Charles Shannon (ice hockey)

Charles Kitchener Shannon (March 22, 1916 — August 25, 1974) was a professional ice hockey player who played 4 games in the National Hockey League for the New York Americans during the 1939–40 season. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1933 to 1948, was spent in various minor leagues.

Charles Shannon
Born	(1916-03-22)March 22, 1916 Campbellford, Ontario, Canada
Died	August 25, 1974(1974-08-25) (aged 58)
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Montreal Maroons New York Americans
Playing career	1935–1947

Biography

His family moved to Niagara Falls in 1918. Shannon's hockey career spanned 28 years, beginning in 1933 through to the late 1950s.

He began playing Junior Hockey for the Niagara Falls Kiwanis from 1932 to 1933, moving to the Sudbury Wolves until 1935. From the Wolves he went to the Memorial Cup in Winnipeg and that same year, signed a three-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

His career followed with the Syracuse Stars, Springfield Indians, Pittsburgh Hornets and Buffalo Bisons, all of the American Hockey League. He also played four games for the New York Americans of the National Hockey League.

In 1946 and 1947, Shannon became a playing coach with the Owen Sound Mercuries Senior "A" club and then with the Orangeville Senior "B" Team.

From 1950 to 1952, Shannon coached the first Niagara Falls Cataracts Senior Team to ever play in the O.H.A. Semi-Finals. Shannon also coached the 1955-56 Niagara Falls Senior "A" Team and in the late 1950s, the Stamford Kerrio's Senior "B" Team.

Shannon acquired a number of nicknames, given by his teammates, fans and press. "Specs Shannon", given because he was the first NHL hockey player to successfully wear glasses while playing hockey.

It took almost thirty years before the next Niagara Falls hockey player, Derek Sanderson, made it to the NHL. Shannon coached local minor hockey in Niagara Falls, Ontario following his retirement from playing.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1931–32	Niagara Falls Cataracts	OHA		6	6	2	8	6		5	1	2	3	0
1932–33	Niagara Falls Cataracts	OHA		6	6	2	8	6		2	2	2	4	4
1932–33	Niagara Falls Cataracts	M-Cup		—	—	—	—	—		3	1	1	2	4
1933–34	Sudbury Cubs	NOHA		8	9	6	15	12		2	3	1	4	0
1934–35	Sudbury Cubs	NOHA		10	19	5	24	10		5	5	4	9	4
1935–36	Syracuse Stars	IHL		46	10	14	24	16		3	0	0	0	0
1936–37	Syracuse Stars	IHL		50	6	19	25	40		9	2	2	4	0
1937–38	Syracuse Stars	IAHL		43	6	20	26	33		8	0	4	4	4
1938–39	Springfield Indians	IAHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1938–39	Syracuse Stars	IAHL		19	0	9	9	12		3	0	1	1	0
1939–40	New York Americans	NHL		4	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
1939–40	Kansas City Greyhounds	AHA		24	5	7	12	8		—	—	—	—	—
1939–40	Springfield Indians	IAHL		19	2	4	6	17		—	—	—	—	—
1940–41	Buffalo Bisons	AHL		53	10	24	34	42		—	—	—	—	—
1941–42	Buffalo Bisons	AHL		55	6	13	19	32		—	—	—	—	—
1942–43	Pittsburgh Hornets	AHL		50	8	12	20	36		2	0	2	2	4
1943–44	Pittsburgh Hornets	AHL		42	3	12	15	4		—	—	—	—	—
1943–44	Providence Reds	AHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1944–45	Pittsburgh Hornets	AHL		23	1	4	5	10		—	—	—	—	—
1944–45	Toronto Army Shamrocks	TIHL		11	2	6	8	4		2	0	1	1	0
1944–45	Newmarket Army	TNDHL		—	—	—	—	—		5	3	5	8	12
1944–45	Toronto Army Daggers	TNDHL		—	—	—	—	—		1	2	0	2	4
1945–46	Toronto Staffords	OHA Sr		16	4	9	13	20		10	0	2	2	8
1946–47	Owen Sound Mohawks	OHA Sr		22	3	10	13	12		9	2	1	3	14
1947–48	Hamilton Patricias	OHA Sr		13	1	5	6	2		2	0	1	1	2
IAHL/AHL totals				356	42	117	159	226		22	2	9	11	8
NHL totals				4	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database