A Look At Dick Irvin

Winnipeg's Dick Irvin was one of the finest players of the 1910's and 1920's, before going on to a successful coaching career that included four Stanley Cups.

Dick Irvin was one of the hockey world's top centerman of the 1920's. He was an exceptional stickhandler who possessed a wicked hard and accurate shot that made goalies look like fools.

One of the greatest NHL coaches of all-time, most hockey fans don't realize that Dick Irvin was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame as a player and not a coach. His playing career seems to get forgotten as the years have gone by. In fact if you're to think of the name Dick Irvin, the first thing that pops into your mind is his son, Dick Irvin Jr, who had a more well-known career as the long-time fabled broadcaster for Hockey Night in Canada. 

But don't be fooled, the 5'9'', 162 lbs Irvin was one of the game's all time greats, and arguably the most prolific goal scorer that our province has ever produced. He was always his team's star player and he constantly led his league in goals for a good portion of his career.

"Dick Irvin deserves a book of his own," says Vince Leah. "Many rate him as the finest hockey player ever developed in Manitoba, and his record in amateur and professional hockey as a player and a coach is indeed remarkable."

Irvin's best game came against the Toronto Rugby and Athletic Association, when he scored all nine of his team's goals in a 9-2 win. The feat was huge at the time and it even landed him a page in the first ever Ripley's Believe It or Not book!