Norm Ullman

Last updated
Norm Ullman
Hockey Hall of Fame, 1982
NormUllman.jpg
Ullman with the Detroit Red Wings in the 1960s
Born (1935-12-26) December 26, 1935 (age 89)
Provost, Alberta, Canada
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Left
Played for Detroit Red Wings
Toronto Maple Leafs
Edmonton Oilers
Playing career 19551977

Norman Victor Alexander Ullman (born December 26, 1935) is a Canadian former ice hockey forward. He previously played for the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1955 to 1975, and with the Edmonton Oilers of the World Hockey Association from 1975 to 1977. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1982.

Contents

Playing career

Norm Ullman began his career with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WCJHL, before moving to the Edmonton Flyers of the WHL. He turned pro with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League in the 1955–56 NHL season.

He was renowned as an excellent stick handler, as well as one of the paramount forecheckers in hockey history - and for his stamina and consistency which was important in centering a line with Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay in only his second season with Detroit.

His career statistics rank him among the greatest centres to ever play in the NHL, with 490 career regular-season goals and 739 assists for 1229 points. He had sixteen NHL seasons of 20 or more goals.

Ullman led Detroit in goals in 1961, 1965, and 1966 and led the league in 1964–65 with 42 goals. In that same season, he missed the overall scoring title by 4 points, second to Stan Mikita, and was voted a first team All-Star.

He appeared in eleven All-Star games during his 20-year career scored 30 goals and added 53 assists during Stanley Cup Playoff action in 106 games played. Ullman was twice the playoff-scoring leader.

He was part of a six-player blockbuster transaction in which he was traded along with Paul Henderson and Floyd Smith from the Red Wings to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Frank Mahovlich, Pete Stemkowski, Garry Unger and Carl Brewer on March 4, 1968. The Maple Leafs and Red Wings were in fifth and sixth place respectively at the bottom of the East Division standings at the time of the deal. [1] Ullman finished his NHL career with Toronto and ended his hockey career after two seasons with the WHA's Edmonton Oilers.

He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on September 8, 1982. [2] [3] In 1998, he was ranked number 90 on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1951–52 Edmonton Oil Kings WCJHL 1101010000
1952–53Edmonton Oil KingsWCJHL3629477641346100
1953–54Edmonton Oil KingsWCJHL36564510117101126370
1953–54 Edmonton Flyers WHL 11010
1954–55 Edmonton FlyersWHL602534592393146
1955–56 Detroit Red Wings NHL 669918261013413
1956–57 Detroit Red WingsNHL641636524751126
1957–58 Detroit Red WingsNHL692328513840224
1958–59 Detroit Red WingsNHL6922365842
1959–60 Detroit Red WingsNHL702434584662240
1960–61 Detroit Red WingsNHL7028427034110444
1961–62 Detroit Red WingsNHL7026386454
1962–63 Detroit Red WingsNHL7026305653114121614
1963–64 Detroit Red WingsNHL612130515514710176
1964–65 Detroit Red WingsNHL7042418370764102
1965–66 Detroit Red WingsNHL703141723512691512
1966–67 Detroit Red WingsNHL6826447026
1967–68 Detroit Red WingsNHL5830255526
1967–68 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL13512172
1968–69 Toronto Maple LeafsNHL753542774141010
1969–70 Toronto Maple LeafsNHL7418426037
1970–71 Toronto Maple LeafsNHL733451852460222
1971–72 Toronto Maple LeafsNHL772350732651346
1972–73 Toronto Maple LeafsNHL6520355510
1973–74 Toronto Maple LeafsNHL782247691241120
1974–75 Toronto Maple LeafsNHL8092635870002
1975–76 Edmonton Oilers WHA 773156871241342
1976–77 Edmonton OilersWHA671627432850330
NHL totals1,4104907391,22971210630538367
WHA totals14447831304091672

Career awards

Personal life

Norm was married to Bibiane (Bibs) for 62 years until her death in 2017. Ullman is the father of lawyer Gordon Ullman, and daughters Dr. Linda Ullman-Petrash and Ms. Lori Ullman. He is grandfather to Maxwell Ullman, Ben Ullman-Petrash, Blair Sherman & Madeline Sherman, and great grandfather to Penny & Jake Sherman. Ullman is also the uncle of ballet dancer and choreographer Darren Anderson.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Henderson</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1943)

Paul Garnet Henderson, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. A left winger, Henderson played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Atlanta Flames and five in the World Hockey Association (WHA) for the Toronto Toros and Birmingham Bulls. He played over 1,000 games between the two major leagues, scoring 376 goals and 758 points. Henderson played in two NHL All-Star Games and was a member of the 1962 Memorial Cup-winning Hamilton Red Wings team as a junior.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Mahovlich</span> Canadian ice hockey player, politician (b. 1938)

Francis William Mahovlich is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and a former Liberal Senator in the Canadian Senate. He played on six Stanley Cup-winning teams and is an inductee of the Hockey Hall of Fame. In 2017 Mahovlich was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history. Mahovlich was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1999. His brother Peter also played in the NHL. His nickname is "The Big M".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curtis Joseph</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1967)

Curtis Shayne Joseph is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former professional player. Nicknamed "Cujo", Joseph was immediately recognizable on the ice for his masks featuring a snarling dog, drawing inspiration from the Stephen King novel Cujo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Bucyk</span> Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1935)

John Paul "Chief" Bucyk is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Having played most of his career with the Boston Bruins, he has been associated in one capacity or another with the Bruins' organization since the late 1950s. Bucyk was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweeney Schriner</span> Russian-born Canadian ice hockey player

David "Sweeney" Schriner was a Russian-born Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played 11 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Americans and Toronto Maple Leafs. He was named Rookie of the Year in 1934–35 and was the NHL scoring leader in 1935–36 and 1936–37. Schriner was named to honorary all-star teams in numerous leagues throughout his career and played with the NHL All-Stars in the Howie Morenz Memorial Game in 1937. He won two Stanley Cup championships with the Maple Leafs, in 1941–42 and again in 1944–45. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962.

The 1980–81 NHL season was the 64th season of the National Hockey League. The Flames relocated from Atlanta to Calgary. The New York Islanders were the top regular season team and the top playoff team, winning their second consecutive Stanley Cup by defeating the Minnesota North Stars in five games.

The 1964–65 NHL season was the 48th season of the National Hockey League. Six teams each played 70 games. Jean Beliveau was the winner of the newly introduced Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player during the playoffs. The Montreal Canadiens won their first Stanley Cup since 1960 as they were victorious over the Chicago Black Hawks in a seven-game final series.

The 1965–66 NHL season was the 49th season of the National Hockey League. Six teams each played 70 games. The Montreal Canadiens won their second consecutive Stanley Cup as they defeated the Detroit Red Wings four games to two in the final series.

Galen Russell Head was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who spent the majority of his career, which lasted from 1967 to 1976, with the Johnstown Jets of the Eastern Hockey League and North American Hockey League. Head played one game in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings during the 1967-68 NHL season and wore #15.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pete Stemkowski</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1943)

Peter David Stemkowski is a former centre and forward in the National Hockey League. Over fifteen seasons, he played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, and Los Angeles Kings. Stemkowski is best remembered for his heroics in the 1970–71 Stanley Cup semifinals when he scored two overtime goals for the New York Rangers in an eventual series loss to the Chicago Black Hawks. He won the Stanley Cup in 1967 with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Considered a textbook "two-way" centre, able to kill penalties and play defence as well as scoring goals, Stemkowski is also remembered as one of the top faceoff takers of the NHL.

Garry Douglas Unger is a former professional ice hockey centre who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League from 1967 until 1983.

Floyd Robert Donald Smith is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre and coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Brewer (ice hockey)</span> Canadian ice hockey player (1938–2001)

Carl Thomas Brewer was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. Brewer attended De La Salle College and Riverdale Collegiate Institute prior to his hockey career.

Loran Errol Thompson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger who played most of his NHL career with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was selected 2nd by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1970 Amateur Draft. Thompson is also a former captain of the Detroit Red Wings.

Edward Abel Joyal is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, and Philadelphia Flyers between 1963 and 1972. He also played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) with the Alberta Oilers/Edmonton Oilers between 1972 and 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Watson (ice hockey, born 1923)</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Harold Percival "Whipper" Watson was a Canadian professional ice hockey left wing who played for the Brooklyn Americans, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Chicago Black Hawks, winning five Stanley Cups over a 14-year career in the National Hockey League.

Douglas Robert Barrie is a Canadian former ice hockey defenceman. He played in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Sabres, and Los Angeles Kings between 1969 and 1972. He also played in the World Hockey Association for the Alberta/Edmonton Oilers between 1972 and 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Faulkner</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Selm Alexander Faulkner is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player and was the first National Hockey League (NHL) player from Newfoundland and Labrador. He played in the NHL from 1961 to 1964 with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1952 to 1976, was mainly spent in the Newfoundland Senior Hockey League.

The 1962–63 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' 37th season in the NHL, and the club was coming off a third-place finish for the fourth consecutive season in 1961–62, as Chicago won a team record 31 games and tied a club record with 75 points. The Hawks would go on and upset the heavily favored Montreal Canadiens in the NHL semi-finals for the second straight season, however, the Black Hawks would lose to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1962 Stanley Cup Finals.

The 1969–70 Detroit Red Wings season is noted as being Carl Brewer's comeback season in the NHL. Brewer was reunited with former Toronto Maple Leafs teammates Bob Baun, Pete Stemkowski, and Frank Mahovlich. Brewer signed a contract worth $120,000. Brewer was acquired back in March 1968. The Detroit Red Wings acquired Frank Mahovlich, Pete Stemkowski, Garry Unger and Brewer's rights from Toronto in exchange for Floyd Smith, Norm Ullman, and Paul Henderson. Another important aspect of the season was that Gordie Howe had finally learned how badly treated he was financially by Wings management. Howe was always under the impression that he was the highest paid player on the team. Howe discovered that Bobby Baun was making over $100,000 per season while Howe was paid only $45,000 per season. After this information, Howe confronted management and demanded that he received the appropriate compensation.

References

  1. "Mahovlich, Ullman Traded," The Edmonton Journal, Monday, March 4, 1968. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  2. "Norm Ullman". www.legendsofhockey.net/. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  3. "Induction Facts & Figures". www.hhof.com/. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
Preceded by NHL Goal Leader
1965
Succeeded by