This Day in Hockey History – November 24, 1936 and 1986 – Two Retirements in 50 Years

(Photo: Fortunate4now [CC0], from Wikimedia Commons)

Two of the NHL’s top 100 players retired on the same date, November 24, 50 years apart. King Clancy and Gilbert Perreault retired as players in 1936 (after 16 seasons) and 1986 (after 17 seasons), respectively.

King Clancy began his pro career in 1921 at 18, as the first teenager in the NHL. He played with the Ottawa Senators for the first nine seasons. They won the Stanley Cup finals in 1923 and 1927. Then, Clancy was traded for $35,000 (and Art Smith and Eric Pettinger). He skated with the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1930 until his retirement. Owner Conn Smythe credited Clancy with bringing in the ticket sales helping keep Maple Leaf Gardens going, and Clancy helped them win the Cup in 1932. Clancy was only 5-foot-7 and about 155 pounds and would physically and verbally take on just about anyone as needed. In fact, one of his favorite targets was his rival defenseman, Eddie Shore. When Clancy retired, his 283 points (137G, 150A) in 592 games put him in first in points and goals among defensemen. Clancy played hockey as “a joyous kind of game.”

Gilbert Perreault began his NHL career as the No. 1 draft pick for the Buffalo Sabres, who, in 1970, received first pick as one of two new expansion teams. In his rookie season, Perreault set a rookie record (38 goals and 72 points) and received the Calder Memorial Trophy. Two seasons later, he was awarded the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. Perreault commented, “I loved the thrill of beating everyone on the ice, deking through the opposition. When I got the puck, I’d dare them to try to get it away from me.” The Sabres coach, Joe Crozier, put Perreault on a line with Richard Martin and Rene Robert, and they became known as the “French Connection.” They used their speed to lead the NHL in scoring, and they helped the Sabres make the playoffs for five of the six seasons they skated together – only missing the year Perreault broke his leg. In 1975, they made it to the Stanley Cup finals but lost the Cup to the Philadelphia Flyers in six games. Perreault lamented, “We had a lot of good years in Buffalo, but every hockey player wants to win the Stanley Cup.” Despite lacking a Cup, Perreault served the Sabres as captain beginning in 1981 and became the 16th to reach 1,000 points in 1982. He planned to retire at the end of the 1985-86 season, reconsidered, slumped, and officially retired towards the beginning of the following season. He had played 1,191 games (512G, 814A, 1326P). On “Greatest Hockey Legends,” Perreault said, “I had a good career. . . My love of the game has never changed. It’s inside me.”

The Hockey Hall of Fame inducted Clancy in 1958 and Perreault in 1990.