Bill Moe
Encyclopedia
William Carl Moe was a professional ice hockey
defenseman who played five seasons for the New York Rangers
of the National Hockey League
(NHL). He also spent ten seasons in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League
, the Pacific Coast Hockey League
, and the American Hockey League
. During his NHL career he was one of only three Americans in the league. In his only NHL playoff game he fractured two vertebrae after throwing a check. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
in 1974.
(EAHL). After playing 34 games for the Gulls he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in January 1940, for Ed Powers. He finished the season with 6 goals and 11 points between the two clubs. Moe played one more season with the Orioles, matching his goal production and increasing his points to 12. He then moved on to play with the Philadelphia Ramblers
in the American Hockey League
(AHL).
Moe "excelled" in the AHL and posted 24 points in his lone season in Philadelphia. Following seasons end Moe changed teams again this time joining the AHL's Hershey Bears
. Moe's production dipped in his first year with Hershey, but in his second he finished with his AHL career high 31 points. In the off-season he was named to the AHL First All-Star Team, and his rights were traded to the National Hockey League
's New York Rangers
. Moe made his NHL debut on November 26, 1944 against the Boston Bruins
. He played 35 games for the Rangers in the 1944-45 season
while also playing 12 games for the Bears. When Moe entered the NHL he became one of only three Americans playing in the league, Frank Brimsek
and John Mariucci
were the other two.
Midway through the following season
Moe was accused of delivering an illegal low hit to the Chicago Black Hawks'
Bill Mosienko
which resulted in a torn knee ligament. Rangers' head coach, Frank Boucher
, defended Moe by saying "Bill [Moe] stopped Mosienko with a fair bodycheck and bodychecking is part of a defenseman's job." Moe finished the season with four goals and eight points, as the Rangers finished last for the fourth straight year. He continued to improve, increasing his point total over the next two season first to 14 then to 16, and the Rangers made the playoffs for the first time in six seasons during the 1947–48 season. In his NHL playoff debut, on March 24, 1948 against the Detroit Red Wings
, Moe fractured two vertebrae after throwing a check at Bill Quackenbush
. It was the only NHL playoff game that he played in. Prior to the start of the next season Moe was involved in an automobile accident with four of his teammates, as they were retiring from exhibition game
s in Quebec
. He suffered two scalp wounds, requiring 24 stitches to close, and a mild concussion. Despite the injuries, Moe played in a career best 60 games registering 9 assists along with an NHL career high 60 penalty minutes
. During the off-season the Rangers traded Moe, along with the rights to Lorne Ferguson
and future considerations to the Bruins for Pat Egan
and cash. The Bruins acquired Moe to play for the Bears who were now their farm team
.
Moe played two more seasons with the Bears, registering a total of 5 goals and 37 points. After his two seasons in Hershey, Moe moved to the Pacific Coast Hockey League
playing for the Calgary Stampeders. He played only one season in Calgary before returning to the EAHL, finishing his career with the Troy Uncle Sam Trojans. Moe retired at the end of the year and in his final professional season he recorded a career high 35 points. In 1974 Moe was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenseman who played five seasons for the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL). He also spent ten seasons in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League
Eastern Hockey League
-Eastern Amateur Hockey League :The league was founded in 1933 as the Eastern Amateur Hockey League . The league was founded by Thomas Lockhart, who served as its commissioner from 1933 to 1972...
, the Pacific Coast Hockey League
Pacific Coast Hockey League
The Pacific Coast Hockey League was an ice hockey minor league with teams in the western United States and western Canada that existed in several incarnations: from 1928 to 1931, from 1936 to 1941, and from 1944 to 1952.-PCHL 1928-1931:...
, and the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
. During his NHL career he was one of only three Americans in the league. In his only NHL playoff game he fractured two vertebrae after throwing a check. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
United States Hockey Hall of Fame
The United States Hockey Hall of Fame was established in 1973 with the goal of preserving the rich history of the game in the United States while recognizing the extraordinary contributions of select players, coaches, administrators, officials and teams....
in 1974.
Playing career
Moe began his career playing for the Atlantic City Sea Gulls in the Eastern Amateur Hockey LeagueEastern Hockey League
-Eastern Amateur Hockey League :The league was founded in 1933 as the Eastern Amateur Hockey League . The league was founded by Thomas Lockhart, who served as its commissioner from 1933 to 1972...
(EAHL). After playing 34 games for the Gulls he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in January 1940, for Ed Powers. He finished the season with 6 goals and 11 points between the two clubs. Moe played one more season with the Orioles, matching his goal production and increasing his points to 12. He then moved on to play with the Philadelphia Ramblers
Philadelphia Ramblers
The Philadelphia Ramblers were a minor professional ice hockey team based in the Philadelphia Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Ramblers played for six seasons during the infancy of the American Hockey League from 1935 to 1941.-History:...
in the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(AHL).
Moe "excelled" in the AHL and posted 24 points in his lone season in Philadelphia. Following seasons end Moe changed teams again this time joining the AHL's Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
. Moe's production dipped in his first year with Hershey, but in his second he finished with his AHL career high 31 points. In the off-season he was named to the AHL First All-Star Team, and his rights were traded to the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
's New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
. Moe made his NHL debut on November 26, 1944 against the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
. He played 35 games for the Rangers in the 1944-45 season
1944-45 NHL season
-NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes-Leading goaltenders:...
while also playing 12 games for the Bears. When Moe entered the NHL he became one of only three Americans playing in the league, Frank Brimsek
Frank Brimsek
Francis Charles "Mister Zero" Brimsek was an American professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Boston Bruins and Chicago Black Hawks in the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
and John Mariucci
John Mariucci
John Mariucci was an American ice hockey player, administrator and coach. Mariucci was born in Eveleth, Minnesota. He attended the University of Minnesota where he played for both the hockey and football teams. He was named an All-American in hockey in 1940...
were the other two.
Midway through the following season
1945-46 NHL season
-NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes-Leading goaltenders:...
Moe was accused of delivering an illegal low hit to the Chicago Black Hawks'
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
Bill Mosienko
Bill Mosienko
William Mosienko was a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks. He is best noted for recording the fastest hat trick in NHL history...
which resulted in a torn knee ligament. Rangers' head coach, Frank Boucher
Frank Boucher
François-Xavier "Raffles" Boucher was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and executive. Boucher played the forward position for the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers in the National Hockey League and the Vancouver Maroons in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association...
, defended Moe by saying "Bill [Moe] stopped Mosienko with a fair bodycheck and bodychecking is part of a defenseman's job." Moe finished the season with four goals and eight points, as the Rangers finished last for the fourth straight year. He continued to improve, increasing his point total over the next two season first to 14 then to 16, and the Rangers made the playoffs for the first time in six seasons during the 1947–48 season. In his NHL playoff debut, on March 24, 1948 against the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
, Moe fractured two vertebrae after throwing a check at Bill Quackenbush
Bill Quackenbush
Hubert George "Bill" Quackenbush was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played for the Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League. During his 14 year career, he was the first defenceman to win the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. He won the award after playing the...
. It was the only NHL playoff game that he played in. Prior to the start of the next season Moe was involved in an automobile accident with four of his teammates, as they were retiring from exhibition game
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
s in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. He suffered two scalp wounds, requiring 24 stitches to close, and a mild concussion. Despite the injuries, Moe played in a career best 60 games registering 9 assists along with an NHL career high 60 penalty minutes
Penalty (ice hockey)
A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,...
. During the off-season the Rangers traded Moe, along with the rights to Lorne Ferguson
Lorne Ferguson
Lorne Ferguson was professional ice hockey left winger who played 422 games in the National Hockey League. Born in Palmerston, Ontario, he played for the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, and Chicago Black Hawks....
and future considerations to the Bruins for Pat Egan
Pat Egan
Martin Joseph "Pat" Egan was a Canadian ice hockey defenceman, most notably for the Boston Bruins and New York Americans of the National Hockey League...
and cash. The Bruins acquired Moe to play for the Bears who were now their farm team
Farm team
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team or nursery club, is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher level at a given point...
.
Moe played two more seasons with the Bears, registering a total of 5 goals and 37 points. After his two seasons in Hershey, Moe moved to the Pacific Coast Hockey League
Pacific Coast Hockey League
The Pacific Coast Hockey League was an ice hockey minor league with teams in the western United States and western Canada that existed in several incarnations: from 1928 to 1931, from 1936 to 1941, and from 1944 to 1952.-PCHL 1928-1931:...
playing for the Calgary Stampeders. He played only one season in Calgary before returning to the EAHL, finishing his career with the Troy Uncle Sam Trojans. Moe retired at the end of the year and in his final professional season he recorded a career high 35 points. In 1974 Moe was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
United States Hockey Hall of Fame
The United States Hockey Hall of Fame was established in 1973 with the goal of preserving the rich history of the game in the United States while recognizing the extraordinary contributions of select players, coaches, administrators, officials and teams....
.