1961-62 Topps 40 Bronco Horvath Hockey Card (Front)
1961-62 Topps 40 Bronco Horvath Hockey Card (Back)
Card Notes
Bronco is his real name and for several years he was Boston’s trigger man on the Uke Line. Missed leading NHL in scoring by a point two years ago when he made second all-star team. Hawks drafted him last summer – fifth NHL team to purchase his contract. Bronco shows great skill on power play.
En Français
Bronco est son veritable prénom. Le centre de la fameuse ligne “Uke” durant quelques saison. A perdu le titre des compteurs de la NHL par un seul point il y a deux ans. Les Hawks l’ont repêché l’été dernier. Il en est à son cinquième club dans le circuit. Un as comme compteur.
Details
There is an ERROR on this 1961-62 Topps 40 Bronco Horvath hockey card. On the front, it states the career centerman is a defenseman. On the back, it properly states he is a forward.
As the back of the card mentions, Chicago was the fifth NHL team to own the contract of Bronco Horvath. He was originally property of the Detroit Red Wings. Ironically, the Red Wings were the only team in the Original 6 that Horvath didn’t actually play for. He appeared in a single game with the Montreal Canadiens and just ten with the Toronto Maple Leafs to become one of the most traveled players in the pre-expansion era.
The Uke Line referred to on the back of the card consisted of Horvath, John Bucyk and Vic Stasiuk with the Boston Bruins. It was these linemates in 1959-60 that helped Bronco score 39 goals and total 80 points. He tied for the goal scoring lead with Bobby Hull while Hull edged him by one point for the Art Ross Trophy.
1961-62 would be the only season that Horvath would play for the Blackhawks. He helped the Hawks to the Stanley Cup finals, something he did with the Bruins in 1957-58. But, there would be no Stanley Cup rings on his fingers.
The following year, he split time between the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs and the AHL’s Rochester Americans. Except for a 14 game stint with the Minnesota North Stars in 1967-68, it would be the end of his NHL career. He would be a three time Calder Cup winner in the American Hockey League with the Amerks.