Kent Gemmell Douglas (February 6, 1936 – April 12, 2009) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and coach.

Kent Douglas
Born(1936-02-06)February 6, 1936
Cobalt, Ontario, Canada
DiedApril 12, 2009(2009-04-12) (aged 73)
Wasaga Beach, Ontario, Canada
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
PositionDefence
ShotLeft
Played forToronto Maple Leafs
Oakland Seals
Detroit Red Wings
New York Raiders
Playing career1956–1976

Playing career

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Early career

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Douglas started his career with the Kitchener Canucks in the Ontario Hockey Association.[1] He spent two seasons with the Canucks and eight seasons in the American Hockey League and the Western Hockey League with the Springfield Indians, Winnipeg Warriors and the Vancouver Canucks. In Springfield, Douglas came under the tutelage of Hall of Famer Eddie Shore, the then owner of the Indians.[2] There, Douglas learned Shore's tough defensive style of play which contributed to the Indians three consecutive Calder Cup championships from 1960 to 1962.[3]

Later years

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In 1962–63, Douglas made his first trip to the National Hockey League. He played with the Toronto Maple Leafs and continued his aggressive style of play during his rookie season in the NHL. In 70 games, Douglas recorded 22 points and 105 PIM. The Leafs, that year, made it to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they played the Detroit Red Wings. Toronto defeated the Red Wings in five games, giving Douglas a Stanley Cup in his first season in the NHL.[4] Douglas was also awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year in the NHL, making him the first defenceman to do so.[5] The following season, Douglas split his time between the Leafs and the Rochester Americans of the AHL. He played 41 games with the Leafs and 27 games with the Americans that season. In his 41 games with the Leafs, he recorded only one point.

Douglas remained with the Leafs organization through the 1966–67 but was not a member of the 1964 and 1967 Stanley Cup teams, as he was assigned to Rochester of the AHL for the playoffs in those two years. In the 1967 expansion draft, Douglas was claimed by the California Seals in the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft.[6] The California Seals changed their name before the start of the 1967-68 season to the Oakland Seals. Douglas played 40 games with the Seals before being traded to the Detroit Red Wings. Douglas played the remainder of the season and the 1968–69 season with the Red Wings. He was sent down to the AHL again the following year with the Rochester Americans. Douglas stayed in the AHL for the next three seasons,[7] making the Calder Cup Finals with the Baltimore Clippers in 1971–72. In 1972–73 Douglas joined the New York Raiders in the World Hockey Association.[8] Douglas played one season with the Raiders before returning to the minor leagues once again. He played three more seasons before retiring.

Douglas died of cancer in 2009 at the age of 73.[9]

Awards and achievements

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Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1954–55Kitchener CanucksOHA-Jr.21257104
1955–56Kitchener CanucksOHA-Jr.48162238193831440
1955–56Springfield IndiansAHL31014
1956–57Owen Sound MercurysOHA-Sr.529413205
1957–58Winnipeg WarriorsWHL68102434135701125
1958–59Vancouver CanucksWHL48141226144
1958–59Springfield IndiansAHL924628
1959–60Springfield IndiansAHL671218301571014545
1960–61Springfield IndiansAHL6582836138811214
1961–62Springfield IndiansAHL5918415915111281010
1962–63Toronto Maple LeafsNHL7071522105101120
1963–64Toronto Maple LeafsNHL4301129
1963–64Rochester AmericansAHL27613193820112
1964–65Toronto Maple LeafsNHL6752328129501129
1965–66Toronto Maple LeafsNHL646142097401112
1966–67Toronto Maple LeafsNHL392121448
1966–67Rochester AmericansAHL1179166103366
1966–67Tulsa OilersCPHL1312321
1967–68Oakland SealsNHL404111580
1967–68Detroit Red WingsNHL367101746
1968–69Detroit Red WingsNHL692293197
1969–70Rochester AmericansAHL6493140145
1970–71Baltimore ClippersAHL719364572613416
1971–72Baltimore ClippersAHL75631371801804426
1972–73New York RaidersWHA603151874
1972–73Long Island DucksEHL10000
1973–74Baltimore ClippersAHL7174653176924634
1974–75Baltimore ClippersAHL375192467
1974–75Toledo GoaldiggersIHL22291110192796
1975–76Baltimore ClippersAHL6653338140
AHL totals62595309404130274102838153
WHA totals603151874
NHL totals428331151486311913433

References

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  1. ^ "Douglas, Kent". Hockey Heritage North. Archived from the original on September 4, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  2. ^ "HHOF-Stanley Cup Journal". HHOF. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  3. ^ "Kent Douglas". Springfield Hockey Heritage Society. Archived from the original on March 30, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  4. ^ "1963 Stanley Cup-Toronto Maple Leafs". Joe Pelletier. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  5. ^ "1962-63 Calder Memorial Trophy Winner". HHOF. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  6. ^ "1967 NHL Expansion Draft". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  7. ^ "Eddie Shore Award". AHL Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on July 1, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  8. ^ "Kent Douglas". HHOF. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  9. ^ "Kent Douglas, 73: Former Leafs defenceman". Toronto Star. April 13, 2009. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
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Preceded by Winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy
1963
Succeeded by