John Bucyk: 1961-62 Topps 8

1961-62 Topps 8 John Bucyk Hockey Card (Front)

john bucyk boston bruins 1961-62 topps 8 nhl hockey card

1961-62 Topps 8 John Bucyk Hockey Card (Back)

1961-62 Topps NHL Checklist

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Card Notes

John is last surviving of Boston’s famed “Uke” line still with Bruins. Youngest of trio, Bucyk was also regarded as best skater and strongest. Bruins got him from Detroit in 1957-58 and in four seasons he’s averaged 20 goals for Hub. Teammates call Johnny “The Chief”.

En Français

John est le dernier survivant de la fameuse ligne “Uke” des Bostonnais. Un patineur rapide et fort Bucyk est aussi un compteur très habile. Les Bruins l’ont obtenu du Détroit en 1957-58. Il a compté en moyenne 20 buts par saison avec le club Boston.

Details

Boston’s Uke Line consisted of Vic Stasiuk, Bronco Horvath and Johnny Bucyk. By the 1961-62 NHL season, Vic Stasiuk was with the Detroit Red Wings and Bronco Horvath was with the Chicago Blackhawks. Of course, Bucyk remained a Bruin for nearly two more decades, retiring after the 1977-78 campaign.

Bucyk came to the Bruins from the Detroit Red Wings prior to the 1957-58 season. On July 10, 1957, he was traded for Terry Sawchuk. In his first year with Boston, Johnny’s goal total increased to 21 from just ten in his final season with Detroit.

In 1961-62, John bumped his goal total by one over the season before, scoring 20 goals. However, his assists count doubled from 20 to 40. This increase was due to Bucyk setting up the likes of Murray Oliver and Don McKenney. A fine example of this connection came on the night of December 23, 1961 in a road game 7-4 win over the much more powerful Toronto Maple Leafs.

Toronto went into the game with 18 wins versus nine losses while the Bruins had won just six while losing 22. Yet, Boston hushed the fans at Maple Leaf Gardens with a 7-4 win. Bucyk set up the first two goals of the game, one by Oliver and one by McKenney. In the third, he added a goal, Boston’s sixth goal of the game. Oliver had a hat trick, along with an assist while McKenney had a three point night.

Between 1955-56 and 1977-78, John Bucyk played in 1,540 regular season and 124 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Red Wings and Bruins. The two time winner of the Lady Byng Trophy also was a Stanley Cup champion twice. His jersey number 9 was retired by Boston in 1980 and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1981.