Gus Mortson
Mortson at St. Michaels College, c. 1944
Born (1925-01-24)January 24, 1925
New Liskeard, Ontario, Canada
Died August 8, 2015(2015-08-08) (aged 90)
Timmins, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Defense
Shot Left
Played for Toronto Maple Leafs
Chicago Black Hawks
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career 1945–1967

James Angus Gerald "Old Hardrock" Mortson (January 24, 1925 – August 8, 2015) was a Canadian ice hockey defenceman in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Black Hawks, and Detroit Red Wings, winning four Stanley Cups with Toronto. He also played in eight NHL All Star Games.

Early career

Mortson grew up in Northern Ontario. He joined the St. Michael's Majors of the Ontario Hockey Association Jr. league in 1943–44 and played two seasons for them. He then turned professional and played for the United States Hockey League's Tulsa Oilers in 1945–46, compiling 48 points in 51 games.[1]

National Hockey League

In 1946–47 Mortson joined the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs, where he played for the next six seasons. He and fellow defenceman Jim Thomson were known as the "Gold Dust Twins", and the two helped the Maple Leafs win Stanley Cups in 1947, 1948, 1949, and 1951. In the 1948 All Star game, Mortson and Gordie Howe squared off and, as of 2015, are the only players to fight in an NHL All-Star Game.[2] In 1950, Mortson was named to the league's first all-star team.[1]

In 1952 Mortson was traded to the Chicago Black Hawks, along with Cal Gardner, Ray Hannigan, and Al Rollins, for Harry Lumley. Mortson played for the Black Hawks for six seasons. In 1956–57 he led the league in penalty minutes for the fourth time. He was then traded to the Detroit Red Wings in 1958 and played one season for them.[1] Mortson played 797 games and had 198 points and 1,380 penalty minutes in his 13-year NHL career.[1] He was known for his physical play and got into numerous fights.[3]

Later career

After his NHL career ended, Mortson played professional hockey with the American Hockey League's Buffalo Bisons, and retired in 1967 while playing semi-professional with the Oakville Oaks of the Ontario Hockey Association Senior A League.[1]

Post-hockey and death

After retirement from hockey Mortson was involved in the food and beverage business and lived in Oakville, Ontario.[4] In 1970, he moved to Timmins becoming a stockbroker[5] and later as a mining company representative.[4] He died in Timmins, Ontario, on August 8, 2015. He was 90 years old, survived by wife Sheila and six children, and predeceased by one son.[6][4]

Awards and achievements

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Bold indicates led league

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1942–43 Kirkland Lake Lakers GBHL ————— —————
1943–44 Toronto St. Michael's Majors OHA 255111616 1222412
1943–44 Oshawa Generals M-Cup ————— 81454
1944–45 Toronto St. Michael's Majors OHA 176121818 61568
1944–45 Toronto St. Michael's Majors M-Cup ————— 14641012
1945–46 Tulsa Oilers USHL 5119294847 1315612
1946–47 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 6051318133 1113422
1947–48 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 5871118118 51232
1948–49 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 602131585 92138
1949–50 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 6831417125 700018
1950–51 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 6031013142 110114
1951–52 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 6511011106 40008
1952–53 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 685182388 71126
1953–54 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 6851318132 —————
1954–55 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 6521113133 —————
1955–56 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 525101587 —————
1956–57 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 7051823147 —————
1957–58 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 673101362 —————
1958–59 Detroit Red Wings NHL 3601122 —————
1958–59 Buffalo Bisons AHL 29391246 1133612
1959–60 Buffalo Bisons AHL 7210324237 —————
1962–63 Chatham Maroons OHA-Sr. 3611142546 91126
1963–64 Chatham Maroons IHL 292141660 —————
1964–65 Oakville Oaks OHA-Sr. 317182578 1115618
1964–65 Buffalo Bisons AHL 30330 —————
1965–66 Oakville Oaks OHA-Sr. 277152248 70222
1966–67 Oakville Oaks OHA-Sr. 133368 —————
NHL totals 797461521981380 54581368

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Gus Mortson". legendsofhockey.net. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Dual Citizenship: Gus Mortson".
  3. ↑ Meharg, Bruce (2005). Legends of the Leafs. Author House. pp. 152–154.
  4. 1 2 3 "Timmins NHL All-Star dies | Timmins Press". www.timminspress.com. Archived from the original on 2015-08-20.
  5. ↑ "Former Maple Leafs defenceman Gus Mortson dies".
  6. ↑ "Former Maple Leafs defenceman Gus Mortson dies". Toronto Sun. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
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