Johnny Sheppard

Joseph John Oswald "Jake" Sheppard (July 27, 1902 – August 28, 1969) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played nine seasons in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Cougars, New York Americans, Boston Bruins, and Chicago Black Hawks from 1926 to 1934. Johnny was the brother of the former NHL player, Frank Sheppard. He was born in Montreal, Quebec but grew up in Selkirk, Manitoba.

Playing career Sheppard began his career with the Selkirk Jr. Fisherman of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and Edmonton Eskimos of the Western Canada Hockey League. He joined the Detroit Cougars in the team's inaugural season of 1926–27, in which he played 43 games and led the team in goals (13), assists (8), points (21), and penalty minutes (60). On November 22, 1927, Sheppard scored the first goal at the new Detroit Olympia against Ottawa Senators' goaltender Alex Connell.

Sheppard was traded to the New York Americans, where he played five seasons and posted career highs in goals (17 in 1932–33) and points (29 in 1929–30). He also played for the Bronx Tigers of the Canadian-American Hockey League in 1931–32. Before his final NHL season in 1933–34, Sheppard was traded from the Americans to the Bruins, who released him after four games. He signed with the Black Hawks and helped the team win the Stanley Cup.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1918–19 Selkirk Jr. Fishermen MJHL — — — — — — — — — — 1919–20 Selkirk Jr. Fishermen MJHL — — — — — — — — — — 1919–20 Selkirk Jr. Fishermen M-Cup — — — — — 4 3 3 6 0 1920–21 Selkirk Jr. Fishermen MJHL — — — — — — — — — — 1921–22 Selkirk Fishermen MHL 11 10 2 12 19 — — — — — 1922–23 Edmonton Eskimos WCHL 21 1 1 2 6 2 0 0 0 0 1923–23 Edmonton Eskimos St-Cup — — — — — 1 0 0 0 0 1923–24 Edmonton Eskimos WCHL 25 6 2 8 14 — — — — — 1924–25 Edmonton Eskimos WCHL 28 14 4 18 26 — — — — — 1925–26 Edmonton Eskimos WHL 23 7 7 14 16 2 1 0 1 2 1926–27 Detroit Cougars NHL 43 13 8 21 60 — — — — — 1927–28 Detroit Cougars NHL 44 10 10 20 40 — — — — — 1928–29 New York Americans NHL 43 5 4 9 38 2 0 0 0 0 1929–30 New York Americans NHL 43 14 15 29 32 — — — — — 1930–31 New York Americans NHL 42 5 8 13 16 — — — — — 1931–32 New York Americans NHL 5 1 0 1 2 — — — — — 1931–32 Bronx Tigers Can-Am 33 17 11 28 27 2 1 0 1 2 1932–33 New York Americans NHL 46 17 9 26 32 — — — — — 1933–34 Boston Bruins NHL 4 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1933–34 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 38 3 4 7 4 8 0 0 0 0 1934–35 Seattle Seahawks NWHL 36 6 17 23 38 5 2 2 4 0 1935–36 Seattle Seahawks NWHL 39 13 10 23 29 4 2 4 6 2 WCHL/WHL totals 97 28 14 42 62 4 1 0 1 2 NHL totals 308 68 58 126 224 10 0 0 0 0

Awards and achievements Stanley Cup Championships (1934)