Sid Abel

Sid Abel
Born	(1918-02-22)February 22, 1918 Melville, SK, CAN
Died	February 8, 2000(2000-02-08) (aged 81)
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight	170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Left
Played for	NHL Detroit Red Wings Chicago Black Hawks AHL Pittsburgh Hornets Indianapolis Capitals
Playing career	1938–1954
Hall of Fame, 1969

Sidney Gerald Abel (February 22, 1918 – February 8, 2000) was a Canadian professional hockey player and later coach in the National Hockey League. His playing career spanned from the 1938–39 season until the 1953–54 season, playing for both the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Black Hawks and was a member of three winning Stanley Cups in 1943, 1950, and 1952 with the Detroit Red Wings.

Abel's son Gerry also briefly played in the NHL, and his grandson Brent Johnson is a goaltender who last played for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Playing career

Born in Melville, Saskatchewan, "Old Bootnose", as he was known, was the third member of the Red Wings' celebrated "Production line" along with Hockey Hall of Fame teammates Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay. Abel won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in 1949. Abel was traded from the Red Wings to the Black Hawks in 1952–53, and served as a player-coach for the next two seasons. He returned to the Red Wings in 1957–58 and served as Detroit's coach through the 1969–70 season. Though his #12 was honored by the Wings, Abel wore 4, 7, 9, 12, 14, 19 and 20 throughout his career.

Post-playing career

In the 1970s and 1980s, Abel worked as a color commentator on Red Wings radio and television broadcasts.

Sid Abel was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969. In 1998, he was ranked number 85 on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.

Abel's #12 banner hanging in Joe Louis Arena.

Awards and achievements

• 1941-42 - NHL Second Team All-Star - Left Wing
• 1942–43 - Stanley Cup Champion - Detroit Red Wings
• 1948–49 - NHL First Team All-Star - Centre
• 1948–49 - Hart Memorial Trophy
• 1949-50 - NHL First Team All-Star - Centre
• 1949–50 - Stanley Cup Champion - Detroit Red Wings
• 1950-51 - NHL Second Team All-Star - Centre
• 1951–52 - Stanley Cup Champion - Detroit Red Wings
• Detroit Red Wings #12 retired

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1938–39	Pittsburgh Hornets	IAHL		41	21	24	45	27		—	—	—	—	—
1938–39	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		15	1	1	2	0		3	1	1	2	2
1939–40	Indianapolis Capitals	IAHL		21	7	11	18	10		—	—	—	—	—
1939–40	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		21	1	5	6	4		5	0	3	3	21
1940–41	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		47	11	22	33	29		9	2	2	4	2
1941–42	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		48	18	31	49	45		12	4	2	6	8
1942–43*	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		49	18	24	42	33		10	5	8	13	4
1944–45	Lachine Rapides	QPHL		2	2	2	4	2		—	—	—	—	—
1945–46	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		7	0	2	2	0		3	0	0	0	0
1946–47	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		60	19	29	48	29		3	1	1	2	2
1947–48	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		60	14	30	44	69		10	0	3	3	16
1948–49	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		60	28	26	54	49		11	3	3	6	6
1949–50*	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		69	34	35	69	46		14	6	2	8	6
1950–51	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		69	23	38	61	30		6	4	3	7	0
1951–52*	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		62	17	36	53	32		7	2	2	4	12
1952–53	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		39	5	4	9	6		1	0	0	0	0
1953–54	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		3	0	0	0	4		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				612	189	283	472	376		94	28	30	58	79

• *Name was engraved on the Stanley Cup.

Coaching record

Team	Year	Regular season						Post season
		G	W	L	T	Pts	Division rank	Result
CHI	1952–53	70	27	28	15	69	4th in NHL	Lost in first round
CHI	1953–54	70	12	51	7	31	6th in NHL	DNQ
DET	1957–58	33	16	12	5	37	3rd in NHL	Lost in first round
DET	1958–59	70	25	37	8	58	6th in NHL	DNQ
DET	1959–60	70	26	29	15	67	4th in NHL	Lost in first round
DET	1960–61	70	25	29	16	66	4th in NHL	Lost in Stanley Cup Final
DET	1961–62	70	23	33	14	60	5th in NHL	DNQ
DET	1962–63	70	32	25	13	77	4th in NHL	Lost in Stanley Cup Final
DET	1963–64	70	30	29	11	71	4th in NHL	Lost in Stanley Cup Final
DET	1964–65	70	40	23	7	87	1st in NHL	Lost in first round
DET	1965–66	70	31	27	12	74	4th in NHL	Lost in Stanley Cup Final
DET	1966–67	70	27	39	4	58	5th in NHL	DNQ
DET	1967–68	74	27	35	12	66	5th in East	DNQ
DET	1969–70	74	38	21	15	91	3rd in East	Lost in First Round
STL	1971–72	10	3	6	1	7	3rd in West	Fired
KC	1975–76	3	0	3	0	0	5th in Smythe	Interim Coach
Total		964	382	427	155	919

See also

• List of famous ice hockey linemates
• List of members of the Hockey Hall of Fame
• Notable families in the NHL
• Production line (hockey)
• Captain (ice hockey)

References

• Carroll, M. R. (2001). The Concise Encyclopedia of Hockey. Vancouver: Greystone Press.
• Diamond, Dan and Eric Zweig, eds (2003). Hockey's Glory Days: the 50s and 60s. Kansas City: Andrew McMeel.
• Fischler, Stan (2002). Detroit Red Wings: Greatest Moments and Players. Sports Publishing Co.
• Podnieks, Andrew (2003). Players:the ultimate A-Z guide of everyone who has ever played in the NHL. Doubleday Canada. ISBN 0-385-25999-9. 

External links

• Sid Abel's biography at Legends of Hockey
• Sid Abel's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
• Picture of Sid Abel's Name on the 1950 Stanley Cup Plaque as the Detroit Red Wings Captain

Awards
Preceded by Buddy O'Connor	Winner of the Hart Trophy 1949	Succeeded by Chuck Rayner
Sporting positions
Preceded by Syd Howe	Detroit Red Wings captain 1942–43	Succeeded by Mud Bruneteau
Preceded by Flash Hollett	Detroit Red Wings captain 1945–52	Succeeded by Ted Lindsay
Preceded by Ebbie Goodfellow	Head coach of the Chicago Black Hawks 1952–54	Succeeded by Frank Eddolls
Preceded by Jimmy Skinner	Head coach of the Detroit Red Wings 1958–68	Succeeded by Bill Gadsby
Preceded by Bill Gadsby	Head Coach of the Detroit Red Wings 1969–70	Succeeded by Ned Harkness
Preceded by Scotty Bowman	Head coach of the St. Louis Blues 1971–72	Succeeded by Bill McCreary Sr.
Preceded by Bep Guidolin	Head coach of the Kansas City Scouts 1975–76	Succeeded by Eddie Bush
Preceded by Jack Adams	General Manager of the Detroit Red Wings 1962-71	Succeeded by Ned Harkness
Preceded by Scotty Bowman	General Manager of the St. Louis Blues 1971-72	Succeeded by Chuck Catto
Preceded by Position created	General Manager of the Kansas City Scouts 1974–76	Succeeded by Ray Miron