HOCKEY NOTES

Gordon Roberts (Doc)

Left Wing

5-11 180

b. 5 Sep 1891 Ottawa, Ontario
d. 2 Sep 1966 Oakland, California

Despite being one of the top wingers of his era, Dr. Gordon William Roberts was never on a championship hockey team. In January 1910, he and the Ottawa Senators defended the Stanley Cup against Edmonton. Ottawa's front line of Roberts, Marty Walsh and Bruce Ridpath was outstanding, scoring 13 of their team's 21 goals in a two-game set.

Roberts joined the Wanderers for the 1910-11 season and entered McGill University at this time to study medicine. He remained with the Redbands for the next six seasons, during which they reached the playoffs only once. Roberts was one-third of a high-octane line, learning the tricks of the goal-poaching trade from the great Ernie Russell.

The horse-strong Roberts, one of the first legitimate power forwards, owned a hard, accurate shot. After Russell was put out to pasture, Roberts played alongside such luminaries as Harry Hyland, Odie Cleghorn and Don Smith, putting up seasons of 30 and 29 goals in 1914 and 1915. In 1916, Roberts earned his medical degree and opened a practice in Vancouver. At the same time he signed with the Millionaires of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association, setting a league record with 43 goals. After taking the 1918-19 season off, Roberts rejoined the Millionaires for one last year, dazzling fans from the left side of a line that also featured Barney Stanley, "Speed" Moynes and Mickey Mackay. Roberts hung up his skates in style, scoring 15 goals.

About two years later, Roberts headed back east to do some post-graduate work in Ottawa, and the Senators made a pitch for his services. Roberts politely declined, having decided once and for all that his medical career took precedence.

Roberts scored 203 times in 166 games. He is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

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