132. Gus Mortson

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When you have a nickname of “Old Hardrock” you kind of get an idea of just what type of Defenseman that Gus Mortson was.  From Northern Ontario he was paired with another youngster in Jim Thomson and they would become the ”Gold Dust Twins”. 

When you are referred to as a rock it implies that you were just that on defense and this was exactly what Mortson was.  He was an old school blueliner (even in that era) who would lead the NHL in Penalty Minutes four times and he was named a First Team All-Star in 1950.  Mortson’s defensive prowess was a large part of the Maple Leafs rebuilding in the mid-40s and he would help them win four Stanley Cups.

The Bullet Points

  • Country of Origin: New Liskeard, Ontario, Canada
  • Eligible Since: Monday, 01 January 1962
  • Position: Defence
  • Games Played: 797
  • Notable Statistics:

    46 Goals
    152 Assists
    198 Points
    N/A Plus/Minus**
    1,378 PIM
    N/A Blocked Shots*
    N/A Hits*
    N/A Takeaways*
    N/A Giveaways*
    54.4 Point Shares

    54 Playoff Games
    5 Goals
    8 Assists
    13 Points
    N/A Plus/Minus**
    N/A Blocked Shots*
    N/A Hits*
    N/A Takeaways*
    N/A Giveaways*

    *These stats were first implemented in the 2007/08 Season.
    **Plus/Minus was a stat in the 1959/60 Season.

  • Played For: Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs
  • Non-NHL Teams: St. Michael's Majors (OHA)
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    Stanley Cup Rings (4) (Toronto Maple Leafs 1947, 1948, 1949 & 1951)
    First Team All-Star (1) (1950)
    All-Star (8) (1947, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954 & 1956)
    Most Short-Handed Goals (1) (1947)
    Most Penalties in Minutes (4) (1947, 1951, 1954 & 1957)


  • Notable Top Ten Finishes: 9 Top Ten Penalties in Minutes Finishes 2 Top Ten Short-Handed Goals Finishes 5 Top Ten Defensive Point Share Finishes
  • Rankings: None

Should Gus Mortson be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 100%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 0%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 0%
No opinion. - 0%
No way! - 0%

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