Babe Pratt

Walter Peter "Babe" Pratt (January 7, 1916 – December 16, 1988) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman/left winger who played for the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League. He is the father of the NHL hockey player, Tracy Pratt.

Babe Pratt
Hockey Hall of Fame, 1966
Born (1916-01-07)January 7, 1916
Stony Mountain, Manitoba, Canada
Died December 16, 1988(1988-12-16) (aged 72)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 212 lb (96 kg; 15 st 2 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for New York Rangers
Toronto Maple Leafs
Boston Bruins
Playing career 19351952

Babe was an important member of two Stanley Cup winning teams, the 1940 Rangers and 1945 Maple Leafs. He won the Hart Trophy in 1944. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1966.

In January, 1946 Pratt was caught betting on hockey games and was subsequently suspended from the NHL. Pratt admitted to gambling but denied ever placing a bet against his own team. After promising to quit betting he was reinstated to the Toronto Maple Leafs. His last NHL season was with the Boston Bruins in 1946–47 and he played in the minors after that.

He subsequently worked as an analyst for CBC Television's Hockey Night In Canada telecasts from Vancouver in the 1970s and served as a goodwill ambassador of the Vancouver Canucks. Pratt collapsed and died of a heart attack in the media lounge of the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver during the first intermission of a Canucks game on December 16, 1988. The Canucks honored Pratt's memory by stitching "BABE" on their sweaters for the remainder of the hockey season.

Despite the brevity of his career, the time passed since it ended, and a reputation for rough play, in 1998, he was ranked number 96 on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.

Awards and achievements

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1933–34 Kenora Thistles MJHL 16 14 7 21 33 9 6 2 8 18
1933–34 Kenora Thistles MC 4 4 4 8 14
1934–35 Kenora Thistles MJHL 18 19 23 42 18 2 0 4 4 2
1935–36New York RangersNHL1711216
1935–36Philadelphia RamblersCAHL2878154840002
1936–37New York RangersNHL47871523931411
1937–38New York RangersNHL47514195620002
1938–39New York RangersNHL48219212071239
1939–40*New York RangersNHL4841317611231418
1940–41New York RangersNHL47317205231126
1941–42New York RangersNHL474242865613434
1942–43New York RangersNHL40226
1942–43Toronto Maple LeafsNHL401225374461238
1943–44Toronto Maple LeafsNHL501740573050334
1944–45*Toronto Maple LeafsNHL5018234139132468
1945–46Toronto Maple LeafsNHL415202536
1946–47Boston BruinsNHL3144825
1946–47Hershey BearsAHL2151015231135819
1947–48Cleveland BaronsAHL171458
1947–48Hershey BearsAHL36214163920000
1948–49New Westminster RoyalsPCHL63184866641218910
1949–50New Westminster RoyalsPCHL5982937561826822
1950–51New Westminster RoyalsPCHL65815235470004
1951–52Tacoma RocketsPCHL63731382050110
NHL totals 517 83 209 292 473 63 12 17 29 100

* Stanley Cup Champion.

References

  1. Cohen, Russ; Halligan, John; Raider, Adam (2009). 100 Ranger Greats: Superstars, Unsung Heroes and Colorful Characters. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0470736194. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
Preceded by
Bill Cowley
Winner of the Hart Trophy
1944
Succeeded by
Elmer Lach
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