Sprague Cleghorn | |||
---|---|---|---|
Hockey Hall of Fame, 1958 | |||
Born |
Montreal, Quebec, Canada | March 11, 1890||
Died |
July 12, 1956 Montreal, Quebec, Canada | (aged 66)||
Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | ||
Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | ||
Position | Defence | ||
Shot | Left | ||
Played for |
NHA Renfrew Hockey Club Montreal Wanderers NHL Ottawa Senators Toronto St. Patricks Montreal Canadiens Boston Bruins CAHL Newark Bulldogs | ||
Playing career | 1909–1929 |
Henry William Sprague "Peg" Cleghorn (March 11, 1890 – July 12, 1956), also known as "The Big Train",[1] was a Canadian professional ice hockey player from Westmount, Quebec who played 17 professional seasons between 1911 and 1929 for the Renfrew Creamery Kings and Montreal Wanderers in the National Hockey Association (NHA) and the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was a member of three Stanley Cup championship teams, winning with the Senators in 1920 and 1921 as well as with the Canadiens in 1924. His brother Odie was also a professional player and the two played several seasons together.
A tough and physical defenceman, Cleghorn had a reputation for violent play; he was twice charged with assault following on-ice incidents and was subject to efforts to have him banned from the NHL. His reputation made him an effective defender, and he used his offensive skill to become one of hockey's first offensive defencemen. At the time of his retirement, Cleghorn's 169 career goals were second most in professional hockey history by a defenceman, behind Harry Cameron's 173. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958.