Making the leap from junior hockey to the NHL is not unusual today. But in the 1920s, a leap of that proportion was considered extraordinary.
Mush March was one of the few to successfully play junior hockey one season, then jump to the NHL the next. In March's case, he played with the Regina Monarchs in 1927-28, then joined the Chicago Black Hawks for the start of the 1928-29 season. He played his entire 17-year career with the Black Hawks. The small right winger holds several marks of distinction.
Playing at the opening of Maple Leaf Gardens on November 12, 1931, Mush March scored the first goal ever in that building. March covets the souvenir puck to this day, and brought it back to Toronto for the final game played at the Gardens before the Leafs moved to the Air Canada Centre.
On April 10, 1934, at 30:05 of overtime, March scored against Detroit to give Chicago its first ever Stanley Cup. March retired at the conclusion of the 1944-45 season. For the longest time, Mush March was the oldest living NHL player, until he passed away on January 9, 2002.
