Ken Hodge

Kenneth Raymond Hodge, Sr. (born June 25, 1944, Birmingham, England) is a retired player who played for the NHL Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks and New York Rangers. He was notable, among numerous achievements, for being involved in two of the most one-sided trades in hockey history.
==Playing Career==
One of the few British-born players in NHL history, Ken Hodge was signed by the Black Hawks as a teenager, and had a stellar junior league career with the St. Catharines Black Hawks of the OHA, leading the league in goals and points in the 1965 season before being called up for good to Chicago the next year.
Stereotyped as a grinding policeman, at 6'2", 215 lbs, Hodge was one of the larger forwards of his era, the rangy right wing played two mediocre seasons with the Black Hawks before being sent to Boston in a blockbuster deal with teammates Phil Esposito and Fred Stanfield. The trade made the Bruins into a powerhouse, as Esposito centered Hodge and left wing Ron Murphy in the 1969 season to break the NHL record for points in a season by a forward line, and Hodge scored a spectacular 45 goals and 45 assists to compliment Esposito's record season of 126 points. His production fell off significantly the next season (although Boston won the Stanley Cup bolstered by Hodge's skilled play), but the 1971 season saw the Bruins launch the greatest offensive juggernaut the league had ever seen, breaking dozens of offensive records. In that flurry, on one of the most feared forward lines of the era (with linemates Esposito and Wayne Cashman), Hodge would break the league record for points in a season by a right winger with 105, and finish fourth in NHL scoring. Bruins Esposito, Bobby Orr, Johnny Bucyk and Hodge finished 1–2–3–4 in league scoring, the first time in NHL history such a feat was accomplished.
The 1972 season saw Hodge slowed down by injuries, although he recovered again in the playoffs to help the Bruins to their second Stanley Cup in three years. In 1974 he scored 50 goals and 105 points to place third in league scoring, and with Esposito, Orr and Cashman likewise finished 1–2–3–4 in league scoring for the only other time in NHL history such a feat was accomplished.
Thereafter his production declined, his goal scoring halving the next season and never recovering. Never at his best defensively skilled, he was traded to the Rangers in 1976 to join his former teammate Esposito, who had been dealt to the Rangers the year before (ironically, the Bruins received young star Rick Middleton, who scored nearly a thousand points in a Boston uniform). He is my best friend's grandfather!
==Retirement==
Hodge had only modest success in New York in the 1976–1977 season, and tailed off badly the following year before being sent down to the minor league New Haven Nighthawks. Hodge retired thereafter, but came out of retirement in 1979–1980 to play for the AHL Binghamton Dusters, which was his final season. 
Hodge finished his NHL career with 881 games, 328 goals, 472 assists and 800 points. He still lives in the Boston area, and remains active with the Bruins' alumni team and in alumni affairs.
Most recently, Hodge has been working as a broadcaster in Boston. He served as the radio color commentator for the Boston College men's hockey team throughout their 2007–08 NCAA Championship season. 
==Achievements==
* Named a First Team All-Star in 1971 and 1974.
* Played in the All-Star Game in 1971, 1973 and 1974.
==Career Statistics==
  	  	  	 	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	 	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs
Season 	Team 	League 	 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM 	 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM
1961–62 	St. Catharines TeePees 	OHA 	 	31 	4 	3 	7 	0 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1962–63 	St. Catharines Black Hawks	OHA 	 	50 	23 	23 	46 	0 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1963–64 	St. Catharines Black Hawks	OHA 	 	56 	37 	51 	88 	0 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1964–65 	St. Catharines Black Hawks	OHA 	 	55 	63 	60 	123 	0 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1964–65 	Buffalo Bisons 	AHL 	 	2 	0 	2 	2 	0 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1964–65 	Chicago Black Hawks 	NHL 	 	1 	0 	0 	0 	2 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1965–66 	Chicago Black Hawks 	NHL 	 	63 	6 	17 	23 	47 	 	5 	0 	0 	0 	8
1966–67 	Chicago Black Hawks 	NHL 	 	68 	10 	25 	35 	59 	 	6 	0 	0 	0 	4
1967–68 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	74 	25 	31 	56 	31 	 	4 	3 	0 	3 	2
1968–69 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	75 	45 	45 	90 	75 	 	10 	5 	7 	12 	4
1969–70 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	72 	25 	29 	54 	87 	 	14 	3 	10 	13 	17
1970–71 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	78 	43 	62 	105 	113 	 	7 	2 	5 	7 	6
1971–72 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	60 	16 	40 	56 	81 	 	15 	9 	8 	17 	62
1972–73 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	73 	37 	44 	81 	58 	 	5 	1 	0 	1 	7
1973–74 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	76 	50 	55 	105 	43 	 	16 	6 	10 	16 	16
1974–75 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	72 	23 	43 	66 	90 	 	3 	1 	1 	2 	0
1975–76 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	72 	25 	36 	61 	42 	 	12 	4 	6 	10 	4
1976–77 	New York Rangers 	NHL 	 	78 	21 	41 	62 	43 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1977–78 	New York Rangers 	NHL 	 	18 	2 	4 	6 	8 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1977–78 	New Haven Nighthawks 	AHL 	 	52 	17 	29 	46 	13 	 	15 	3 	4 	7 	20
1979–80 	Binghamton Dusters 	AHL 	 	37 	10 	20 	30 	24 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
NHL totals	NHL totals 	NHL totals	 	880 	328 	472 	800 	779 	 	97 	34 	47 	81 	130
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==Trivia==
Hodge's son, Ken Hodge, Jr., was also a professional hockey player from 1987 to 1998.
Another of Hodge's sons, Dan Hodge, was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the ninth round (194 overall) in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. His playing career included stints in the American Hockey League and International Hockey League, as well as winning the 2000 Kelly Cup championship in the East Coast Hockey League with the Peoria Rivermen. It concluded as the CHL's (Central Hockey League) Tulsa Oilers captain in 2005–06. He coached the Tulsa Oilers, whose roster included his younger brother, Brendon Hodge, who wears his father's number 8.
==Gallery==
2Oct1967-Stanfield_Shack_Espo_Hodge_gold_jersey.jpg|The four new Bruins, Stanfield, Shack, Esposito and Hodge at training camp, October 2, 1967. The gold jerseys would be retired before the regular season.
13Mar1968-Hodge_Espo_vs_NYR.jpg|Phil Esposito in action, March 13, 1968.
1Oct1968-Hodge_Murphy_Sather_Sanderson.jpg|Ken Hodge, Ron Murphy, Glen Sather and Derek Sanderson at training camp, October 10, 1968.
1968-69-Hodge_O'Shea.jpg|Danny O'Shea and Ken Hodge, January 26, 1969.
4Mar1970-Sanderson_Hodge_go_into_stands.jpg|Derek Sanderson and Ken Hodge go into the stands at St. Louis, March 4, 1970.
9Apr1970-Hodge_Sawchuk.jpg|Ken Hodge scores on Terry Sawchuk, Game 2 of the 1970 Quarter-finals, April 9, 1970.
Hodge_goal-26Apr1970.gif|Ken Hodge scores, Game 4 of the 1970 Semi-finals, April 26, 1970.
15Nov1970-Hodge_Cashman_Smith.jpg|Ken Hodge, Wayne Cashman, Seals goalie Gary Smith, November 15, 1970.
9Feb1971-Cashman_Hodge_NYR.jpg|Ken Hodge celebrates one of his 6 assists, February 9, 1971.
Orr_goal-21Mar1971.gif|Bobby Orr from Ken Hodge, March 21, 1971.
Hodge_goal-Orr_Espo-3Apr1971.gif|Bobby Orr's 100th assist on Ken Hodge's goal, April 3, 1971.
Hodge goal-17Oct1971.gif|Ken Hodge scores shorthanded, October 17, 1971.
Hodge_winner-11Apr1972.gif|Ken Hodge scores the series winner, Game 5 of the 1972 Quarter-finals, April 11, 1972.
Hodge_3rd_goal-30Apr1972.gif|Ken Hodge had a hat trick, Game 1 of the 1972 Stanley Cup Finals, April 30, 1972.
2May1972-Hodge_winner.jpg|Ken Hodge scores the winner, Game 2 of the 1972 Stanley Cup Finals, May 2, 1972.
Hodge_goal-21Oct1972.gif|Bobby Orr returned to the line-up and assisted on a goal by Ken Hodge, October 21, 1972.
Espo_goal-28Feb1974.gif|Phil Esposito from Ken Hodge, February 28, 1974.
10Apr1974-Hodge_Favell.jpg|Doug Favell stops Ken Hodge, Game 1 of the 1974 Quarter-finals, April 10, 1974.
14Apr1974-Hodge_series_winner.jpg|Ken Hodge scores the series winner, Game 4 of the 1974 Quarter-finals, April 14, 1974.
1974-Apr14-Game4-Boston-Tor-Hodge OT goal.gif|Ken Hodge scores the series winner in overtime, Game 4 of the 1974 Quarter-finals, April 14, 1974.
Hodge goal-23Apr1974.gif|Ken Hodge puts the Bruins up 3-1, Game 3 of the 1974 Semi-finals, April 23, 1974.
Clarke_hook_on_Hodge-12May1974.gif|Bobby Clarke hooks Ken Hodge, Game 2 of the 1974 Stanley Cup Finals, May 9, 1974.
==External Links==
Category:Born in 1944
Category:Boston Bruins players
Category:Chicago Blackhawks players
Category:Stanley Cup champions
Category:St. Catharines TeePees alumni
Category:St. Catharines Black Hawks alumni
Category:NHL players with 50 goal seasons
Category:NHL players with 100 point seasons
Category:New York Rangers players
Category:British ice hockey players
Category:Buffalo Bisons players
Category:New Haven Nighthawks players
Category:Binghamton Dusters players
Category:Retired in 1980