Punch Broadbent

Lore & Background

Broadbent played youth hockey at Percy Street School, then for Ottawa Cliffsides and New Edinburgh. He made his professional debut with the Ottawa Senators on December 28, 1912, scoring his first goal. He played on a line with Jack Darragh in his rookie season, finishing seventh in league scoring. After being hobbled by injuries the next year, he was fourth in scoring the following season. He scored three goals in the 1915 Stanley Cup Final against the Vancouver Millionaires before serving in World War I for three and a half years. He returned in January 1919 and played eight games for the Senators, now in the NHL. With forwards Frank Nighbor and Cy Denneny, he starred for six more seasons, winning three Stanley Cups. He was a holdout for most of 1921 but returned to win the league scoring title in 1922 with 32 goals in 24 games. That season he set a record by scoring goals in 16 consecutive games, from December 16, 1921 to February 15, 1922, a streak that remains unbroken over a century later. After the 1924 playoffs, he and Clint Benedict were blamed for the playoff loss and sold to the Montreal Maroons. He was the Maroons' leading scorer in their first season, including a five-goal game against the Hamilton Tigers. In his second season with the Maroons, the team won its first Stanley Cup against the Ottawa Senators. He was traded back to the Senators in 1928 with cash for Hooley Smith, and played for the New York Americans in 1929 before retiring.

Reader's Guide

Broadbent's significance lies in his pioneering role as one of the first true power forwards in NHL history, a style reflected in his nicknames 'Punch' and 'Old Elbows.' His most notable achievement is the unbroken NHL record of scoring at least one goal in 16 consecutive games during the 1921–22 season, a streak that began with a 10–0 rout of the Montreal Canadiens on December 24 and included six straight multi-goal games. He won the NHL scoring title that same season with 32 goals in 24 games. Over his career, he won the Stanley Cup four times (1920, 1921, 1923 with Ottawa; 1926 with Montreal). He finished with 172 goals and 58 assists in 360 professional games. After playing, he coached in the Ottawa City Hockey League, winning the championship in 1933 with the Ottawa Rideaus. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962. His military service included enlisting in 1915, serving in the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery, being promoted to Bombardier in October 1916, and receiving the Military Medal in March 1918. His only brother Spencer was killed in action during the war.

Did You Know?

• Broadbent scored at least one goal in 16 consecutive games in the 1921–22 season, an NHL record that remains unbroken over a century later.
• He was awarded the Military Medal in March 1918 for his service in World War I.
• His nickname 'Punch' came from his round chubby face that would puff up like a Billiken charm doll when he smiled.
• He scored five goals in a single game for the Montreal Maroons against the Hamilton Tigers.