1965-66 Topps 91 Rod Gilbert Hockey Card (Front)
1965-66 Topps 91 Rod Gilbert Hockey Card (Back)
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Card Notes
High scorer in juniors, Rod made a miraculous recovery from serious back surgery to strike it rich with Rangers. Collected 49 goals in last two seasons with Blues.
En Français
Bon compteur chez les junior, Rod s’est miraculeusement rétabli d’une operation grave au dos pour faire sa marque avec les Rangers. A compte 49 buts dans ses deux dernieres saisons avec les “Bleus”.
Details
A high scorer in juniors is no overstatement. In 1960-61, Rod Gilbert’s last of four seasons with the Guelph Biltmores, he led the league with 103 points on 54 goals and 49 assists over just 47 games to earn the Eddie Powers Trophy. He also appeared in his first NHL game that year in the form of a single game with the Rangers.
Topps may have jinxed Gilbert with the comment about his miraculous recovery from injury. In 1965-66, Rod appeared in just 34 games for the Rangers. However, he was back in action the following year putting up 28 goals in 64 games.
Gilbert was never a league leader in scoring like he was in junior but he did put up 43 goals in 1971-72 and totaled a career high 97 points in that same season and again in 1974-75. He crossed the 30 goal plateau five times.
In 1967-68, Rod scored 29 goals over 73 games. Seven of those goals came over just two games. He had a hat trick against the St. Louis Blues and then had a four goal game on February 24, 1968 in a 6-1 win over the Canadiens at the Montreal Forum. Gilbert also added an assist for a five point night. The performance propelled Jean Ratelle to a four point night with three assists on Rod’s goals and a goal of his own. Rogie Vachon was in net for the Habs.
Between 1960-61 and 1977-78, Rod Gilbert appeared in 1,065 regular season and 65 playoff games in the National Hockey League, all with the New York Rangers. His number 7 was retired by the Blue Shirts in 1979 and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1982.