Old-Tyme Forwards

We've been looking at some terms that can be used to describe historical hockey players in non-anachronistic ways. It's bad enough to describe a modern player as a "power forward", but for Orr's sake just never, ever do it for a player from the 1910s. It doesn't make sense in the context of the player's time. We've looked at goaltenders and defencemen, and we'll finish up today with forwards. In no particular order:

Goal-getting: A goal-getting forward is one that not only scores goals, but actually goes to the net to get his goals. Hence the name. Herb Jordan is an example of a goal-getting forward.

Combination: A combination forward is an expert passer and playmaker. "Combination play" is an old term that was used to describe when players would pass the puck amongst themselves on an offensive push, rather than relying on individual rushes. The great Winnipeg winger (and first known Metis hockeyist) Tony Gingras is a good example of an early hockey forward who assisted his mates rather than scored goals himself.

Stout: A stout forward is one who uses his body to work his way into the offensive zone. If a defender gets in the way, a stout forward is as likely to go through the opponent than around him. He is not necessarily a dirty player, but is a physically punishing one. Bert Russell is a good example of a stout forward.

Backchecking: A backchecking forward is one who takes his defensive responsibility at least as seriously as his offensive duties. "Checking back" is perhaps a surprisingly old term, and forwards were lauded for taking defensive work seriously from the beginning of the organized game. Jack Marks is an example of a backchecking forward.

Skating: A skating forward is a player whose primary game feature is his skating ability. It's not just about speed, of course, but agility as well. While Sinclair 'Speed' Moynes was remarkably fast, his control was terrible and thus probably shouldn't be considered an exceptional skater. Hobey Baker, on the other hand, was known as an outstanding skater, both fast and effective, and is a good example of this type.

Side-shot: A side-shot forward is a gifted scorer, typically a winger, who works from the corners and side of the net. He relies more on his shot to score goals than he does on positioning. Gord Roberts is a good example of a side-shot forward.

Peppery: A peppery forward is an ornery customer, who is generally a physical player, but not clean. He is not afraid to use his fists or his stick when an opponent does something he doesn't like. Peppery is a term often used at the time, and like many terms used today, it's really a euphemism for "rule-breaker" and "dangerous player." Cully Wilson was a good player, but his terrible temper makes him a good example of this type.

Stickhandling: A stickhandling forward is one who controls the game by controlling the puck. It's difficult to remove the disc from his possession. Odie Cleghorn was a noted stickhandler, and used his ability to both score goals and set up his linemates effectively.

Herbert "Bert" Russell - A Big Rough Brute

One of the near-misses in terms of 1890s players who merit induction into the Hall of Fame from the last post is Herb (or Bert) Russell. As promised, each player mentioned in that post will eventually be profiled here. So here's some information on Russell, who played both left wing and defence, in both Ottawa and Pittsburgh, from 1892 to 1902.

Russell was a gifted scorer and playmaker, a diligent checker, and a rough, physical forward very much unlike the stereotype of the era's players, who we think of as slight, quick little men. Paul Kitchen, in his book Win, Tie or Wrangle, describes him thusly:

Described by a Quebec supporter as “a big rough brute,” the Geological Survey draughtsman was more like a charging bull than a water bug when he got hold of the puck ... His best effort came in January 1894, when the scored all Ottawa's goals in a 5-1 win over the Montreal Victorias at the Rideau Rink. His ten goals that season tied him for the scoring title with Quebec's Dolly Swift, one of the most prolific players of the time. Though Russell could mete out thundering bodychecks when he felt so inclined, he was sometimes reluctant to use his size and strength to full advantage. Surprisingly fast, he rushed the puck well and shot accurately. He was also unselfish, preferring to pass to an open teammate rather than trying to score himself. And he followed back diligently.

So it seems Russell was a multi-talented player who had no particular weakness. A look at his Point Allocation record reveals only one truly exceptional season (1895), but with many others in the "merely" very good range. It seems he also "lost it" quite quickly at the end of his career, when he was a part-time player in the Western Pennsylvania league after the turn of the century, when he dipped below the level of a replacement-level player. We are missing a couple of seasons (1897 and 1898), where he might have been playing somewhere (but more likely living somewhere that no game was available), and this apparent period without playing high-level hockey might have contributed to his rapid decline in Pittsburgh.

Season	Club	League	Pos	GP	MIN	OP	DP	PP	TPA	TPAK
1892	Ottawa Generals	AHAC	14	80	1885	2.2	5.3	0.0	7.5	3.98
1893	Ottawa Generals	AHAC	1	80	2000	1.5	5.7	0.0	7.2	3.60
1894	Ottawa Generals	AHAC	6	80	1600	5.5	0.7	0.0	6.2	3.88
1895	Ottawa Generals	AHAC	6	80	1600	8.2	0.3	0.0	8.5	5.31
1896	Ottawa Generals	AHAC	6	60	1200	2.7	1.3	0.0	4.0	3.33
1899	Pittsburgh Duquesnes	WPHL	2	67	1675	-1.1	6.9	0.0	5.8	3.46
1900	Pittsburgh Bankers	WPHL	2	22	550	-0.8	-0.6	0.0	-1.4	-2.55
1901	Pittsburgh Duquesnes	WPHL	2	40	1000	-1.8	0.6	-0.2	-1.4	-1.40
1902	Pittsburgh Bankers	WPHL	1	6	150	0.1	-0.1	0.0	0.0	0.00
Career			621	515	11660	16.5	20.1	-0.2	36.4	3.12

Russell is the type of player whose value is really revealed by the Point Allocation method. He was not one of the absolute best players, but he was pretty close, and it's a shame that he is not better-known today.

And, of course, here's a rendition of the Ottawa sweater Russell is wearing in the above photo: