Babe Pratt

Walter "Babe" Pratt (January 7, 1916 in Stony Mountain, Manitoba - December 16, 1988) was a Canadian professional defenceman who played for the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League. 
Babe was an important member of two Stanley Cup winning teams, the 1940 Rangers and 1945 Maple Leafs. He won the Hart Memorial Trophy in 1944. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1966. 
In January, 1946 Pratt was caught betting on hockey games and was subsequently suspended from the NHL. Pratt admitted to gambling but denied ever placing a bet against his own team. After promising to quit betting he was reinstated to the Toronto Maple Leafs. His last NHL season was with the Boston Bruins in 1946–47 and he played in the minors after that.
He subsequently worked as an analyst for CBC Television's Hockey Night In Canada telecasts from Vancouver in the 1970s and served as a goodwill ambassador for the Vancouver Canucks. Pratt collapsed and died of a heart attack in the media lounge of the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver during the first intermission of a Canucks game on December 16, 1988. The Canucks honored Pratt's memory by stitching "BABE" on their sweaters for the remainder of the hockey season. 
Despite the brevity of his career, the time passed since it ended, and a reputation for rough play, in 1998, he was ranked number 96 on List of 100 greatest hockey players by The Hockey News.
== Career Statistics ==
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1937-Dec19-Pratt-Kerr-Habs.jpg|Babe Pratt and Dave Kerr defend against the Canadiens, December 19, 1937.
1938-Feb20-Shore-Pratt penalty box fight.jpg|Eddie Shore and Babe Pratt penalty box altercation, February 20, 1938.
1939-Mar21-Bruins-NYR-Game1.jpg|Eddie Shore stops Babe Pratt and Lynn Patrick, Game 1 of the 1939 Semi-finals, March 21, 1939.
1941-Nov29-Henry-Pratt-McReavy.jpg|Jim Henry stops Pat McReavy as Babe Pratt defends, November 29, 1941.
1946-Egan-Clare_Martin-Crawford-Pratt-Henderson-Guidolin.jpg|Pat Egan, Clare Martin, Jack Crawford, Pratt, Murray Henderson and Bep Guidolin in 1947.
==Video==
Highlights of the April 1, 1937 Stanley Cup Semi-finals Game 1 in which the New York Rangers defeated the Montreal Maroons 1-0 on a first period goal by Babe Pratt.
Montreal Maroons vs New York Rangers
==External Links==
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Category:Born in 1916
Category:Canadian ice hockey players
Category:Kenora Thistles (MJHL) players
Category:New York Rangers players
Category:Philadelphia Ramblers (AHL) players
Category:Stanley Cup champions
Category:Toronto Maple Leafs players
Category:NHL All-Stars
Category:Hart Trophy winners
Category:Boston Bruins players
Category:Hershey Bears players
Category:Cleveland Barons (AHL, 1937-1973) players
Category:New Westminster Royals players
Category:Tacoma Rockets players
Category:Retired in 1952
Category:Hockey Hall of Fame
Category:Dead in 1988
Category:Manitoba junior hockey All-Time Roster