Ebbie Goodfellow

Ebenezer Goodfellow had one of hockey's all time greatest names, and one of the greatest careers in hockey history as well.

Born in Ottawa, Ontario in 1907, Ebbie joined the Detroit Cougars (later renamed Falcons and finally Red Wings) in 1929 and stayed with Detroit for 15 seasons. Originally property of the New York Americans, Detroit traded Johnny Sheppard and $12,500 to get the high scoring 6'0" 175lb scoring machine. In an era before Gordie Howe, Goodfellow was considered to be Detroit's most illustrious hockey performer during the 1930s.

Originally a center, he became one of the league's top scorers. He scored a career high 25 goals and 48 points in 44 games in 1930-31. Although he was a high scoring forward, in 1935-36 he was shifted to defense by coach Jack Adams after he began to lose a little speed. The gamble paid off for Adams as Goodfellow became one of the best defensemen in the league and remained a consistent scorer as well. He captained the Wings to the Stanley Cup in 1936 and 1937, when he was named an all-star defenseman in 1937 and 1940. He also becam e the first Detroit player to win the Hart Trophy, as in 1940 he was honored as the league's most valuable player.

Playing hockey back then didn't make the players rich. Goodfellow kept his day job as a tool and die salesman and was a playing coach for the Wings in 1941 and '42. In retirement he would work as a caddie master at prestigious Oakland Hills Country Club in Detroit.

He played a few games in 1943, ending his hockey career as a Wing. With 324 points in 556 regular games he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1963. He died in 1985 at age 78.