1964-65 Topps 35 Reg Fleming Hockey Card (Front)
1964-65 Topps 35 Reg Fleming Hockey Card (Back)
Card Notes
Reggie came to Boston with Ab McDonald in the trade that sent Doug Mohns to Chicago last summer. The Black Hawks had purchased the versatile native of Montreal from the Canadiens in June, 1960. He played both forward and defense and is rated as one of the best penalty killers in the NHL.
Fleming set an NHL record with 37 minutes in penalties in one game.
En Français
Reggie vint à Boston avec Ab McDonald dans l’échange qui envoya Doug Mohns à Chicago l’été dernier. Les Black Hawks l’avait acheté des Canadiens en juin 1960. Ce versatile joueur est natif de Montréal. Il joue aussi bien à la défense qu’à l’avant et est considéré comme l’un des meilleurs joueurs de la ligue Nationale durant les punitions.
Fleming etablit un record dans la grande ligue avec 37 minutes de punitions en une seule partie.
Details
On October 19, 1960, Reg Fleming sat 37 minutes in penalties for the Chicago Blackhawks in a 2-0 loss to the New York Rangers. A record at the time, the mark now puts Fleming in a tie for 67th in NHL history. In fact, his own personal record is 39 PIM, a mark he achieved playing for the Buffalo Sabres in an October 18, 1970 game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. That number is good enough for only 35th all-time.
In that October 19, 1960 game, Fleming actually went the first period without a penalty. In the second, he sat five minutes for a fight with New York’s Dean Prentice. In the third, the fireworks began and it all happened at 4:40.
Things started with a two minute minor for cross-checking. Then, Reggie got into not one but two fights before he got into the box. He fought both John Hanna and Eddie Shack, both also receiving five for fighting. Fleming was also assessed a ten minute misconduct and a ten minute game misconduct.
Unlike today’s version of hockey, Fleming did not receive any sort of suspension and was back playing for the Blackhawks in their following game, a 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens. In that game, Reg didn’t receive a single penalty.
On October 18, 1970, Fleming was hitting the showers less than five minutes into the game. Things started early with a fight with Bryan Watson of the Penguins 39 seconds into the game. Reg received a minor for elbowing, a minor for roughing, five for fighting and a ten minute misconduct.
I’m not sure of the particulars but since his next penalty spree came less than five minutes later, Fleming must have left the box to cause more trouble. At 4:57, he was assessed another ten minute misconduct and a game misconduct. Again, he played in Buffalo’s next game, a 4-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, and kept clean with 0 PIM.
The National Hockey League record for most penalty minutes in a game belongs to Randy Holt of the Los Angeles Kings. In a March 11, 1979 game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Holt accumulated an incredible 67 minutes in penalties.
Reg Fleming played 749 regular season and 50 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1959-60 and 1970-71 with the Canadiens, Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers and Buffalo Sabres. He played two more years in the WHA with the Chicago Cougars.