Ken Hodge

Kenneth Raymond Hodge, Sr. (born 25 June 1944) is a Canadian former professional hockey player who spent time in the NHL with the Chicago Black Hawks, Boston Bruins, and New York Rangers. Though born in Birmingham, England, he was raised in Toronto, Ontario.

Hodge signed with the Black Hawks as a teenager and had an outstanding junior career with the St. Catharines Black Hawks of the OHA. In 1965, he led the league in goals and points, recording 123 points in 65 games before moving up to Chicago the following season. He is among the few British-born players to make a significant mark in the NHL.

He debuted in the NHL during the 1965–66 season, scoring his first goal against the New York Rangers on December 29, 1965, in a 3–0 Chicago win. Later that season, on January 15, he recorded his first NHL hat trick in a 6–4 loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

At 6'2" and 215 pounds, Hodge was one of the larger forwards of his era and was often cast as a grinding policeman. After two mediocre seasons with Chicago, he was traded to Boston in a blockbuster deal alongside Phil Esposito and Fred Stanfield. That trade turned the Bruins into a powerhouse. In his first season with Boston, Hodge centered a line with Esposito and Ron Murphy that broke the NHL record for points by a forward line, with Hodge contributing 45 goals and 45 assists.

Though his production dipped the following season, Boston won the Stanley Cup, and the next year the Bruins became the league’s greatest offensive juggernaut. Playing on a feared line with Esposito and Wayne Cashman, Hodge set a league record for points by a right winger with 105, finishing fourth in NHL scoring. That season, Esposito, Bobby Orr, Johnny Bucyk, and Hodge finished 1–2–3–4 in league scoring—the first time in NHL history that the top four scorers all played for the same team.

Hodge was named a First Team All-Star and played in the 1971 NHL All-Star Game. He was also known for strong playoff performances.

Injuries slowed Hodge the following season, but he rebounded in the 1972 playoffs with 17 points in 15 games, helping the Bruins win their second Stanley Cup in three years. In 1972–73, he posted 81 points and earned his second All-Star Game appearance. The next season, he scored 50 goals and 105 points, finishing third in league scoring. Once again, Esposito, Orr, Cashman, and Hodge finished 1–2–3–4 in league scoring—the only other time this happened in NHL history. Hodge was again named a First Team All-Star and played in his third All-Star Game. He became the first player born outside Canada to score 50 goals in a season, a feat unmatched until Jari Kurri did it in 1984. He remained a consistent scorer for the next two seasons, with 66 points in 1974–75 and 61 points in 1975–76.

After Esposito was traded to the New York Rangers in early November 1975, Hodge’s offensive production suffered, and he fell out of favor with head coach Don Cherry. On May 26, 1976, he was reunited with Esposito when the Bruins traded him to the Rangers for Rick Middleton, a younger and faster skater. Hodge had modest success in New York during the 1976–77 season but tailed off the following year and was sent down to the New Haven Nighthawks of the AHL. He retired after that, but returned for the 1979–80 season to play for the Binghamton Dusters of the AHL, his final professional season. In 2023, he was named one of the Top 100 Best Bruins Players of All Time.

Hodge finished his NHL career with 881 games, 328 goals, 472 assists, and 800 points. He remained in the Boston area and is still active with the Bruins’ alumni team and alumni affairs. After retirement, he worked as a broadcaster in Boston, serving as radio color commentator for the Boston College men’s hockey team during their 2007–08 NCAA Championship season. He also served as a state director for the Massachusetts Special Olympics. In 2009, the Sports Museum honored him with the hockey legacy award at its annual Tradition event. In 2010, he played in the Boston Bruins Legends Classic game at Fenway Park.

Hodge is married to his wife Mary. During his Bruins career, they lived in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, raising five children. Their home was known for its large swimming pool in the shape of his Bruins uniform number 8. After 50 years in Lynnfield, Hodge moved to Florida, where he spends time with former teammates Wayne Cashman and Phil Esposito. His son, Ken Hodge Jr., also played professional hockey from 1987 to 1998 and later coached the Tulsa Oilers, whose roster included his younger brother Brendon, who wore their father’s number 8.