Gordon Roberts (ice hockey)
Hardest and most deceptive shot of the 1910s era.
Gordon William "Doc" Roberts (September 5, 1891 – September 2, 1966) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward. He played for the Ottawa Hockey Club and Montreal Wanderers in the National Hockey Association (NHA), and for the Vancouver Millionaires and Seattle Metropolitans in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA). In 1910, he helped Ottawa defend the Stanley Cup against the Edmonton Hockey Club, scoring seven goals across two games. While playing for the Wanderers, Roberts studied medicine at McGill University and ranked among the NHA’s top scorers. After graduating, he moved to British Columbia to practice medicine but continued playing hockey. In the 1916–17 PCHA season, he led the league with 43 goals and was named an all-star left wing. He retired from hockey in 1918, returned briefly for Vancouver in 1919–20, then left the sport for good. His medical career eventually took him to Oakland, California, where he practiced for more than 40 years. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1971.
As a youth in Ottawa, Roberts played lacrosse and football but focused on hockey. In 1908–09, he led the Ottawa City Hockey League in scoring with 19 goals in six games for the Emmitts Hockey Club. He turned professional in 1909 at age 18, joining the Ottawa Hockey Club. He scored three goals in a single game during the short-lived Canadian Hockey Association before Ottawa moved to the NHA. In nine NHA games that season, he had 13 goals. During the Stanley Cup challenge against Edmonton, the *Ottawa Citizen* called Roberts the star of the first game, praising his defensive play and four goals in an 8–4 win; he added three goals in the second game as Ottawa won the series 21–11.
Roberts moved to Montreal to study medicine at McGill. He could not play college hockey or certified amateur football, so he joined the Montreal Wanderers for the 1910–11 NHA season. After playing only four games that year, he became a consistent top scorer. He had two 16-goal seasons, then finished second in league scoring with 31 goals in 1913–14 and 29 in 1914–15, and was named an all-star in 1914. Balancing hockey and studies was difficult, but Roberts credited classmates and faculty for helping him graduate in 1916 after an extra year due to failing his second year.
Quick Facts
- Position
- Left wing
- Height Ft
- 5
- Height In
- 11
- Weight Lb
- 180
- Shoots
- Left
- Played For
- Ottawa Hockey Club / Montreal Wanderers / Vancouver Millionaires / Seattle Metropolitans
- Career Start
- 1909
- Career End
- 1920
- Birth Place
- Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Birth Date
- 1891-09-05
- Death Date
- 2 September 1966 · 1891 · 9 · 5
- Death Place
- Oakland, California, U.S.
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Roberts was considered by his contemporaries to be one of the greatest left wings in hockey history. His wrist shot, one of the most fearsome of the pre-1927 era, became legendary across both the PCHA and NHA. The sporting press often said he had 'the hardest and most deceptive shot in hockey' during the 1910s. He was sometimes described as the inventor of the 'curved shot,' preceding players such as Harry Cameron, Babe Dye, and Didier Pitre. Bernie Morris, Frank Foyston, and Lester Patrick all attested to the unrivalled effectiveness and dramatic trajectory of Roberts’ shot. Goaltender Clint Benedict praised Roberts’ accuracy coupled with his ability to curve the puck. Roberts was noted for getting his shot off at very bad angles from close in, as well as driving it from far outside the reach of defencemen. He was also well regarded for his stamina, skating ability, and above-average defensive checking. Despite being a physical player, Roberts was noted for his gentlemanly conduct on the ice. Montreal Canadiens coach George Kennedy told a story of a game where Didier Pitre, after being tripped and butt-ended by Roberts, explained he could not retaliate because Roberts would apologize and help him up, saying 'it is an accident.'
Reader's Guide
Roberts' significance lies in his dual career as a top-tier professional hockey player and a physician. He was a leading scorer in both the NHA and PCHA, and his innovative curved shot was widely praised by contemporaries and Hall of Famers. His defensive play and gentlemanly conduct set him apart, as illustrated by the anecdote of Didier Pitre refusing to retaliate because Roberts apologized after each infraction. After retiring from hockey, Roberts practiced as an obstetrician in Oakland, California for over 40 years, and also taught at Stanford University Hospital. He turned down offers to return to hockey from the Ottawa Senators and a lacrosse coaching position at Cornell University to focus on his medical career. His posthumous induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1971 recognized his contributions to the sport.
Did You Know?
- Roberts scored seven goals in two games during Ottawa's 1910 Stanley Cup defense against the Edmonton Hockey Club.
- He led the PCHA in scoring with 43 goals in 23 games during the 1916–17 season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Gordon Roberts (ice hockey)?
Gordon William "Doc" Roberts was a Canadian left winger who competed in the early 1910s and 1920s for clubs in both the NHA and the PCHA. He is remembered as a top scorer in two rival leagues, a Stanley Cup participant, and the rare athlete who also earned a medical degree from McGill University.
What made Gordon Roberts' playing style stand out?
Contemporaries described Roberts as having the hardest and most deceptive shot of the 1910s, a blend of raw power and trickery that made him nearly impossible to read. That shooting ability carried him to the top of the NHA scoring charts and earned him the PCHA leading-scorer title with 43 goals in 1916–17.
Why is Gordon Roberts important in hockey history?
Roberts is one of the very few players to have led or nearly led scoring in both the NHA and the PCHA, and his seven-goal performance in Ottawa's 1910 Stanley Cup defense made him a defining offensive force of that era. His Hall of Fame induction honours that dual legacy as an elite competitor and a medical professional.
Did Gordon Roberts win a Stanley Cup?
He was a member of the Ottawa Hockey Club roster that successfully defended the Stanley Cup against the Edmonton Hockey Club in 1910. Roberts scored seven goals across the two-game series, serving as the offensive engine behind that championship run.
More in Hockey Hall of Fame Players, Part 3 1-24
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