Chick Webster Explained

Birth Date:3 November 1920
Birth Place:Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Death Place:Mattawa, Ontario, Canada
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lb:160
Position:Centre
Shoots:Left
Played For:New York Rangers
Career Start:1940
Career End:1953

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.

Biography

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.

Webster lived in Richmond Hill, Ontario, during his time with the Stouffville Clippers in 1960s, and afterward lived in Mattawa, Ontario.[3] After Milt Schmidt's death in January 2017, he became the oldest living former NHL player.[4] 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.[5] His nickname, Chick, was given to him in his playing days for his love for chewing Chiclets gum.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
1937–38Toronto Native SonsOHA12 3 6 9 0
1938–39Toronto Native SonsOHA14 6 4 10 88 4 3 7 8
1939–40Toronto Native SonsOHA11 3 6 9 21
1939–40Toronto StockyardsTMHL13 9 8 17 14
1940–41Baltimore OriolesEAHL62 24 37 61 21
1941–42St. Catharines SaintsOHA Sr12 1 7 8 26
1941–42Toronto StockyardsRMHL3 1 3 4 01 3 0 3 0
1941–42Camp Borden ArmyNDHL1 0 1 1 0
1942–43Petawawa GrenadesUOVHL3 5 1 6 62 3 1 4 0
1942–43Petawawa GrenatesAl-Cup8 7 6 13 21
1945–46Toronto Uptown TiresTMHL3 1 4 5 2
1945–46Baltimore ClippersEAHL15 7 9 16 5
1946–47New Haven RamblersAHL47 9 15 24 263 0 2 2 6
1946–47New York RoversEAHL13 7 11 18 36
1947–48New Haven RamblersAHL65 22 37 59 124 1 1 2 0
1948–49New Haven RamblersAHL65 16 33 49 24
1949–50New York RangersNHL14 0 0 0 4
1949–50New Haven RamblersAHL38 9 17 26 16
1950–51Tacoma RocketsPCHL63 20 28 48 366 1 1 2 2
1951–52Cincinnati MohawksAHL49 6 12 18 157 3 2 5 0
1952–53Syracuse WarriorsAHL13 2 2 4 0
1952–53Vancouver CanucksWHL5 0 0 0 0
1952–53Sault Ste. Marie GreyhoundsNOHA12 1 7 8 42 0 1 1 0
AHL totals227 64 116 180 9311 4 3 7 0
NHL totals14 0 0 0 4

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pre-game reading: Do the Leafs still need a No. 1 defenseman? . January 24, 2017 . January 26, 2017 . NBC Sports . Jason Brough .
  2. Web site: Chick Webster, Thought to Be N.H.L.'s Oldest Ex-Player, Stays Wry at 96 . January 23, 2017 . January 26, 2017 . New York Times . Curtis Rush .
  3. Web site: "Former New York Rangers player ‘Chick’ Webster, 95, hoping to renew acquaintances with former Willowdale teammates", by Fannie Sunshine, North York Mirror . 2017-01-05 . 2017-01-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170106124622/http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/6783161-former-new-york-rangers-player-chick-webster-95-hoping-to-renew-acquaintances-with-former-willow/ . dead .
  4. http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/milt-schmidt-was-a-gentleman-off-the-ice-relentless-on-it Milt Schmidt was a gentleman off the ice, relentless on it
  5. Web site: "Obituary for John Robert "Chick" Webster", Martyn Funeral Home . January 19, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180120124113/http://www.martynfh.com/book-of-memories/3240867/Webster-John-Robert-Chick/obituary.php . January 20, 2018 . dead .