had been scheduled between Canada and the Soviet Union as it was expected to be the gold medal match-up. However, the Americans won all of their games. Consequently, the match determined the silver medal, which Canada claimed with an 8–5 victory.[29]
Personal life
Bauer partnered in a
Tributes
Upon learning of Bauer's death, former Kraut Line member Woody Dumart told the Canadian Press, "There was no better person than Bobby. He gave everything he had. He was the brains of the line, always thinking, and a very clever playmaker." NHL president Clarence Campbell declared, "Bauer was truly an outstanding player. Bobby was a great credit to both professional and amateur hockey."
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
Regular season
|
Playoffs | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
1933–34
|
St. Michael's Majors | OHA | 10 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
1933–34 | St. Michael's Majors | M-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 0 | ||
1934–35
|
Kitchener Greenshirts | OHA | 11 | 12 | 6 | 18 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | ||
1935–36 | Boston Cubs | CAHL
|
48 | 15 | 13 | 28 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1936–37 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
1936–37 | Providence Reds | IAHL | 44 | 14 | 4 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
1937–38 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 48 | 20 | 14 | 34 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
1938–39 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 48 | 13 | 18 | 31 | 4 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | ||
1939–40 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 48 | 17 | 26 | 43 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
1940–41 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 48 | 17 | 22 | 39 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | ||
1941–42 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 36 | 13 | 22 | 35 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1941–42 | Ottawa RCAF Flyers | QSHL | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 4 | ||
1941–42 | Ottawa RCAF Flyers | Al-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 0 | ||
1942–43 | Dartmouth RCAF | NSDHL | 7 | 12 | 8 | 20 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 0 | ||
1942–43 | Dartmouth RCAF | Al-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 | ||
1944–45 | Toronto People's Credit | TIHL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 2 | ||
1945–46 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 39 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 2 | ||
1946–47 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 58 | 30 | 24 | 54 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||
1947–48 | Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen | OHA Sr | 8 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 2 | ||
1948–49 | Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen | OHA Sr | 31 | 17 | 21 | 38 | 13 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0 | ||
1949–50 | Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen | OHA Sr | 23 | 10 | 14 | 24 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | ||
1951–52 | Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen | OHA Sr | 37 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
1951–52 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
NHL totals | 327 | 123 | 137 | 260 | 36 | 48 | 11 | 8 | 19 | 6 |
Awards and honours
Award | Year | Ref. |
---|---|---|
Second team All-Star | 1938–39, 1939–40 1940–41, 1946–47 |
[14] |
Lady Byng Trophy Most gentlemanly player |
1939–40, 1940–41 1946–47 |
[10] |
References
- "Bobby Bauer player card". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2013-12-19.
- ^ "Edgar Joseph Bauer". Waterloo Region Generations. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-12-21.
- ^ a b "Sir Edgar J. Bauer" (PDF). Waterloo Public Library. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2013-12-21.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Shea, Kevin (2006-03-27). "One on one with Bobby Bauer". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2013-12-19.
- ^ a b c d "Bobby Bauer player card". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2013-12-19.
- ISBN 1-55017-170-4.
- ^ a b "Bobby Bauer dies of heart attack". Montreal Gazette. 1964-09-17. p. 39. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
- ^ a b c d e "Bobby Bauer biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
- ^ Holland, Heidi, ed. (2013). Boston Bruins 2013–14 Guide and Record Book. Boston Bruins Hockey Club. p. 144.
- ^ Holland, Heidi, ed. (2013). Boston Bruins 2013–14 Guide and Record Book. Boston Bruins Hockey Club. p. 145.
- ^ a b c "Bobby Bauer statistics". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2013-12-19.
- ^ "Boston Bruins are Stanley Cup winners". Ottawa Citizen. 1939-04-17. p. 10. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
- ^ Holland, Heidi, ed. (2013). Boston Bruins 2013–14 Guide and Record Book. Boston Bruins Hockey Club. p. 146.
- ^ "Bruins honor Milt Schmidt". National Hockey League. 2010-10-28. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-55407-662-8.
- ^ "Bruins annex Stanley Cup for third time". Ottawa Citizen. 1941-04-14. p. 15. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
- ^ "Many Canadian athletes enlisted in non-permanent militia units". Ottawa Citizen. 1940-08-07. p. 10. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
- ^ "Schmidt, Dumart, Bauer may play with Air Force sextet". Ottawa Citizen. 1942-01-28. p. 14. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
- ^ ISBN 1-58261-374-5.
- ISBN 0-385-25999-9.
- ^ "'Kraut Line Bobby' returns from U.K." Montreal Gazette. 1944-07-14. p. 16. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
- ^ a b "Bobby Bauer named Bruins' ice leader". Montreal Gazette. 1946-10-17. p. 18. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
- ^ Holland, Heidi, ed. (2013). Boston Bruins 2013–14 Guide and Record Book. Boston Bruins Hockey Club. p. 149.
- ^ "Robert Theodore Bauer". Waterloo Region Generations. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
- ^ "Krauts linked again; Lead Bruins to 4–0 victory, clinch playoff spot". Montreal Gazette. 1952-03-19. p. 19. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
- ISBN 978-1-55168-323-2.
- ISBN 978-1-55168-323-2.
- ISBN 978-1-55168-323-2.
- ISBN 978-1-55168-323-2.
- ISBN 978-1-55168-323-2.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-55168-323-2.
- ^ "Induction Showcase: Bobby Bauer". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or Legends of Hockey, or The Internet Hockey Database