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Kenneth Malcolm Wharram(July 2, 1933 – January 10, 2017) was a Canadianprofessionalice hockeyright wingerwho played 14 seasons in theNational Hockey League,all with theChicago Black Hawks,wearing number 17. He won aStanley Cupin1961.
Kenny Wharram | |||
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Ferris, Ontario,Canada | July 2, 1933||
Died |
January 10, 2017 North Bay, Ontario,Canada | (aged 83)||
Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | ||
Weight | 155 lb (70 kg; 11 st 1 lb) | ||
Position | Right Wing | ||
Shot | Right | ||
Played for |
NHL Chicago Black Hawks AHL Buffalo Bisons | ||
Playing career | 1951–1969 |
Early life and career
editWharram started his hockey career with his hometown team theNorth Bay Black Hawksin 1949 before switching the next season to theGalt Black Hawksfor whom he played three seasons. He played one match for the Galt team's parent club the Chicago Black Hawks in 1951 before returning for another season to Galt. He played 29 matches for the Hawks in1953–54but spent an equal amount of time at theQuebec Acesin theQuebec Hockey Leaguebefore joining theAmerican Hockey LeagueBuffalo Bisonsin 1954. Under the training of Bisons' coachHarry Watsonhe enjoyed four productive seasons, made the AHL's second all star team in 1955, and returned to Chicago to stay in 1958.
The Scooter Line
editWharram still seemed to struggle to find a spot on the Hawks until he was teamed on a line withStan Mikita.Mikita and Wharram meshed well together and Wharram's production - attributable to his considerable speed and puck-handling skills - soared. He would have seven straight seasons scoring 20 or more goals.
All that was needed was a left winger, and the Hawks got one in veteranTed Lindsay,then near the end of his career. It would be Lindsay, Mikita and Wharram who formed the original Scooter Line. After Lindsay retired,Ab McDonaldassumed the honors, and it would be this version of the Scooter Line in force when the Hawks won the 1961Stanley Cup.After McDonald was traded to theBoston Bruins,Doug Mohnswas placed in the left wing spot.
Sudden retirement and death
editWharram was attending the Black Hawks' training camp on September 16, 1969, when he noticed he was having chest pains. He was quickly sent to a hospitalintensive care unitwhere he was diagnosed withmyocarditis.Wharram's condition worsened to the point where he needed to be trained how to stay awake. The process took weeks, and while Wharram's life was eventually out of danger, the stress of playing hockey made a comeback out of the question. He officially retired in September 1970 and settled down in North Bay as a carpenter. He was inducted to the North Bay Hall of Fame in 1980. Wharram died on January 10, 2017, at the age of 83.[1]
Career statistics
editRegular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
1949–50 | North Bay Black Hawks | EOHL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1950–51 | Galt Black Hawks | OHA-Jr. | 53 | 35 | 38 | 73 | 28 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | ||
1951–52 | Galt Black Hawks | OHA-Jr. | 45 | 35 | 79 | 114 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1951–52 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1952–53 | Galt Black Hawks | OHA-Jr. | 54 | 34 | 40 | 74 | 42 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 2 | ||
1953–54 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 29 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1953–54 | Quebec Aces | QHL | 29 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1954–55 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 63 | 33 | 49 | 82 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 4 | ||
1955–56 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1955–56 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 59 | 27 | 63 | 90 | 27 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2 | ||
1956–57 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 64 | 28 | 49 | 77 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1957–58 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 58 | 31 | 26 | 57 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1958–59 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 66 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
1959–60 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 59 | 14 | 11 | 25 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||
1960–61 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 64 | 16 | 29 | 45 | 12 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 12 | ||
1961–62 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 62 | 14 | 23 | 37 | 24 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 8 | ||
1962–63 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 55 | 20 | 18 | 38 | 17 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 | ||
1963–64 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 70 | 39 | 32 | 71 | 18 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | ||
1964–65 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 68 | 20 | 24 | 44 | 27 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | ||
1965–66 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 69 | 26 | 17 | 43 | 28 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | ||
1966–67 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 70 | 31 | 34 | 65 | 21 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | ||
1967–68 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 74 | 27 | 42 | 69 | 18 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | ||
1968–69 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 76 | 30 | 39 | 69 | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
NHL totals | 766 | 252 | 281 | 533 | 222 | 80 | 16 | 27 | 43 | 38 |
References
editExternal links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics fromNHL.com,orEliteprospects.com,orHockey-Reference.com,orThe Internet Hockey Database