Taffy Abel
A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. (September 2022) |
Taffy Abel | |||||||||||||||||
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Born |
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, U.S. | May 28, 1900||||||||||||||||
Died |
August 1, 1964 Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, U.S. | (aged 64)||||||||||||||||
Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||||||||||||||||
Weight | 225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb) | ||||||||||||||||
Position | Defense | ||||||||||||||||
Shot | Left | ||||||||||||||||
Played for |
Chicago Black Hawks | ||||||||||||||||
National team | United States | ||||||||||||||||
Playing career | 1925–1934 | ||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Clarence John "Taffy" Abel (May 28, 1900 – August 1, 1964) was an American professional
Playing career
Clarence "Taffy" Abel was a silver medalist on the United States in the 1924 Olympics, serving as flagbearer for the U.S. delegation.[1] Abel scored 15 goals for the United States in the tournament.[3]
As a member of the
Abel played in the NHL for eight years. He scored his first NHL goal on December 7, 1926, in the New York Rangers' 1-0 road victory over the Boston Bruins.[citation needed]
He was signed by Conn Smythe to the New York Rangers, largely based upon his strong performance at the Winter Olympics in 1924.[4] With the Rangers, he wore sweater number 4, and, paired with defenseman Ching Johnson, was a key member of the Stanley Cup–winning Rangers team in 1927-28.[1] After the 1929 season, Abel's rights were sold to the Chicago Black Hawks, where he played five more years, wearing sweater number 2.[5] Abel was a member of the Cup-winning Black Hawks in 1933-34, his last NHL season.[1]
Later life and legacy
Abel returned to Sault Ste. Marie after retirement, coaching ice hockey.[6] He also operated a tourist resort named "Taffy’s Lodge" in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.[7]
Abel died in his home in Sault Ste. Marie, on August 1, 1964, aged 64. Nine years later, he was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame as a player.[1]
The Taffy Abel Arena, home rink for the Lake Superior State University hockey program is named in his honor.[citation needed]
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
Regular season
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Playoffs | |||||||||||||
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Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
1918–19 | Michigan Soo Nationals | TBSHL | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1919–20 | Michigan Soo Wildcats | TBSHL | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1920–21 | Michigan Soo Wildcats | TBSHL | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1921–22 | Michigan Soo Wildcats | TBSHL | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1922–23 | St. Paul Athletic Club | USAHA | 18 | 3 | 0 | 3 | — | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
1923–24 | St. Paul Athletic Club | USAHA | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
1924–25 | St. Paul Saints | USAHA | 39 | 8 | 0 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1925–26 | Minneapolis Millers | CHL | 35 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1926–27 | New York Rangers | NHL | 44 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 78 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||
1927–28 | New York Rangers | NHL | 23 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 28 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 14 | ||
1928–29 | New York Rangers | NHL | 44 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 41 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||
1929–30 | Chicago Black Hawks
|
NHL | 38 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 42 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | ||
1930–31 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 43 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 45 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||
1931–32 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 48 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 34 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
1932–33 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 47 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 63 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1933–34 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 46 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 28 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||
NHL totals | 333 | 19 | 18 | 37 | 359 | 38 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 56 |
International
Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1924 | United States | OLY
|
5 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 8 | |
Senior totals | 5 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 8 |
References
- ^ a b c d e Adams, Jim (February 3, 2022). "A Forgotten Olympic First: Taffy Abel, U.S. hockey's initial American Indian player, won a silver medal at the inaugural Winter Games almost a century ago". Smithsonian Magazine. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
- ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
- ^ "Clarence "Taffy" Abel". NHL.com. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
- ^ "Clarence "Taffy" Abel". New York Rangers. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
- ISBN 978-1-60078-148-3.
- ISBN 0-385-25999-9.
- ^ "Clarence Abel". Olympedia. OLYMadMen. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
- NPR: Taffy Abel medaled in the 1924 Olympics. Few knew of his Indigenous heritage.
- Taffy Abel at Find a Grave