Ken Hodge

Lore & Background

One of the few British-born players in NHL history, Ken Hodge was signed by the Black Hawks as a teenager, and had a stellar junior league career with the St. Catharines Black Hawks of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA), leading the league in goals and points with 123 in 65 games during the 1965 season before being called up for good to Chicago the next year. Hodge was one of the first British born players to make significant impact in the NHL. Hodge played his first season in the NHL during the 1965-66 season scoring his 1st NHL goal vs the New York Rangers at 11:43 of 3rd period on 29 December 1965 in a 3-0 Chicago win. Later that same season Hodge scored his 1st NHL hat-trick vs the Montreal Canadiens on 15 January, in a 6-4 Canadiens win. Stereotyped as a grinding policeman — at 6'2", 215 lbs, Hodge was one of the larger forwards of his era — the rangy right wing played two mediocre seasons with the Black Hawks before being sent to Boston in a blockbuster deal with teammates Phil Esposito and Fred Stanfield. From here Hodge went on to become a corner stone of the 1970s Bruins teams. With the trade making the Bruins into a powerhouse, as Esposito centred Hodge and left wing Ron Murphy in the 1968–69 season to break the NHL record for points in a season by a forward line, and Hodge scored an impressive 45 goals and 45 assists to complement Esposito's record season of 126 points. His production fell off significantly the next season (although Boston won the Stanley Cup bolstered by Hodge's skilled play), but the 1970–71 season saw the Bruins launch the greatest offensive juggernaut the league had ever seen, breaking dozens of offensive records. In that flurry, on one of the most feared forward lines of the era (with linemates Esposito and Wayne Cashman), Hodge would break the league record for points in a season by a right winger with 105, and finish fourth in NHL scoring. Phil Esposito (with 152 points), Bobby Orr (with 139), Johnny Bucyk (116) and Hodge finished 1–2–3–4 in league scoring, the first time in NHL history the season's top four scorers all played for one team. This would lead to Hodge being named a First Team All-Star as-well as being invited to the 1971 NHL all star game. Throughout Hodge’s time with the Bruins he was also known for being highly productive during the playoffs. The 1971–72 season saw Hodge slowed down by injuries, although h

In Their Own Story

The air inside the Boston Garden is thick with smoke and anticipation as the clock ticks down on overtime of Game 4. Ken Hodge, eyes locked on the puck, skates through a gauntlet of Blues defenders. The crowd roars, a deafening wall of sound that seems to shake the rafters. He receives a pass from Bobby Orr, takes one sharp stride, and fires a wrist shot past the goalie. The net ripples, the horn blares, and Hodge is immediately swarmed by his teammates, his face a mask of pure relief and triumph as he realizes he has just kept the Bruins' dream alive.

Reader's Guide

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 in alumni affairs. After retirement Hodge spent time working as a broadcaster in Boston. He served as the radio colour commentator for the Boston College men's hockey team throughout their 2007–08 NCAA Championship season, working alongside play-by-play man Jon Rish on flagship station WTTT (1150AM). Hodge also served as a state director of the Massachusetts Special Olympics. In 2009 Hodge was honored by the Sports Museum at there annual Tradition event, being given the hockey legacy award. In 2010 Hodge played in the Boston Bruins legends classic game at Fenway park. Hodge is married to his wife Mary, they lived in Lynnfield, Massachusetts during his career with the Bruins raising 5 kids; his home was instantly recognizable and well known to local residents by its large swimming pool in the back yard in the shape of his Bruins' uniform number, 8. After spending 50 years in Lynnfield Hodge has now moved down to Florida where he spends time with old teammates Wayne Cashman and Phil Esposito. Hodge's son, Ken Hodge, Jr., was also a professional hockey player from 1987 to 1998. Hodge Jr. went on to coach the Tulsa Oilers, whose roster included his younger brother Brendon, who wore their father's number 8. Brendon Hodge is now the assistant coach of the Rapid City Rushmore Thunder varsity hockey team, who won the 2014 state championship. Another son, Dan Hodge, was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the ninth round (194th overall) in the 1991 NHL entry draft, and played in the American Hockey League and International Hockey League, and won the 2000 Kelly Cup championship in the East Coast Hockey League with the Peoria Rivermen.

Did You Know?

• Ken Hodge was one of the first British-born players to make a significant impact in the NHL.
• He was the first person born outside Canada to score 50 goals in an NHL season (1973–74).
• Hodge's backyard pool in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, was shaped like his Bruins uniform number 8.
• He was named one of the Top 100 Best Bruins Players of all time in 2023.