HOCKEY NOTES

Joe Malone (Phantom)

Center

5-10 150

b. 28 Feb 1890 Sillery, Quebec
d. 15 May 1969

Joe Malone was one of the fine gentlemen of pre-modern hockey, a thoroughbred in an era of plow horses. He took no part in stick-swinging or fisticuffs, preferring to devote his energies almost exclusively to offensive pursuits.

Malone was born in the small town of Sillery, near Quebec City, and played his first organized hockey with the Junior Quebec Crescents in 1907-08. After one season with the Quebec Bulldogs, he did an 11-game stint with the Waterloo Professionals of the Ontario Professional Hockey League, rejoining the Bulldogs shortly thereafter. While in Quebec, Malone posted impressive numbers -- 9 goals against Sydney on March 8, 1913, 8 goals in a game in 1917, and 7 goals in an NHL game in 1920 -- the latter an NHL record standing to this day. In 273 career games, Malone lit the lamp 343 times.

A tall, handsome man, Malone favored a stand-up-straight skating style. He was deceptive on his skates and, although not a speedster, had a sixth sense around the net. His skill with the puck compared favorably to that of Odie Cleghorn, who was a wizard. Both men were capable of stickhandling through entire teams. Because of this ability, as well as his shiftiness and ability to be in the right place at the right time, Malone became known as 'The Phantom."

At the end of the 1916-17 season, Quebec disbanded, leaving a number of star-caliber players up for grabs. Malone signed on with the Montreal Canadiens where he'd end up scoring an incredible 44 goals in 20 games. After another season in Montreal, Malone was claimed by Quebec when they rejoined the league in 1919-20. There, he scored a league-high 39 goals in 24 games. The Bulldogs moved to Hamilton the next season, and Malone coached, managed and played two seasons for the Tigers. He refused to show up for Hamilton's 1922 training camp, however, and they dealt him back to Montreal, where he played out the string for two seasons.

Any discussion of the greatest goal scorers of all time would have to include Malone. He is a very worthy member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

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