Allan Shields

Allan Shields
Born(1907-05-10)May 10, 1907
Died September 24, 1975(1975-09-24) (aged 68)
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 196 lb (89 kg; 14 st 0 lb)
PositionDefence
Shot Right
Played forOttawa SenatorsPhiladelphia QuakersNew York AmericansMontreal MaroonsBoston Bruins
Playing career 1927–1942

John Allan Shields (May 10, 1907 - September 24, 1975) was a Canadian professional ice hockeydefenceman who played eleven seasons in the National Hockey League for the Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Quakers, New York Americans, Montreal Maroons and Boston Bruins between 1927 and 1938.[1]

Playing career

During the 1934–35 NHL season Shields won the Stanley Cup Championship with the Montreal Maroons.

Awards and achievements

Shields played in the longest game in NHL history: Montreal Maroons vs. Detroit Red Wings, March 1936.

In 1934 he was selected to the first NHL All-Star team ever assembled.

In 1930/31 he along with Syd Howe and Wally Kilrea were loaned from Ottawa to the Philadelphia Quakers to help liven up the team and attract more Quaker fans. Philly was in bad financial shape at the time and needed greater attendance to survive. With the assistance of Shields and company their games became "quite exciting", culminating with a Christmas Day game when the entire Philadelphia police force were called to quell a near riot. With the onset of the Depression, the team folded the following year. The Quakers set another near NHL record for games lost, however they were one of the more "lively" teams of the time.

On a couple of occasions during his career, he had to fill in as a goalie. In those days no spare goalie was available and if the one and only was injured during a game one of the players had to fill-in.

He played in the American Hockey League (the primary farm teams of the NHL) for the Washington Lions, Buffalo Bisons and the New Haven Eagles from 1938 to 1942. He served as playing coach for Washington and then enlisted in the RCAF. Shields was selected to All-Star teams twice during his AHL career

During his service in the airforce he was playing coach for the RCAF Sabres stationed in Arnprior, Ontario.

After the war, "Big Pete" went on to Referee in the AHL from 1946 to 1948 and then hung up his skates permanently.

He played a total of 457 game in professional hockey in the days when bus and train were the only means of transport.

Shields was reported in the media at the time, as "a clean, rugged player" and "one of the most valuable defensemen in the entire league". King Clancy who was best man at Shields' wedding, had nothing but praise for his ability as a defenseman.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeam League GPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1927–28 Ottawa Montagnards OCHL1560640000
1927–28New Haven EaglesCan-Am50000
1927–28Ottawa SenatorsNHL70112 20000
1927–28Ottawa Montagnards Al-Cup20000
1928–29Ottawa Senators NHL 4201110
1928–29 St. Louis FlyersAHA61122
1929–30Ottawa Senators NHL 4463932 20000
1930–31Philadelphia QuakersNHL 43731098
1931–32New York AmericansNHL 4841545
1932–33Ottawa Senators NHL 487411119
1933–34Ottawa Senators NHL 47471144
1934–35Montreal MaroonsNHL 42481245 70116
1935–36Montreal Maroons NHL 4527981 30006
1936–37New York Americans NHL 2730379
1936–37 Boston BruinsNHL 1804415 30002
1937–38Montreal Maroons NHL 48571267
1938–39New Haven Eagles IAHL2522417
1939–40New Haven Eagles IAHL 45591426 30222
1940–41New Haven Eagles AHL489162559 20002
1940–41 Buffalo BisonsAHL 30000
1941–42Washington LionsAHL 513101324 20000
1942–43 Arnprior RCAF OVHL 8461016 20114
1943–44 Arnprior RCAF OVHL 51346
NHL totals 459424688637 1701114

References

  1. ^"All-time roster for the New York Americans". Bov.ch. Retrieved January 15, 2020.