Punch Broadbent

The original power forward known as 'Punch' and 'Old Elbows'.

Harold Lawton "Harry" Broadbent (July 13, 1892 – March 5, 1971) was a Canadian ice hockey player. Broadbent played for the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Maroons and the New York Americans in the National Hockey Association (NHA) and National Hockey League (NHL) between 1912 and 1929. Broadbent won the Stanley Cup four times during his career, three times with Ottawa and once with Montreal. He is regarded as one of the first true power forwards in NHL history. For this reason, he was known in his day as "Punch" and "Old Elbows".

Quick Facts

Position

Right wing

Shoots

Right

Played for

Ottawa Senators
Montreal Maroons
New York Americans

Born

13 July 1892

Birthplace

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Died

5 March 1971

Hall of Fame

1962

Lore & Background

Born in Ottawa, Ontario. Broadbent married Leda Fitzsimmons and had one daughter, Sally Ann Broadbent. In the summer of 1915 Broadbent enlisted in the Canadian military to serve in the First World War. He served in the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery, and was promoted to Bombardier in October 1916. In March 1918 he was awarded the Military Medal for his service in the war. Broadbent's only brother Spencer was killed in action during the war. A January 27, 1934 article on Broadbent in the Montreal Gazette by D. A. L. MacDonald says he was called "Punch" because of his round chubby face which would puff up like a Billiken charm doll when he smiled. Broadbent died on March 5, 1971 at the age of 78. He was survived by his wife Leda, daughter Sally Ann and four grandchildren. He was interred at Beechwood Cemetery.

Reader's Guide

As a youth, Broadbent played ice hockey at Percy Street School, then starred for Ottawa Cliffsides and New Edinburgh in the Ottawa City League and Inter-provincial League. At age 20, he made his professional debut with the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey Association (NHA) on December 28, 1912 against Quebec, scoring the first goal of his career. Broadbent played the 1912–13 season on a line with Jack Darragh. He was seventh in the league in scoring his rookie year, and while hobbled with injuries the next, was fourth in scoring the following year. He scored three goals in the Stanley Cup Final against the Vancouver Millionaires in 1915 before going to the war for three and one-half years. Broadbent returned from the war in January 1919, and played the remaining eight games of the season for the Senators, now in the National Hockey League (NHL). With forwards Frank Nighbor and Cy Denneny, he starred for the Senators for six more seasons, playing for three Stanley Cup champions. Though he was a holdout for most of the 1921 season, Broadbent came back to win the league scoring title in 1922, with 32 goals in 24 games. He also set a record that season by scoring goals in sixteen consecutive games. The streak began during a 10–0 rout of the Montreal Canadiens on December 24 and lasted through to a 6–6 tie with Canadiens on February 15, and it included a stretch of six straight multi-goal games.