Kenneth Raymond Hodge, Sr. (born 25 June 1944) is a Canadian former hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Chicago Black Hawks, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers. 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.
Early Career in the OHA
Ken Hodge began his junior hockey career in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) with the St. Catharines Teepees during the 1961-62 season, at the age of 17. As a teenager, he was signed to a contract by the Chicago Black Hawks, the NHL team that sponsored the St.
In his rookie season of 1961-62, Hodge appeared in 31 regular-season games for the Teepees, recording 4 goals and 3 assists for 7 points, while contributing 1 point in 6 playoff games. The team transitioned to the St. Catharines Black Hawks for the 1962-63 season under Chicago's sponsorship, where Hodge emerged as a key contributor, playing all 50 games and tallying 23 goals and 23 assists for 46 points amid 97 penalty minutes.
His production surged in 1963-64, as he suited up for 56 games, scoring 37 goals and adding 51 assists for 88 points, helping lead the Black Hawks to a strong second-place finish in the OHA standings with a 29-20-7 record. Hodge's junior career peaked in 1964-65, when he led the entire OHA in both goals (63) and points (123) over 55 games, with 60 assists, establishing himself as one of the league's premier scorers despite the Black Hawks' middling 19-28-9 regular-season record that placed them fifth. He added 3 goals and 7 assists for 10 points in 5 playoff games, though the team was eliminated in the quarterfinals by the Peterborough Petes.
As a right winger, Hodge developed into a dynamic scoring forward, leveraging his size and skill to drive offensive plays on teams bolstered by Chicago's sponsorship, which brought in talented prospects like himself and linemates such as Fred Stanfield. In the 1964-65 season, Hodge capped his junior career with St. Catharines Black Hawks by winning the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy, awarded to the Ontario Hockey Association's (OHA) leading scorer. That same season marked Hodge's initial foray into professional hockey, as he made a brief debut with the Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League (AHL), the primary farm team for the Chicago Black Hawks.
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As an undrafted player born in Birmingham, England, Hodge attracted attention from NHL scouts due to his standout junior production and physical presence as a British immigrant excelling in Canadian hockey.
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NHL Career
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 December 29, 1965 in a 3-0 Chicago win. On May 15, 1967, Hodge was traded from the Black Hawks to the Boston Bruins along with Phil Esposito and Fred Stanfield in exchange for Gilles Marotte, Pit Martin, and Jack Norris, ending his Chicago tenure after 132 regular-season games and 58 points.
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.
Boston Bruins Era
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.
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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 Hodges time with the Bruins he was also known for being highly productive during the playoffs. Ken Hodge played a significant role in the Boston Bruins' 1970 Stanley Cup victory, contributing 13 points (three goals and ten assists) over 14 playoff games. His scoring included a game-winning goal in Game 2 of the quarterfinals against the New York Rangers, helping secure a 2-0 series lead, while his assists supported the team's offensive depth during sweeps of the Chicago Black Hawks in the semifinals and the St.
The 1971-72 season saw Hodge slowed down by injuries, although he recovered again in the playoffs with 17 points in 15 games helping the Bruins to their second Stanley Cup in three years during the 1971-72 season. The following year in 1972-73 Hodge would have a 81 point season leading to him playing in the NHL all star game for the second time in his career.
Following this up In 1973-74, he scored 50 goals and 105 points to place third in league scoring, and with Esposito (145), Orr (122) and Cashman (89) likewise finished 1-2-3-4 in league scoring for the only other time in NHL history the season's top four scorers all played for one team. This would once again lead to Hodge being honored as a First Team All-Star and would play in his 3rd All star game.
Hodge would also become the first person born outside of Canada to score 50 goals in a season and was the only one to do so until Finnish born Jari Kurri did so in 1984. He continued to be a consistent scorer his next two seasons with the bruins.
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| Season | Team | GP | G | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961-62 | St. Catharines Teepees (OHA) | 31 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| 1964-65 | St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA) | 55 | 63 | 60 | 123 |
| 1968-69 | Boston Bruins (NHL) | 76 | 45 | 45 | 90 |
| 1970-71 | Boston Bruins (NHL) | 78 | 43 | 62 | 105 |
| 1973-74 | Boston Bruins (NHL) | 78 | 50 | 55 | 105 |
Later Career
His offensive production negatively impacted by Esposito's trade to the New York Rangers in early-November 1975, Hodge's remaining time with the Bruins was spent in head coach Don Cherry's doghouse. Hodge was reunited with Esposito on 26 May 1976, when he was dealt to the Rangers who were hoping for a replication of their successes with the Bruins.
Hodge had modest success in New York in the 1976-77 season, and then tailed off the following year before being sent down to the New Haven Nighthawks of the American Hockey League (AHL). After retirement Hodge spent time working as a broadcaster in Boston.
Personal Life and Legacy
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.
All three of Hodge's sons followed in his footsteps in professional hockey. The Hodge family shared a deep passion for hockey, with Ken serving as an influential "hockey dad" who provided guidance and encouragement to his sons without being overly demanding. Dan Hodge later reflected on his father's supportive role, noting, "I guess he was a hockey dad to a point...
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.
Ken Hodge has remained actively involved with the Boston Bruins Alumni Association, participating in numerous events and fundraisers that support charitable causes and youth development.