Gus Mortson: Difference between revisions

| position = [[Defenceman (ice hockey)|DefenseDefence]]

| played_for = [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]<br />[[Chicago Black Hawks]]<br />[[Detroit Red Wings]]

| birth_place = [[Temiskaming Shores|New Liskeard]], [[Ontario]], Canada

'''James Angus Gerald "Old Hardrock" Mortson''' (January 24, 1925 &ndash; 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 Cup]]s with Toronto. He also played in eight [[National Hockey League All-Star Game|NHL All -Star Games]].

Mortson grew up in [[NorthernKirkland Lake]], [[Ontario]]. He joined the [[Toronto St. Michael's Majors|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 (1945–51)|United States Hockey League]]'s [[Tulsa Oilers]] in 1945–46, compiling 48 points in 51 games.<ref name="legends">[http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=13788 "Gus Mortson"]. legendsofhockey.net. Retrieved February 27, 2014.</ref>

In 1946–47 Mortson joined the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs, where he played for the next six seasons. He and fellow defenceman [[Jimmy Thomson (ice hockey b. 1927)|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://redwings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=630635|title = Dual Citizenship: Gus Mortson}}</ref> In 1950, Mortson was named to the league's first all-star team.<ref name="legends"/>

In 1952 Mortson was traded to the Chicago Black Hawks, along with [[Cal Gardner]], [[Ray Hannigan]], and [[Al Rollins]], for [[Harry Lumley (ice hockey)|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.<ref name="legends"/> Mortson played 797 games and had 198 points and 1,380 penalty minutes in his 13-year NHL career.<ref name="legends"/> He was known for his physical play and got into numerous fights.<ref>Meharg, Bruce (2005). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=UikBx7a1nzoC&pg=PA152&dq=gus+mortson&hlpg=en&sa=X&ei=VFkPU5_KDKHU0QHM3oCgCg&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=gus%20mortson&f=falsePA152 Legends of the Leafs]''. Author House. pp. 152–154.</ref>

After retirement from hockey Mortson was involved in the food and beverage business and lived in [[Oakville, Ontario]].<ref name="timminspress.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.timminspress.com/2015/08/09/nhl-all-star-gus-mortson-dies-peacefully-at-home-in-timmins |title=Timmins NHL All-Star dies {{!}} Timmins Press |website=www.timminspress.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820111435/http://www.timminspress.com/2015/08/09/nhl-all-star-gus-mortson-dies-peacefully-at-home-in-timmins |archive-date=2015-08-20}} </ref> In 1970, he moved to [[Timmins]] becoming a stockbroker<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://m.torontosun.com/2015/08/08/maple-leafs-defenceman-gus-morton-dies|title = Former Maple Leafs defenceman Gus Mortson dies}}</ref> and later as a mining company representative.<ref name="timminspress.com"/> He died in [[Timmins]], [[Ontario]], on August 8, 2015. He was 90 years old, survived by his wife Sheila and six children, and predeceased by one son.<ref name="death">[http://m.torontosun.com/2015/08/08/maple-leafs-defenceman-gus-morton-dies "Former Maple Leafs defenceman Gus Mortson dies"]. [[Toronto Sun]]. Retrieved August 9, 2015.</ref><ref name="timminspress.com"/>

[[Category:Ice hockey people from OntarioKirkland Lake]]