John Robert "Chick" Webster (November 3, 1920 – January 18, 2018) was a Canadian ice hockey player who played 14 games in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers during the 1949–50 season. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1940 to 1953, was spent in the minor leagues. He also was a soldier in the Second World War.

Chick Webster
Webster with the Petawawa Grenades, circa 1940s
Born (1920-11-03)November 3, 1920
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died January 18, 2018(2018-01-18) (aged 97)
Mattawa, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 160 lb (73 kg; 11 st 6 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Left
Played for New York Rangers
Playing career 1940–1953

Biography

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Born in Toronto, Ontario, Webster played 14 games with the New York Rangers during the 1949–50 season.[1] His brother, Don Webster, also played briefly in the NHL, appearing in 27 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs.[2] During World War II, he was a forward observer and gunner for the 13th Field Regiment of the 3rd Canadian Division. He served in Germany, Holland, England, France, and the North Sea.[3]

Webster lived in Richmond Hill, Ontario, during his time with the Stouffville Clippers in 1960s, and afterward lived in Mattawa, Ontario.[4] After Milt Schmidt's death in January 2017, he became the oldest living former NHL player.[5] His wife, Leona, died in 2009 of Alzheimer's disease. He died at home in Mattawa on January 18, 2018, at the age of 97.[2][3] His nickname, Chick, was given to him in his playing days for his love for chewing Chiclets gum.

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1937–38 Toronto Native Sons OHA 12 3 6 9 0
1938–39 Toronto Native Sons OHA 14 6 4 10 8 8 4 3 7 8
1939–40 Toronto Native Sons OHA 11 3 6 9 21
1939–40 Toronto Stockyards TMHL 13 9 8 17 14
1940–41 Baltimore Orioles EAHL 62 24 37 61 21
1941–42 St. Catharines Saints OHA Sr 12 1 7 8 26
1941–42 Toronto Stockyards RMHL 3 1 3 4 0 1 3 0 3 0
1941–42 Camp Borden Army NDHL 1 0 1 1 0
1942–43 Petawawa Grenades UOVHL 3 5 1 6 6 2 3 1 4 0
1942–43 Petawawa Grenates Al-Cup 8 7 6 13 21
1945–46 Toronto Uptown Tires TMHL 3 1 4 5 2
1945–46 Baltimore Clippers EAHL 15 7 9 16 5
1946–47 New Haven Ramblers AHL 47 9 15 24 26 3 0 2 2 6
1946–47 New York Rovers EAHL 13 7 11 18 36
1947–48 New Haven Ramblers AHL 65 22 37 59 12 4 1 1 2 0
1948–49 New Haven Ramblers AHL 65 16 33 49 24
1949–50 New York Rangers NHL 14 0 0 0 4
1949–50 New Haven Ramblers AHL 38 9 17 26 16
1950–51 Tacoma Rockets PCHL 63 20 28 48 36 6 1 1 2 2
1951–52 Cincinnati Mohawks AHL 49 6 12 18 15 7 3 2 5 0
1952–53 Syracuse Warriors AHL 13 2 2 4 0
1952–53 Vancouver Canucks WHL 5 0 0 0 0
1952–53 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds NOHA 12 1 7 8 4 2 0 1 1 0
AHL totals 227 64 116 180 93 11 4 3 7 0
NHL totals 14 0 0 0 4

References

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  1. ^ Jason Brough (January 24, 2017). "Pre-game reading: Do the Leafs still need a No. 1 defenseman?". NBC Sports. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Curtis Rush (January 23, 2017). "Chick Webster, Thought to Be N.H.L.'s Oldest Ex-Player, Stays Wry at 96". New York Times. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  3. ^ a b ""Obituary for John Robert "Chick" Webster", Martyn Funeral Home". Archived from the original on January 20, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  4. ^ ""Former New York Rangers player 'Chick' Webster, 95, hoping to renew acquaintances with former Willowdale teammates", by Fannie Sunshine, North York Mirror". Archived from the original on 2017-01-06. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
  5. ^ Milt Schmidt was a gentleman off the ice, relentless on it
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