Larry Zeidel

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Larry Zeidel
Born (1928-06-01)June 1, 1928
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Died June 17, 2014(2014-06-17) (aged 86)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Detroit Red Wings
Chicago Black Hawks
Philadelphia Flyers
Playing career 1947–1968

Lazarus "Larry The Rock" Zeidel (June 1, 1928 – June 17, 2014) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman, most notably for the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, for whom he played nine seasons, and in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks and the Philadelphia Flyers during a career that lasted from 1947 to 1969. He is considered one of the most violent players in NHL history, and at the time of his retirement, was the most penalized player in minor league history.[1]

Biography[edit]

Zeidel was Jewish, and was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.[2][3] His Romanian grandparents "had been cremated in a concentration camp".[4]

Zeidel played for the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Black Hawks in the early 1950s, and concluded his career with the Philadelphia Flyers in the late 1960s.[3] In between, he played for numerous teams in the Western Hockey League and the American Hockey League. Zeidel played most of his career for the Hershey Bears, a team later affiliated with the National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals but that was independent at the time, located in Hershey, Pennsylvania.[5] In 1959–60, his 293 penalty minutes set an AHL league record.

Zeidel won the Stanley Cup in 1952 with the Detroit Red Wings. He won the Calder Cup in 1964 with the Cleveland Barons.

Zeidel promoted himself to all 1967 expansion franchises using a self-made promotion kit and resume, subsequently drawing the interest of the Philadelphia Flyers, who signed him to a contract at age 39.[6] While playing for the Philadelphia Flyers, he was involved in a violent stick-swinging duel with Boston's Eddie Shack, which left both men bleeding. Boston Bruins players yelled at him with anti-Semitic comments throughout the season after the incident.[7][8]

After he retired from hockey, Zeidel worked as a marketing consultant for an investment house.[6]

Zeidel died on June 17, 2014, at 86 years of age of complications from congestive heart failure, kidney problems, and dementia.[9] He was diagnosed after death by Boston University researchers who were studying brains of deceased hockey players.[10] A panel of neurologists, neuropsychologists, and researchers reached the clinical consensus diagnoses that he suffered from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, a neurodegenerative disease found in people who have had multiple head injuries.[10] The report concluded that he had likely had more than 100 concussions, and lost consciousness over 10 times.[10] By the time he had retired, he had suffered debilitating headaches, acute temper, odd behavior, and had made uncharacteristically rash financial decisions.[10]

Career statistics[edit]

Regular season and playoffs[edit]

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1944–45 Porcupine Combines NOJHA — 2 1 3 2 — — — — —
1944–45 Porcupine Combines M-Cup — — — — — 2 0 0 0 0
1945–46 Verdun Maple Leafs QJHL 17 2 7 9 34 3 1 1 2 2
1946–47 Barrie Flyers OHA 28 7 13 20 48 5 2 0 2 0
1947–48 Quebec Aces QSHL 48 7 20 27 82 10 1 3 4 13
1948–49 Quebec Aces QSHL 52 4 18 22 92 — — — — —
1949–50 Quebec Aces QSHL 55 7 19 26 176 13 1 4 5 49
1950–51 Saskatoon Quakers WCSHL 58 5 27 32 169 8 2 2 4 18
1951–52 Detroit Red Wings NHL 19 1 0 1 14 5 0 0 0 0
1951–52 Indianapolis Capitals AHL 43 6 17 23 99 — — — — —
1952–53 Edmonton Flyers WHL 59 4 22 26 114 15 2 6 8 26
1952–53 Detroit Red Wings NHL 9 0 0 0 8 — — — — —
1953–54 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 64 1 6 7 102 — — — — —
1954–55 Edmonton Flyers WHL 70 10 40 50 142 9 2 5 7 2
1955–56 Hershey Bears AHL 56 5 27 32 128 — — — — —
1956–57 Hershey Bears AHL 64 9 19 28 211 7 0 5 5 21
1957–58 Hershey Bears AHL 58 2 16 18 152 11 0 6 6 20
1958–59 Hershey Bears AHL 67 8 24 32 129 13 4 6 10 59
1959–60 Hershey Bears AHL 66 5 19 24 293 — — — — —
1960–61 Hershey Bears AHL 70 4 25 29 149 8 0 2 2 8
1961–62 Hershey Bears AHL 70 3 19 22 146 7 0 1 1 20
1962–63 Hershey Bears AHL 66 4 29 33 127 14 1 6 7 51
1963–64 Seattle Totems WHL 66 5 19 24 163 — — — — —
1963–64 Cleveland Barons AHL 2 0 1 1 2 9 0 4 4 12
1964–65 Seattle Totems WHL 64 2 12 14 202 7 1 2 3 2
1965–66 Cleveland Barons AHL 72 3 12 15 162 12 1 3 4 14
1966–67 Cleveland Barons AHL 72 5 24 29 124 — — — — —
1967–68 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 57 1 10 11 68 7 0 1 1 12
1968–69 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 9 0 0 0 6 — — — — —
AHL totals 706 54 232 286 1722 81 6 33 39 205
NHL totals 158 3 16 19 198 12 0 1 1 12

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Slate, Ralph. "Top 100 Overall Minor League PIM". The Internet Hockey Database. hockeydb.com. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  2. ^ "The greatest oxymoron in U.S. sports? Jews and professional ice hockey". Haaretz.com. 21 January 2014.
  3. ^ a b Larry Zeidel Stats | Hockey-Reference.com
  4. ^ Gerald Eskenazi, "They’ve Been Good Sports", The Jewish Daily Forward, 2007-03-30
  5. ^ Former Flyers Brawler Larry Zeidel Dies at 86 – Jewish Exponent
  6. ^ a b Flyers mourn the loss of Larry Zeidel | NHL.com
  7. ^ Hockey'S Old Scars, New Slurs – NY Daily News
  8. ^ They’ve Been Good Sports – The Forward
  9. ^ "Former Flyers tough guy Larry Zeidel dies at 86". Philly.com.
  10. ^ a b c d Former players are suing the NHL over concussions, but remain loyal to hockey – The Washington Post

External links[edit]

Preceded by
None (First)
 Philadelphia Flyers TV Color Commentator
1971–1972 		Succeeded by
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