Johnny Gottselig

Johannes “Johnny” Gottselig (Russian: Иван Гоцелиг) (June 24, 1905 – May 15, 1986) was a professional ice hockey left winger who played 16 seasons for the Chicago Black Hawks of the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1928 and 1945.[1] He was the second player born in the Russian Empire to play in the NHL, as well as the first European-born head coach, and captain of a cup-winning team, in the league's history. He won two Stanley Cups in his playing career: in 1934, and 1938 (as captain). He was also with Chicago in 1961, as Director of Public Relations, when the Black Hawks won their third Stanley Cup. Gottselig was included on the team, but his name was not engraved onto the Stanley Cup.

Johnny Gottselig
Born (1905-06-24)June 24, 1905
Klosterdorf, Taurida Governorate, Russian Empire
Died May 15, 1986(1986-05-15) (aged 80)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 158 lb (72 kg; 11 st 4 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for Winnipeg Maroons
Chicago Black Hawks
Kansas City Americans
Playing career 19281945

Background

Gottselig was born along the banks of Dnieper River in a tiny German Catholic village of Klosterdorf in the Swedish district in the Kherson Governorate of the Russian Empire and emigrated to Canada the same year. He grew up in Regina, Saskatchewan. In later years, he would say he was from the better-known city of Odessa which was the largest centre in the general vicinity of his birthplace. His parents were Albert Gottselig and Margarethe Weber.

Career

He played junior hockey with the Regina Pats before joining Chicago. Gottselig's entire NHL career was with Chicago, playing 589 career NHL games, scoring 176 goals and 195 assists for 371 points. After his hockey playing career was finished, he became the team's head coach. After coaching, he stayed on as the team's Director of Public Relations.

Gottselig also served for several years as a manager of women's baseball teams in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. He guided the Racine Belles in 1943–1944, the Peoria Redwings in 1947 and the Kenosha Comets in 1949–1950. He later became an executive with the Elmhurst Chicago Stone Company.

Career statistics

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1923–24Regina PatsS-SJHL 66066
1924–25Regina PatsS-SJHL 5182200
1924–25Regina VictoriasS-SSHL 11012
1925–26Regina VictoriasS-SSHL 168192
1926–27Regina CapitalsPrHL 322373021 21010
1927–28Winnipeg MaroonsAHA 391541924
1928–29Chicago Black HawksNHL 4453826
1929–30Chicago Black HawksNHL 392142528 20004
1930–31Chicago Black HawksNHL 4220123214 93362
1931–32Chicago Black HawksNHL 4413152828 20002
1932–33Chicago Black HawksNHL 411111226
1933–34Chicago Black HawksNHL 481614304 84374
1934–35Chicago Black HawksNHL 4819183716 20000
1935–36Chicago Black HawksNHL 401415294 20220
1936–37Chicago Black HawksNHL 479213010
1937–38Chicago Black HawksNHL 4813193222 105384
1938–39Chicago Black HawksNHL 4816233915
1939–40Chicago Black HawksNHL 39815237 20110
1940–41Chicago Black HawksNHL 51455
1940–41Kansas City AmericansAHA 1396152 83142
1941–42Kansas City AmericansAHA 4025356022 62572
1942–43Chicago Black HawksNHL 1026812
1943–44Chicago Black HawksNHL 45815236 61122
1944–45Chicago Black HawksNHL 10000
NHL totals 589176195371203 4313132618
AHA totals 9249459448 1456114

Coaching record

TeamYearRegular seasonPostseason
GWLTPtsFinishResult
CHI1944–45 4913297335th in NHLMissed playoffs
CHI1945–46 5023207533rd in NHLLost in semi-finals (0-4 vs. MTL)
CHI1946–47 6019374426th in NHLMissed playoffs
CHI1947–48 28719216(fired)
Total1876210520144 0-4 (.000)

References

  1. "Johnny Gottselig Stats". Hockey Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  • Podnieks, Andrew (2003). Players: The Ultimate A-Z Guide of Everyone Who Has Ever Played in the NHL. Doubleday Canada. ISBN 0-385-25999-9.
Preceded by
Chuck Gardiner
Chicago Black Hawks captain
19351940
Succeeded by
Earl Seibert
Preceded by
Paul Thompson
Head coach of the Chicago Black Hawks
19441947
Succeeded by
Charlie Conacher
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