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Taffy Abel

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Taffy Abel
Born (1900-05-28)May 28, 1900
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, U.S.
Died August 1, 1964(1964-08-01) (aged 64)
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, U.S.
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb)
Position Defense
Shot Left
Played for New York Rangers
Chicago Black Hawks
National team  United States
Playing career 1925–1934
Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1924 Chamonix Team competition

Clarence John "Taffy" Abel (May 28, 1900 – August 1, 1964) was an American professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers and Chicago Black Hawks between 1926 and 1934. Born in 1900 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, United States, as a Native American Ojibwe, he was forced to hide his Native American ancestry until 1939. He was a silver medalist in ice hockey at the 1924 Winter Olympics and the U.S. flagbearer for those games, making him the first Native American to play, and to win a medal, in the Winter Olympics.[1] He was a member of two Stanley Cup championship teams. On November 16, 1926, he became the first United States–born Native American player to become an NHL regular, with the New York Rangers. He is a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.[2][1]

Playing career

Clarence "Taffy" Abel was a silver medalist on the United States in the 1924 Olympics, serving as flagbearer for the U.S. delegation.[2] Abel scored 15 goals for the United States in the tournament.[3]

As a member of the Minneapolis Millers of the CHL during the 1925–26 season, Abel was named to the CHL's First All-Star team at the defense position.[citation needed]

Abel played in the NHL for eight years. He scored his first NHL goal on December 7, 1926, in the New York Rangers' 1-0 road victory over the Boston Bruins.[citation needed]

He was signed by Conn Smythe to the New York Rangers, largely based upon his strong performance at the Winter Olympics in 1924.[4] With the Rangers, he wore sweater number 4, and, paired with defenseman Ching Johnson, was a key member of the Stanley Cup–winning Rangers team in 1927-28.[2] After the 1929 season, Abel's rights were sold to the Chicago Black Hawks, where he played five more years, wearing sweater number 2.[5] Abel was a member of the Cup-winning Black Hawks in 1933-34, his last NHL season.[2]

Later life and legacy

Abel returned to Sault Ste. Marie after retirement, coaching ice hockey.[6] He also operated a tourist resort named "Taffy’s Lodge" in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.[7]

Abel died in his home in Sault Ste. Marie, on August 1, 1964, aged 64. Nine years later, he was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame as a player.[2]

The Taffy Abel Arena, home rink for the Lake Superior State University hockey program is named in his honor.[citation needed]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1918–19 Michigan Soo Nationals TBSHL — — — — — — — — — —
1919–20 Michigan Soo Wildcats TBSHL 8 3 1 4 26 — — — — —
1920–21 Michigan Soo Wildcats TBSHL — — — — — — — — — —
1921–22 Michigan Soo Wildcats TBSHL — — — — — — — — — —
1922–23 St. Paul Athletic Club USAHA 18 3 0 3 — 4 0 0 0 0
1923–24 St. Paul Athletic Club USAHA 3 1 0 1 — 8 0 0 0 0
1924–25 St. Paul Saints USAHA 39 8 0 8 — — — — — —
1925–26 Minneapolis Millers CHL 35 11 10 21 56 — — — — —
1926–27 New York Rangers NHL 44 8 4 12 78 2 0 1 1 6
1927–28 New York Rangers NHL 23 0 1 1 28 9 1 0 1 14
1928–29 New York Rangers NHL 44 3 1 4 41 6 0 0 0 8
1929–30 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 38 3 3 6 42 2 0 0 0 10
1930–31 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 43 0 1 1 45 9 0 0 0 8
1931–32 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 48 3 3 6 34 2 0 0 0 2
1932–33 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 47 0 4 4 63 — — — — —
1933–34 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 46 2 1 3 28 8 0 0 0 8
NHL totals 333 19 18 37 359 38 1 1 2 56

International

Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
1924 United States OLY 5 15 0 15 8
Senior totals 5 15 0 15 8

References

  1. ^ a b "The first Native American in the Winter Olympics hid his identity to stay safe". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e Adams, Jim (February 3, 2022). "A Forgotten Olympic First: Taffy Abel, U.S. hockey's initial American Indian player, won a silver medal at the inaugural Winter Games almost a century ago". Smithsonian Magazine. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  3. ^ "Clarence "Taffy" Abel". NHL.com. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
  4. ^ "Clarence "Taffy" Abel". New York Rangers. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
  5. ^ The National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book/2009. Triumph Books. 2007. p. 604. ISBN 978-1-60078-148-3.
  6. ^ Podnieks, Andrew (2003). Players: The Ultimate A-Z Guide of Everyone Who Has Ever Played in the NHL. Doubleday Canada. p. 3. ISBN 0-385-25999-9.
  7. ^ "Clarence Abel". Olympedia. OLYMadMen. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
Olympic Games
Preceded by Flagbearer for  United States
Chamonix 1924 		Succeeded by
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