Johnny Gottselig

Johannes "Johnny" Gottselig (June 24, 1905 – May 15, 1986) was a professional ice hockey left winger who played 16 seasons for the Chicago Black Hawks of the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1928 and 1945. He was the second player born in the Russian Empire to play in the NHL. Emil Iverson was the first European-born Chicago Blackhawks head coach in 1932 (Copenhagen, Denmark) and John became the second approximately 13 years later.

He was the second European-born captain of a cup-winning team in the league's history (Scotland-born Charlie Gardiner was the first in 1934). He won two Stanley Cups in his playing career: in 1934, and 1938 (as captain). He was also with Chicago in 1961, as Director of Public Relations, when the Black Hawks won their third Stanley Cup. Gottselig was included on the team, but his name was not engraved onto the Stanley Cup. Gottselig also served as a baseball manager of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL), where he won the first championship with the Racine Belles in 1943. He also managed the Peoria Redwings in 1947 and the Kenosha Comets from 1949 to 1950.

Early life

Gottselig was born along the banks of Dnieper River in a tiny German Catholic village of Klosterdorf in the Swedish district in the Kherson Governorate of the Russian Empire and emigrated to Canada the same year. He grew up in Regina, Saskatchewan. In later years, he would say he was from the better-known city of Odessa which was the largest centre in the general vicinity of his birthplace. His parents were Albert Gottselig and Margarethe Weber.

Career

He played junior hockey with the Regina Pats before joining Chicago. Gottselig's entire NHL career was with Chicago, playing 589 career NHL games, scoring 176 goals and 195 assists for 371 points. After his hockey playing career was finished, he became the team's head coach. After coaching, he stayed on as the team's Director of Public Relations.

Gottselig also served for several years as a manager of women's baseball teams in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. He guided the Racine Belles in 1943–1944, the Peoria Redwings in 1947 and the Kenosha Comets in 1949–1950. He later became an executive with the Elmhurst Chicago Stone Company.

He died from a heart attack in Chicago on May 15, 1986, and was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Evanston.

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1923–24 Regina Pats S-SJHL 6 6 0 6 6 — — — — — 1924–25 Regina Pats S-SJHL 5 18 2 20 0 — — — — — 1924–25 Regina Victorias S-SSHL 1 1 0 1 2 — — — — — 1925–26 Regina Victorias S-SSHL 16 8 1 9 2 — — — — — 1926–27 Regina Capitals PrHL 32 23 7 30 21 2 1 0 1 0 1927–28 Winnipeg Maroons AHA 39 15 4 19 24 — — — — — 1928–29 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 44 5 3 8 26 — — — — — 1929–30 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 39 21 4 25 28 2 0 0 0 4 1930–31 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 42 20 12 32 14 9 3 3 6 2 1931–32 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 44 13 15 28 28 2 0 0 0 2 1932–33 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 41 11 11 22 6 — — — — — 1933–34 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 48 16 14 30 4 8 4 3 7 4 1934–35 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 48 19 18 37 16 2 0 0 0 0 1935–36 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 40 14 15 29 4 2 0 2 2 0 1936–37 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 47 9 21 30 10 — — — — — 1937–38 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 48 13 19 32 22 10 5 3 8 4 1938–39 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 48 16 23 39 15 — — — — — 1939–40 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 39 8 15 23 7 2 0 1 1 0 1940–41 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 5 1 4 5 5 — — — — — 1940–41 Kansas City Americans AHA 13 9 6 15 2 8 3 1 4 2 1941–42 Kansas City Americans AHA 40 25 35 60 22 6 2 5 7 2 1942–43 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 10 2 6 8 12 — — — — — 1943–44 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 45 8 15 23 6 6 1 1 2 2 1944–45 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — NHL totals 589 176 195 371 203 43 13 13 26 18 AHA totals 92 49 45 94 48 14 5 6 11 4

NHL coaching record Team Year Regular season Postseason G W L T Pts Finish Result Chicago Black Hawks 1944–45 49 13 29 7 33 5th in NHL Missed playoffs Chicago Black Hawks 1945–46 50 23 20 7 53 3rd in NHL Lost in semi-finals (0-4 vs. MTL) Chicago Black Hawks 1946–47 60 19 37 4 42 6th in NHL Missed playoffs Chicago Black Hawks 1947–48 28 7 19 2 16 (fired) —NHL Total 187 62 105 20 144 0-4 (.000)

AAGPBL managerial record