George Owen (ice hockey)

Harvard George Owen Jr. (December 2, 1901 – March 4, 1986) was a professional ice hockey defenceman for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League.

George Owen
Owen (circa. 1920)
Born (1901-12-02)December 2, 1901
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Died March 4, 1986(1986-03-04) (aged 84)
Milton, Massachusetts, USA
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Boston Bruins
Playing career 1928–1933

Career

Owen was a three-sport star at Harvard University, playing football, baseball and hockey.[1] He was awarded the university's Wingate Cup for best all-around athletic ability.[2]

After he graduated, Owen entered the brokerage business while continuing to play hockey for the Boston University Club. He was invited to play for the United States Olympic Team in 1924, but declined because of business obligations.[3]

The Toronto Maple Leafs held Owen's professional rights; however, as Owen did not want to leave Massachusetts, the Maple Leafs traded his rights to the Boston Bruins on January 10, 1929, in exchange for Eric Pettinger.[4] Owen played five seasons with the Bruins, pairing on defense with players including Lionel Hitchman and Eddie Shore, and won the Stanley Cup with the team in 1929.[5]

Legend has it Owen was the first player to don a helmet in an NHL game, wearing the same leather helmet that he had worn when playing college football. However, Marty Burke of the Montreal Canadiens is known to have worn a helmet briefly during a game in December 1928, before Owen entered the NHL.[6]

Following his playing career, Owen became head coach of the Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey team.[5] He later coached football, baseball and hockey at Milton Academy.[1] After retiring from Milton Academy, Owen worked as a scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates.[1]

Personal life

Owen was born in Hamilton, Ontario and moved to Massachusetts as a teenager, attending Newton High School in suburban Boston.[7]

He died of a stroke in Milton, Massachusetts in 1986.[1]

Halls of Fame

Career statistics
    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1918–19 Newton High School High-MA — — — — — — — — — —
1919–20 Harvard Crimson Ivy — — — — — — — — — —
1920–21 Harvard Crimson Ivy 11 10 0 10 — — — — — —
1921–22 Harvard Crimson Ivy — — — — — — — — — —
1922–23 Harvard Crimson Ivy — — — — — — — — — —
1923–24 Boston A. A. Unicorns USAHA 12 10 0 10 — — — — — —
1924–25 Harvard Crimson Ivy — — — — — — — — — —
1925–26 Boston A. A. Unicorns USAHA — — — — — 2 0 2 2 —
1926–27 Boston University Club MBHL — — — — — — — — — —
1927–28 Boston University Club MBHL — — — — — — — — — —
1928–29 Boston Bruins NHL 27 5 4 9 48 5 0 0 0 0
1929–30 Boston Bruins NHL 42 9 4 13 31 6 0 2 2 6
1930–31 Boston Bruins NHL 38 12 13 25 33 5 2 3 5 13
1931–32 Boston Bruins NHL 42 12 10 22 29 — — — — —
1932–33 Boston Bruins NHL 34 6 2 8 10 5 0 0 0 6
NHL totals 183 44 33 77 151 21 2 5 7 25

References
  1. "George Owen, Jr. Dead at 84". The Harvard Crimson. March 7, 1986. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  2. "George Owen - Member Biography". National Football Foundation. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  3. "US HOCKEY HALL OF FAME INAUGURAL CLASS OF 1973". Vintage Minnesota Hockey. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  4. "George Owen". Hockey History Blog. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  5. "Legends of Hockey - NHL Player Search - George Owen". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  6. "Pete Lepine stars as Canadiens win from Ottawa, 1-0". The Montreal Gazette. December 24, 1928. Retrieved January 7, 2019. Marty Burke became so enthused over the proceedings that half-way through the game he threw off the helmet he had on his head to protect his injured ear.
  7. "Owen Named to MA Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 14'". ECACHockey.com. September 30, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Lionel Hitchman		 Boston Bruins captain
1931–32		 Succeeded by
Dit Clapper
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