Hockey Heroes of the Past: Richard Duff

Welcome to another blog article, where I will be featuring Hockey Heroes of the Past. For now, I will be focusing on player who played between 1900-1970. Why that time period? Well, it is important to remember these pioneer's, that paved the way for current NHL superstars. Without these legends, who knows where our game would be. So I find it is essential that these Hockey Heroes get the recognition they deserve. Today we look at Dick Duff.

Dick Duff

Born: February 18th, 1936

Birthplace: Kirkland Lake, ON

Height: 5ft9

Weight: 166 lbs

Position:Left Wing

Teams: Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadians, Los Angeles Kings, Buffalo Sabres

Nickname: "Dick" Duff

NHL Career Stats;

GP = 1030

G= 283

A = 289

Pts = 572

PIM = 743

***Awards***

- Stanley Cup (6 Toronto: 1962-63 and 1963-64 Montreal: 1964-65, 1965-66. 1967-68, 1968-69

***Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2006***

- Dick Duff logged a very long and succesful NHL career. Dick Duff had carved out a reputation as a guy who came to play every night. Pound-for-pound one of the toughest men in the game, The sixth of 13 children of a mining family, Duff flourished in the NHL. He was only five-foot-nine and 165 pounds but he was a superstar when playoff time rolled around. He scored 30 goals and assisted on 49 in 114 post-season games.

Duff set a playoff record on April 9, 1963, for fastest two goals from the start of a game - one minute eight seconds - that still stands. Duff scored at the 49-second mark and again 19 seconds later. After retiring in 1971, Duff returned to Toronto as an assistant coach and then as a scout into the mid-1990s.

It took 35 years after he retired, to be inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame. This former NHL start, is still alive and well. He still has the same passion of sports today, as he did back them. A true legend, and a true legacy of the great old hockey days.