Frank "Frosty" Carson

This good looking fellow here is Frank "Frosty" Carson, brother of fellow NHLers Bill and Gerry. He's pictured here in a New York Americans jersey from the 1930-31 season, his only season with the Amerks. He was better know for playing with the Montreal Maroons from 1925 through 1928 (winning the Stanley Cup in 1926) and the Detroit Falcons/Red Wings from 1931 through 1934.

Born in Bracebridge, Ontario, Carson was from quite the hockey family. Like his brothers Bill and Gerry, "Frosty" was a heck of an amateur player. This sturdy winger was a "lion-hearted" hockey sensation in Stratford, playing junior with the Midgets and senior with the Indians.

Carson retired from hockey in 1934 and worked for Industrial Acceptance Corporation in the Chatham/Windsor region. In 1950 he settled in Crumlin, Ontario (near London) where he operated a grocery/hardware store. He died of a heart attack in 1957, just 55 years old.

In 2004 the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame in Parry Sound inducted this local legend, saying he was "a determined competitor and a consummate team player. He was a smooth and graceful skater and possessed great puck handling skills. He never took or invited too many penalties. He was somewhat of a philosopher and looked upon hockey as a lot of fun and a good trade. He was always held in very high regard for his integrity and perseverance from all those who had contact with him."

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Frank Carson

The Carson family remains legendary in Parry Sound, Ontario. Patriarch D. M. Carson was a lumber baron in the area, moving from Bracebridge in 1905. He built a beautiful Victorian home on 33 Church Street and raised four sons, three of whom went on to play in the National Hockey League in the 1920s and 1930s. The family home still stands in Parry Sound. It is now a bed and breakfast simply known as The Carson House.

"Doc" Bill Carson was perhaps the most famous of the three NHL brothers. He was the first player in Toronto Maple Leafs history to score 20 goals and later returned home to become long time dentist.

Gerald "Stub" Carson played in 261 NHL games, mostly with the Montreal Canadiens, but scored just 12 goals. Bad knees forced him off of the ice prematurely.

Then there was middle brother Frank Carson. He was the most easily identifiable of the three because of his hair which had turned completely grey in his early twenties. This earned him many nicknames including The Silver Fox, The Grey Eagle and Frosty.

Frank Carson first rose to prominence on the hockey scene in Stratford where he played on a powerhouse line with Butch Keltenbourne and someone named Howie Morenz.

Morenz, of course, went on to become the NHL's first superstar with the Montreal Canadiens. Carson remained in Stratford to play senior hockey for a few years, before he too jumped to Montreal to play in the National Hockey League. Carson never played for the Habs though. He played for the cross town rivals the Montreal Maroons.

He played parts of three seasons in Montreal, never really catching on. His highlight there would have been in the spring of 1926. Still a NHL rookie, he helped the Maroons capture the Stanley Cup.

He briefly returned to senior hockey in Windsor, Ontario before giving the NHL another try in 1930-31. The 5'7" 165lb right winger noted for his defensive play participated a full 44 games with the New York Americans that year.

The Amerks would trade Carson to Detroit in 1931. Carson enjoyed three seasons with the Wings, taking them to Stanley Cup finals in the spring of 1934. He would retire from pro hockey following that unsuccessful Cup run, settling in London, Ontario where he ran a general store until he died of a heart attack in 1957.

Frank Carson played in 248 NHL games, scoring 42 goals and 90 points. In 27 Stanley Cup playoff games he picked up 2 assists and one Stanley Cup championship.

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