Albert Pudas Explained

Position:Winger
Shoots:Right
Height Ft:5
Height In:10
Weight Lb:160
Birth Date:17 February 1899
Birth Place:Siikajoki, Grand Duchy of Finland
Death Place:Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Career Start:1921
Career End:1928

Juho Albert Pudas (originally Putaansuu) (February 17, 1899 – October 28, 1976) was a Finnish-born Canadian ice hockey player and coach. He was the first Finnish-born hockey player in the National Hockey League, and played 4 games for the Toronto St. Patricks during the 1926–27 season. Following his hockey career Pudas was active in the capacity of referee.

Biography

Pudas moved to Canada at the age of 18 months. He began his hockey career in Port Arthur, Ontario with the Pascoes, Ports, and later, the Port Arthur Bearcats. On October 28, 1926, Pudas accepted a contract offer from the Toronto St. Pats, along with fellow Bearcats Bill Brydge, Danny Cox and Lorne Chabot. Pudas was recalled December 29, 1926, by the Toronto St. Pats (renamed the Maple Leafs that same season on February 14, 1927) to play four games. These four games made Pudas the first Finnish-born player to play in the NHL.

In 1936, Pudas coached the Port Arthur Bearcats who represented Canada in the Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany. Canada won a silver medal with Pudas as coach (the only medal Canada won at these games).[1]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
1921–22Port Arthur BruinsTBSHL
1922–23Port Arthur BruinsMHL16 17 8 25 52 1 0 1 0
1923–24Port Arthur BruinsMHL16 11 2 13 22 1 0 1 2
1924–25Port Arthur BruinsMHL20 3 3 6 10 11 10 21 13
1925–26Port Arthur BruinsMHL20 11 2 13 209 7 6 13 18
1926–27Toronto St. PatricksNHL4 0 0 0 0
1926–27Windsor BulldogsCan-Pro18 10 2 12 18
1926–27Hamilton TigersCan-Pro9 8 0 8 22 3 0 3 0
1927–28London PanthersCan-Pro10 2 2 4 4
1927–28Stratford NationalsCan-Pro1 0 0 0 0
1927–28Detroit OlympicsCan-Pro19 4 1 5 02 0 0 0 0
Can-Pro totals57 24 5 29 244 3 0 3 0
NHL totals4 0 0 0 0

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Olympic hockey's controversial past. Chronicle Journal. Diane Imrie. English. 15 February 2018. 8 February 2021.