Flash Hollett

Frank William "Flash" Hollett (April 13, 1912 in North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada – April 20, 1999 in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada), was a Canadian professional defenceman who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings.
==Playing Career==
Hollett was first noticed by Maple Leafs' owner Conn Smythe as he was playing lacrosse with then-Leafs captain Lionel Conacher. He apprenticed in the minor leagues before being loaned to the Senators for the 1933–34 NHL season. After that - which was the original Senators' final season in Ottawa - Bill played for the Leafs for a season and a half before being sold to the Bruins for $16,000, at the time one of the highest prices ever paid for a player.
Known for his swift skating stride and strong puckhandling ability, Hollett became one of the top offensive defencemen of his day. He played for eight seasons in Boston, and was a star defenceman on the Bruins' Stanley Cup championship teams of 1939 and 1941. In 1942, he set a record for goals by a defenceman with 19, a mark he tied the following season, after which he was named to the league's Second All-Star Team.
Hollett was traded to the Red Wings midseason in 1944, and the following year broke his own mark for goals in a season by a defenceman with 20 en route to a citation on the league's First All-Star Team. This record would stand for a quarter-century before being surpassed by Bobby Orr.
==Retirement==
After his record-setting season, Hollett's offensive numbers declined sharply in 1946, with the previously war-depleted NHL regaining many former stars. In the wake of an acrimonious contract dispute with Detroit general manager Jack Adams, he was traded to the New York Rangers, but following his wife's wishes to live closer to home in Ontario, Hollett retired from the NHL.
He played for five more seasons in senior leagues, most notably for the Toronto Marlboros, which he led to the Allan Cup in 1950, his last in organized hockey. He coached the Marlboros for a single season in the 1950-51 OHA Major Season, recording a 19–12–1 record.
Hollett retired having scored 132 goals and 181 assists for 313 points in 565 NHL games. At the time of his retirement, he was the highest scoring defenceman in league history. In 79 NHL playoff games, he added 8 goals and 26 assists for 34 points. Hollett was the last member of the original-era Ottawa Senators still active at the time of his retirement.
==Trivia==
*Though the #2 jersey worn by the Bruins Eddie Shore, Hollett wore it for nearly four years after Shore was traded, beginning in the 1940-41 season. The Bruins retired #2 in Shore's honour in 1947.
==Gallery==
Flash_Hollett-First_black_and_gold.jpg|Flash Hollett sporting Boston's black and gold.
1936_Defense.jpg|1936-37 Defense - Eddie Shore, Joe Jerwa, Hooley Smith (also a forward), Hollett, Jack Portland.
31Dec1936-Thompson_vs_Rangers.gif|Bruins Tiny Thompson, #12 Hollett, #16 Ray Getliffe defend against Rangers #15 Phil Watson at MSG, December 31, 1936.
1938-Nov19-Hollett-Shore-Thompson-Clapper-Portland.jpg|Eddie Shore returns to practice and is greeted by Flash Hollett, Tiny Thompson, Dit Clapper and Jack Portland, November 18, 1938.
1938-Dec2-Bruins-Habs.jpg|Frank Brimsek, Jack Portland, Don Willson, Flash Hollett, December 1, 1938.
1939-Jan29-Stewart-Hollett melee.jpg|Nels Stewart-Flash Hollett melee, January 29, 1939.
1939-Jan24-Hollett cartoon.jpg|Versatile defensman Flash Hollett filled in at all three forward positions, January, 1939.
16Apr1939-Bruins_Leafs.jpg|Bruins Frank Brimsek, #5 Dit Clapper, #19 Jack Crawford and #12 Hollett hold off Leafs #15 Nick Metz, Game 5 of the 1939 Stanley Cup Finals, April 16, 1939.
1939-40_vs_Leafs2.jpg|The Kraut Line in action from a 1939 Stanley Cup Finals game in Boston, assisted by #12 Flash Hollett.
1939-Nov4-Bos-Tor action.gif|Bill Cowley clears the puck away from Frank Brimsek, November 4, 1939.
1941-Feb-Bruins defense-alts.jpg|1940-41 Bruins defense - Dit Clapper, Frank Brimsek, Des Smith, Flash Hollett, Jack Crawford.
1940-Nov11-Hollett-Hawks.jpg|Joe Cooper ties up Flash Hollett, November 12, 1940.
1940-Nov17-N.Metz-Hollett-Kampman-Schmidt.jpg|Flash Hollett and Milt Schmidt scrum with Nick Metz and Rudolph Kampman, November 17, 1940.
1941-Apr3-Hill-Hollett.jpg|Mel Hill and Flash Hollett celebrate after Game 7 of the 1941 Semi-finals, April 3, 1941.
30Nov1941-Hollett-Gardiner-Graboski.jpg|Flash Hollett doesn't score on his attempt on Bert Gardiner in this November 30, 1941 game won 3-2 by the Bruins. Habs #8 Tony Graboski defends.
==External Links==
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*Picture of 1941 Stanley Cup Plaque
Category:Toronto Marlboros (senior) players
Category:Toronto Marlboros (senior) coaches
Category:Born in 1912
Category:Dead in 1999
Category:Canadian ice hockey players
Category:Stanley Cup champions
Category:Toronto Maple Leafs players
Category:Ottawa Senators (original) players
Category:Boston Bruins players
Category:Detroit Red Wings players
Category:Syracuse Stars (IHL) players
Category:Allan Cup winners
Category:Retired in 1950
Category:Canadian ice hockey coaches