Bill Mosienko

Lore & Background

Mosienko was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, one of 13 children of Ukrainian immigrants. He began playing hockey at age 10 with local athletic clubs. At 17, he joined the Winnipeg Monarchs junior team, scoring 21 goals in 24 games during the 1939–40 season. He left the team because they did not cover his transportation costs, as his family was poor. Chicago Black Hawks player Joe Cooper discovered Mosienko playing on outdoor rinks in Winnipeg and recommended the Hawks sign him. Mosienko signed at age 18 and was assigned to minor league teams before being recalled in 1942. He scored his first two NHL goals on February 9, 1942, 21 seconds apart. He established himself as an NHL regular in 1943–44, scoring a career-high 70 points. With linemates Clint Smith and Doug Bentley, the trio combined for 219 points, an NHL record at that time. In 1944–45, Mosienko finished sixth in league scoring with 54 points and did not record a single penalty minute, winning the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. He later formed the 'Pony Line' with the Bentley brothers, Max and Doug, known for their speed and small size. Mosienko played in five All-Star Games and was twice named to the second All-Star team. He left the NHL in 1955 to help bring professional hockey to Winnipeg, helping create the Winnipeg Warriors of the Western Hockey League. He was a three-time All-Star in that league and won the league championship in 1956.

Reader's Guide

Mosienko's legacy is defined by his record-setting fastest hat trick in NHL history, a feat that remains unmatched. He was a consistently high-scoring forward, finishing sixth in league scoring twice and setting a team rookie record of 70 points that stood for 37 years. His gentlemanly conduct on the ice earned him the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 1945, and he accumulated only 121 penalty minutes over 14 NHL seasons. After leaving the NHL, he played a key role in establishing professional hockey in his hometown of Winnipeg, leading the Winnipeg Warriors to a championship in their first season. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1965 and the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 1980. At the time of his NHL retirement, he was seventh all-time in league scoring with 540 points. His contributions to hockey are also recognized by the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame, which named him to its provincial All-Century first All-Star team in 2000.

Did You Know?

• Mosienko scored three goals in 21 seconds against the New York Rangers on March 23, 1952, the fastest hat trick in NHL history.
• He won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 1945 as the most gentlemanly player in the league.
• He was one of 13 children, with eight brothers and four sisters.
• After retiring from the NHL, he helped create the Winnipeg Warriors and won the league championship in 1956.