Len Thornson was an "NHL" player in the IHL. Considering he was property of the Montreal Canadians, the fact that for most of his career the NHL was composed of six teams ( twelve teams after the first expansion), his 1219 points is a testament to his skill and his longevity ( which was cut short by an eye injury). He played for the Louisville Rebels early in his career, but after coming to Fort Wayne, he made this community his home for many years after his playing career. (Colin Chaulk earned his 1000th point a few games ago. I'm not sure that Chaulk has received the credit due him by this accomplishment.)
Merv Dubchak's 72 goals sure would look nice now, wouldn't it? I believe that Gary Hall of Muskegon broke Dubchak's record a few years after the 72 goal season.
Bobby Rivard was a helluva hockey player. He was a slick, skillful player who could do everything on the ice. He was rewarded by getting to the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
When you think about Chuck Adamson playing all those games, take time to remember the goaltending equipment and how it has changed. Pretty remarkable.
I have been very fortunate to have been able to watch every player in my post and in the article. Very fortunate, indeed.
Ron Heathman
Tue, 03/19/2013 - 3:57pm
I enjoyed your post Alan. I to am fortunate to have seen all the players you mentioned. I was the stickboy for the Louisville Rebels when they would come to town with jelly belly Lew Crowdis, Teddy Wright, he was a rookie then with the Rebels. You mentioned Bobby Rivard, what a player. I remember him with the Indianapolis Chiefs when he teamed with Mark Bouliou to be the most feared duo in the IHL.
Junior hockey was just getting started then at the old outdoor rink at McMillan. Our coach was Oren Gould, Komet d-man. He might have the Komet record for the longest goal ever scored with a goalie in the net. It was against Cliff Hicks of Indpls. It was from the faceoff circle all the way down. He threw the puck high in the air all the way down and Hicks lost the puck in the crowd. He went down in the butterfly and the puck landed in front of him and bounced up over his shoulder into the net.
John Ferguson was one of my favorites back then also.
DSchebig
Tue, 03/19/2013 - 9:32pm
I am pretty sure Terry Pembroke has the longest goal ever scored with a goaltender in the net. He was at the defensive goal line. He shot a knuckle puck that totally fooled the netminder. If I remember correctly it went right threw Glenn Ramsey's legs. Blake was a child than but I am not apposed to being corrected.
Andy Sherman
Tue, 03/19/2013 - 9:43pm
Alan, enjoyed your post. Well thought out! So many Komets over the years have blessed us with gutsy and couragious performances-whether over the span of a season(s), or if even for only a few games. Adamson's record will never be broken. An amazing stretch of games. Not to take anything away from him (at all) but in those days playing a stretch of games like that was not at all uncommon for goalies. In fact it was expected of the top goalie. Most teams only had one goalie. Sure, goalie equipment has changed a lot. But the guys back then couldn't shoot nearly as hard, or really get the puck up a let it sail like the guys can now. The way goalies are playing now is destroying their bodies-the wear and tear on the hips and knees are astounding. There are some very interesting reads out there if you google "goalies and hip injuries". I don't think Chuck's record will ever be broken for those reasons. The position is just too hard on the body now to be able to play that many games consecutively. So many of the other records I don't think will be broken because of the way the leagues are run now. I don't think we will be seeing too many guys stick around for 4+ years like Chaulk, Boucher, Drouin, Dupuis, et al...shame because we will also proabably see less of these stick around Ft. Wayne after retiring, as a shorter time spent here won't permit them to establish the roots like in the past. JMO
Anthony
Tue, 03/19/2013 - 10:32pm
Hey Andy the thing is that's how hockey has become now days . Keep them for a couple years and then move on to next . It's truly sad ..
Comments
Len Thornson was an "NHL" player in the IHL. Considering he was property of the Montreal Canadians, the fact that for most of his career the NHL was composed of six teams ( twelve teams after the first expansion), his 1219 points is a testament to his skill and his longevity ( which was cut short by an eye injury). He played for the Louisville Rebels early in his career, but after coming to Fort Wayne, he made this community his home for many years after his playing career. (Colin Chaulk earned his 1000th point a few games ago. I'm not sure that Chaulk has received the credit due him by this accomplishment.)
Merv Dubchak's 72 goals sure would look nice now, wouldn't it? I believe that Gary Hall of Muskegon broke Dubchak's record a few years after the 72 goal season.
Bobby Rivard was a helluva hockey player. He was a slick, skillful player who could do everything on the ice. He was rewarded by getting to the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
When you think about Chuck Adamson playing all those games, take time to remember the goaltending equipment and how it has changed. Pretty remarkable.
I have been very fortunate to have been able to watch every player in my post and in the article. Very fortunate, indeed.
I enjoyed your post Alan. I to am fortunate to have seen all the players you mentioned. I was the stickboy for the Louisville Rebels when they would come to town with jelly belly Lew Crowdis, Teddy Wright, he was a rookie then with the Rebels. You mentioned Bobby Rivard, what a player. I remember him with the Indianapolis Chiefs when he teamed with Mark Bouliou to be the most feared duo in the IHL.
Junior hockey was just getting started then at the old outdoor rink at McMillan. Our coach was Oren Gould, Komet d-man. He might have the Komet record for the longest goal ever scored with a goalie in the net. It was against Cliff Hicks of Indpls. It was from the faceoff circle all the way down. He threw the puck high in the air all the way down and Hicks lost the puck in the crowd. He went down in the butterfly and the puck landed in front of him and bounced up over his shoulder into the net.
John Ferguson was one of my favorites back then also.
I am pretty sure Terry Pembroke has the longest goal ever scored with a goaltender in the net. He was at the defensive goal line. He shot a knuckle puck that totally fooled the netminder. If I remember correctly it went right threw Glenn Ramsey's legs. Blake was a child than but I am not apposed to being corrected.
Alan, enjoyed your post. Well thought out! So many Komets over the years have blessed us with gutsy and couragious performances-whether over the span of a season(s), or if even for only a few games. Adamson's record will never be broken. An amazing stretch of games. Not to take anything away from him (at all) but in those days playing a stretch of games like that was not at all uncommon for goalies. In fact it was expected of the top goalie. Most teams only had one goalie. Sure, goalie equipment has changed a lot. But the guys back then couldn't shoot nearly as hard, or really get the puck up a let it sail like the guys can now. The way goalies are playing now is destroying their bodies-the wear and tear on the hips and knees are astounding. There are some very interesting reads out there if you google "goalies and hip injuries". I don't think Chuck's record will ever be broken for those reasons. The position is just too hard on the body now to be able to play that many games consecutively. So many of the other records I don't think will be broken because of the way the leagues are run now. I don't think we will be seeing too many guys stick around for 4+ years like Chaulk, Boucher, Drouin, Dupuis, et al...shame because we will also proabably see less of these stick around Ft. Wayne after retiring, as a shorter time spent here won't permit them to establish the roots like in the past. JMO
Hey Andy the thing is that's how hockey has become now days . Keep them for a couple years and then move on to next . It's truly sad ..