Bert Olmstead, Hockey player, Died at 89

  Sports

Murray Albert Olmstead was born on September 4, 1926, and died on November 16, 2015 from suffering a stroke.

He was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played for the Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Black Hawks and Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Murray began his career with the Black Hawks in 1949.

In December 1950, Murray was traded to the Montreal Canadiens via Detroit.

Murray had his best statistical years playing in Montreal, leading the league in assists in 1954 to 1955 with 48, and setting a league record for assists with 56 the following season.

Murray was claimed in an Intra-League Draft by Toronto Maple Leafs in 1958, and played there until his retirement in 1962.

In the 1967 to 1968 season, Murray served as coach of the expansion Oakland Seals.

Murray played in the Stanley Cup final in 11 of his 14 seasons in the NHL, winning it five times.

He won it four times with Montreal, in 1953, and from 1956 to 1958, and once with Toronto, in 1962, which was his last season.

Murray was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985.

Murray was born in Sceptre, Saskatchewan, a small village with a population of less than 200, in southwestern Saskatchewan.

In 1944, at the age of 18, Murray moved to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, to play junior hockey.

In his first year, Murray and the Moose Jaw Canucks challenged for the Memorial Cup, after finishing the playoffs with a 15–1 record.

They were unsuccessful in the series against the St. Michael’s Majors. Olmstead had 10 goals and eight assists in the 17 playoff games he played.

Murray played another season in Moose Jaw, before being assigned to the Kansas City Pla-Mors of the United States Hockey League (USHL) by the Montreal Canadiens.

Murray Olmstead passed away at his home in High River, Alberta on November 16, 2015, due to complications from suffering a stroke.