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Robert Benson (ice hockey)

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Robert Benson
Robert Benson at the 1920 Olympics
Born (1894-05-18)May 18, 1894
Davidson, Saskatchewan, Canada
Died September 7, 1965(1965-09-07) (aged 71)
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Height 5 ft 3 in (160 cm)
Weight 135 lb (61 kg; 9 st 9 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Calgary Tigers
National team  Canada
Playing career 1912–1932
Medal record
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1920 Antwerp Team

Robert John Benson (May 18, 1894 – September 7, 1965) was an Icelandic-Canadian ice hockey player. A defenceman, he started his career with the Winnipeg Falcons of the Manitoba Hockey League in 1913, remaining with them until 1920, though missed two seasons of play from 1917 to 1919 while serving in the First World War. With the Falcons he played at the 1920 Summer Olympics and won the first gold medal in Olympic ice hockey.[1] He later played in the Western Canada Hockey League from 1921 to 1926, as well as 8 games with the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League during the 1924–25 season. Benson continued playing in other minor leagues until retiring in 1931.

Playing career

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Benson was born in Davidson, Saskatchewan, to Icelandic immigrants Benedikt Jóhannesson and Rósa Guðmundsdóttir.[2][3]

He was the younger brother of ice hockey player Connie Benson.

During the 1920–21 season, Canadian Amateur Hockey Association president H. J. Sterling hired a detective who discovered that Benson and teammate Haldor Halderson received C$6,500 to play amateur hockey.[4] The Amateur Athletic Union of Canada voided Halderson's registration card and he was suspended from the 1921 Allan Cup playoffs, although the Saskatchewan Amateur Hockey Association allowed him and his Saskatoon team to continue in the league playoffs.[5]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1912–13 Winnipeg Strathconas WSrHL 8 3 0 3 2 0 0 0 0
1913–14 Winnipeg Falcons MHL 12 2 0 2
1914–15 Winnipeg Falcons MHL 8 3 0 3 2 0 0 0 6
1915–16 Winnipeg Falcons MHL 7 2 0 2 12
1916–17 Winnipeg 223rd Battalion MHL 8 3 1 4 4
1919–20 Winnipeg Falcons MHL 9 2 1 3 26
1919–20 Winnipeg Falcons Al-Cup 6 0 5 5 13
1920–21 Saskatoon Crescents SSHL 16 12 1 13 39 4 2 1 3 12
1921–22 Saskatoon Crescents WCHL 23 9 4 13 21
1922–23 Calgary Tigers WCHL 27 7 1 8 22
1923–24 Calgary Tigers WCHL 26 5 5 10 24 2 0 0 0 4
1923–24 Calgary Tigers West-P 3 0 1 1 0
1923–24 Calgary Tigers St-Cup 2 0 0 0 0
1924–25 Calgary Tigers WCHL 9 0 1 1 4
1924–25 Boston Bruins NHL 8 0 1 1 4
1925–26 Saskatoon Crescents WHL 12 0 0 0 0
1925–26 Edmonton Eskimos WHL 12 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2
1926–27 Moose Jaw Warriors PHL 32 6 4 10 65
1927–28 Winnipeg Maroons AHA 2 0 0 0 0
1927–28 Minneapolis Millers AHA 21 2 0 2 36 8 0 1 1 23
1928–29 Minneapolis Millers AHA 40 3 4 7 92 4 0 0 0 2
1929–30 Seattle Eskimos PCHL 36 2 3 5 82
1930–31 Seattle Eskimos PCHL 33 2 2 4 76 4 0 0 0 8
WCHL/WHL totals 109 21 11 32 71 7 0 1 1 6
NHL totals 8 0 1 1 4

International

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Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
1920 Canada OLY 3 1 0 1 2
Senior totals 3 1 0 1 2

Awards and achievements

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  • Allan Cup Championship (1920)
  • Olympic Gold Medalist (1920)

References

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  1. ^ "Robert Benson". Olympedia. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  2. ^ Memorable Manitobans: Robert John "Bobby" Benson (1894-1965)
  3. ^ "Winnipeg Falcons - W.W. I Military Biographies". winnipegfalcons.com. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  4. ^ Ching, Tim (March 19, 1921). "Dominion Association Extends Residence Rule From Three Months To Aug. 1". The Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. p. 25.Free access icon
  5. ^ "Saskatchewan Hockey Assn. Will Carry On". The Leader-Post. Regina, Saskatchewan. February 12, 1921. p. 20.Free access icon
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