CrashingTheGoalie

by Ron Spence

There are four people in the picture below. How many Stanley Cups did they win between them? How many Hart Trophies? How many scoring trophies?

courtesy of blog.mlive.com

This group have won 15 Hart Trophies (NHL MVP), 16 Art Ross Trophies (NHL’s leading scorer), and 10 Stanley Cups.

Gordie Howe won 6 Hart Trophies, 6 Art Rosses, and 4 Stanley Cups.

Wayne Gretzky won 9 Hart Trophies, 10 Art Rosses, and 4 Stanley Cups.

And, the man in the middle, Ulfie Sammuelson, the former Pittsurgh Penguin, and now Wayne’s Assistant Coach, won two Stanley Cups.

The fourth man – in profile – is Gordie’s grandson, and Mark’s son – Travis, who runs Gordie’s business, Power Play International.

Gordie and Wayne appeared in a total of 38 All-star games.

Both Gordie and Ulf played for the Hartford Whalers. Gordie’s last season in Connecticut was 1979-80, and Ulf’s first was 1984-85. Wayne and Ulf were teammates, and became good friends in New York.

Although, Ulf bodied a rival and knocked out a pane of glass which in turn concussed Janet Gretzky.