Church Russell Explained

Birth Date:March 16, 1923
Birth Place:Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Played For:New York Rangers
Shoots:Left
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lbs:175
Position:Centre
Career Start:1943
Career End:1955

Churchill Davidson Russell (March 16, 1923 – March 31, 1999) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. Russell played 90 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Rangers over three seasons between 1945 and 1947. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1943 to 1955, was spent in various minor leagues.

Playing career

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Russell played junior hockey for the Winnipeg Rangers from 1940 to 1943. In his final season, Russell helped his team win the Memorial Cup junior ice hockey championship. Russell played one season for the Victoria Navy team, then served in the military during World War II.

Upon his return in 1945, Russell was signed by the New York Rangers organization. He started with the New York Rovers but played 17 games for the Rangers in 1945–46. The following season, he played for the Rangers, scoring 20 goals and 8 assists. In 1947–48, he played only 19 games for the Rangers.

In 1947, the Rangers traded him to the Cleveland Barons for George Johnston. Russell played two seasons for the Barons, then moved on to the Pittsburgh Hornets for one season and the minor-league Vancouver Canucks for a season. He played in some playoff games the next season for the Winnipeg Maroons. He did not play for two seasons, then played a final eight games for the Brandon Wheat Kings senior ice hockey team in the 1954–55 season to finish his playing career.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
1940–41Winnipeg RangersMJHL
1941–42Winnipeg RangersMJHL18 6 11 17 0
1942–43Winnipeg RangersMJHL12 23 13 36 06 16 4 20 2
1943–44Victoria NavyPCHL15 4 6 10 4
1945–46New York RangersNHL17 0 5 5 2
1945–46New York RoversEAHL38 27 43 70 4
1946–47New York RangersNHL54 20 8 28 8
1947–48New York RangersNHL19 0 3 3 2
1947–48New York RoversQSHL2 0 0 0 0
1947–48Cleveland BaronsAHL40 13 18 31 89 3 5 8 0
1948–49Cleveland BaronsAHL56 17 22 39 105 1 1 2 2
1949–50Pittsburgh HornetsAHL67 7 22 29 15
1950–51Vancouver CanucksPCHL58 12 21 33 8
1951–52Winnipeg MaroonsAl-Cup6 5 4 9 2
1952–53Winnipeg MaroonsAl-Cup4 1 1 2 5
1953–54Brandon RegalsMHL
1954–55Brandon RegalsMHL8 5 4 9 2
AHL totals163 37 62 99 3314 4 6 10 2
NHL totals90 20 16 36 12

Awards and achievements