JIMMY MORRISON - CALENDAR BOY

As we edge towards the backside of June, it will be just a matter of time before I flip the page on my Hockey Heroes (Hockey Hall of Fame Collection) 2015 Calendar.

This month featured  a wonderful shot of Toronto Maple Leaf defenceman, Jimmy Morrison, battling two Chicago Black Hawk players for the puck.

As the calendar photograph (above) reveals, Morrison is engaged with George 'Red' Sullivan, as the two men lock/cross sticks in an effort to gain control of the rubber. While this is going on, Bill Mosienko (HHOF class of 1965) applies the lumber to Morrison's back. Looking on are Chicago's Harry Watson (HHOF class of 1994) and Toronto's Parker MacDonald.

At the Oldtimers lunch on the first of June, I couldn't resist snapping the above picture of Jimmy holding the calendar. Although not a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Jimmy Morrison was inducted into the American Hockey League Hall of Fame in late January of 2013.

Bill Mosienko played his entire National Hockey League career with the Chicago Black Hawks. A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, he skated on Chicago's famous 'Pony Line' along with Max Bentley and his brother Doug Bentley.

One of the highlights of Mosienko's career came on March 23, 1952, when he set a National Hockey League record for the fastest three goals. In a contest at New York's Madison Square Garden, Mosienko beat Rangers goalie, Lorne Anderson, who was called-up from the New York Rovers, for three goals in 21-seconds.

Harry Watson's finest year, statically, came in 1948-49. During the regular season (60 games), Watson produced 26 goals and added 19 assists for 45 points. Of the 26 goals he scored, one stands out above the others.

On March 5, 1949, at Maple Leaf Gardens, Watson connected for 2 goals against New York Rangers netminder Chuck Rayner. His second of the game, just past the 10-minute mark of the third period, was Watson's 100th NHL goal.

Jim Vipond, writing in The Globe and Mail, described Watson's 100th:

 Watson had the play all to himself, stealing the puck from a Ranger defenseman's {sic} stick and waltzing in on an exasperated Rayner.

Vipond may have decided to use 'exasperated' due to the fact Toronto defeated New York 7-1. Obviously, Rayner didn't receive much support from his teammates.

Harry Watson looking over his 100-goal puck

In addition to the Maple Leafs, Watson skated for the Brooklyn Americans, Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Black Hawks.

Watson's last National Hockey League campaign was in 1967-57 with Chicago. At the end of his career he had amassed 236 goals in 809 league games.