1968-69 O-Pee-Chee 9 John McKenzie Hockey Card (Front)
1968-69 O-Pee-Chee 9 John McKenzie Hockey Card (Back)
1968-69 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
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Card Notes
“The man with 100 nicknames,” Johnny McKenzie is one of the smaller NHL stars, but he plays big, and popped 28 goals for Boston last season, his best total ever. He saw previous NHL service with Chicago, Detroit and New York.
En Français
“L’homme aux cent sobriquets”, Johnny est l’une des étoiles les plus diminutives dans la LNH. Mais son jeu est puissant et il compta 28 buts pour Boston la saison dernière. C’est son meilleur total à date. Il a joué antérieurement pout Chicago, Détroit et New York.
Details
Not sure about 100 nicknames, but John McKenzie did have a few. Best known as “Pieface” or simply “Pie”, he did pick up Bronco and Cowboy along the way for his time working the rodeo circuit in Western Canada.
His goal scoring would continue to edge up slightly over the next few seasons with the Bruins. In 1968-69 and 1969-70, McKenzie totaled 29 in each campaign. In 1970-71, he put up a career high 31 goals.
His scoring ability shone through early while still a Chicago Blackhawks prospect playing junior hockey for the St. Catharines Teepees. In 1957-58, he was awarded the Eddie Powers Trophy, leading the league with 99 points. He also led with 48 goals. Not far behind was Teepees teammate Stan Mikita.
Between 1958-59 and 1971-72, John McKenzie appeared in 691 regular season and 69 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers and Boston Bruins. He did not come to the Bruins via the infamous Phil Esposito trade. Instead, he was traded from Chicago to New York prior to the 1965-66 NHL season before a midseason trade that year sent him to Boston in exchange for Reg Fleming.
Johnny’s career ended in the World Hockey Association. He jumped to the WHA for the Rebel League’s inaugural 1972-73 season and remained until the 1978-79 campaign, the full duration of the league. He played in 477 regular season and 33 playoff games with the Philadelphia Blazers, Vancouver Blazers, Minnesota Fighting Saints, Cincinnati Stingers and New England Whalers.