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Hubert George (Bill) Quackenbush

Hubert George, Bill, Quackenbush was born on the 2^nd of March 1922 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He Played 14 National Hockey League seasons from 1942 to 1956. He died on the 12^th of September 1999. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall Of Fame in 1976. Defenseman Hubert, Bill, Quackenbush excelled at both offensive and defensive aspects of the game. During 14 seasons, he was among the NHL's elite rushing blueliners. More significantly, he was a superior defender in his own end who relied on positioning and discipline rather than physical intimidation for his success. Consequently, his penalty minute totals were remarkably low considering his role on the ice.

Quackenbush began gaining local attention with the Ontario Hockey Association's Toronto Native Sons in 1940-41 when he registered 13 points in as many games. The Detroit Red Wings acquired him and the young rearguard wasn't looking out of place during a ten-game call-up in 1942-43, until he broke his wrist. He spend the remainder of his first pro year with the Indianapolis Capitals of the American Hockey League. He joined the Red Wings' defense corps permanently the following season. By the late 1940s, three times Quackenbush was placed on the NHL's First All-Star Team and twice he was selected to the Second Team.

At the conclusion of the 1948-49 season, he became the first defenseman to win the Lady Byng Trophy. He managed to go 131 consecutive games without drawing a penalty. The streak began with the final five regular-season games and 10 playoff games in 1947-48, 60 regular-season and 11 post-season matches the next year and the first 45 games in 1949-50. Amazingly, he incurred only one major penalty in his entire career. He was the prototype of efficiency and finesse in defensive zone coverage. Quackenbush was also considered a master at diffusing any forward's attempt to generate offense from behind his opponent's net.

In 1949, Quackenbush was traded to the Bruins. Quack's rushes with the puck helped endear him to the Beantown supporters who hadn't seen this type of daring play from the blue line since the days of Eddie Shore. In 1950-51 the Bruins' blue line brigade was decimated by injury, leaving Quackenbush as the only experienced player. He was forced to play 55 minutes in one contest, a test of his stamina and experience. He retired in 1956.

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