Larry Hillman

Lawrence Morley Hillman (February 5, 1937 – May 31, 2022) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and coach. One of the most travelled players in hockey history, he played for 15 different teams in his 22 professional seasons. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1955 and 1973, and then in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1973 to 1976. After retiring he spent parts of three seasons as a coach in the WHA. Hillman had his name engraved on the Stanley Cup six times during his playing career.

Early life Hillman was born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, on February 5, 1937. He began his junior career by playing one season for the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in 1953. After joining the Hamilton Tiger Cubs in the middle of the 1953–54 season, he joined the Detroit Red Wings in 1955. against the New York Rangers at Detroit Olympia. He won his first Stanley Cup championship with the franchise later that year, becoming the youngest player to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup, at 18 years, two months, nine days old. This is a record that cannot be broken under the current rules, as a player must be 18 years old by September 15 to be eligible to play in the NHL that season. He split the following season between the Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League (AHL) and Detroit. in a 3–3 tie with New York at Boston Garden. He led the league with 70 games played that season.

Following the 1967–68 season, Hillman signed with the expansion Minnesota North Stars who later traded Hillman to the Montreal Canadiens, During the 1969–70 season, he again led the NHL in games played (76).

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1952–53 Windsor Spitfires OHA 56 2 4 6 39 — — — — — 1953–54 Hamilton Tiger Cubs OHA 58 6 14 20 99 7 0 2 2 10 1954–55 Hamilton Tiger Cubs OHA 49 5 20 25 106 3 0 1 1 9 1954–55 Detroit Red Wings NHL 6 0 0 0 2 3 0 1 1 9 1955–56 Detroit Red Wings NHL 47 0 3 3 53 10 0 1 1 6 1955–56 Buffalo Bisons AHL 15 1 3 4 21 — — — — — 1956–57 Detroit Red Wings NHL 16 1 2 3 4 — — — — — 1956–57 Edmonton Flyers WHL 46 4 2 6 87 8 0 4 4 2 1957–58 Boston Bruins NHL 70 3 19 22 60 11 0 2 2 6 1958–59 Boston Bruins NHL 55 3 10 13 19 7 0 1 1 0 1959–60 Boston Bruins NHL 2 0 1 1 2 — — — — — 1959–60 Providence Reds AHL 70 12 31 43 159 5 0 1 1 4 1960–61 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 62 3 10 13 59 5 0 0 0 0 1961–62 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 5 0 0 0 4 — — — — — 1961–62 Rochester Americans AHL 26 1 14 15 16 — — — — — 1962–63 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 5 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 1962–63 Springfield Indians AHL 65 5 23 28 56 — — — — — 1963–64 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 33 0 4 4 31 11 0 0 0 2 1963–64 Rochester Americans AHL 32 1 18 19 48 — — — — — 1964–65 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 2 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 1964–65 Rochester Americans AHL 71 9 43 52 98 10 3 5 8 31 1965–66 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 48 3 25 28 34 4 1 1 2 6 1965–66 Rochester Americans AHL 22 2 20 22 34 — — — — — 1966–67 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 55 4 19 23 40 12 1 2 3 6 1966–67 Rochester Americans AHL 12 1 12 13 16 — — — — — 1967–68 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 55 3 17 20 13 — — — — — 1967–68 Rochester Americans AHL 6 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 1968–69 Minnesota North Stars NHL 12 1 5 6 0 — — — — — 1968–69 Montreal Canadiens NHL 25 0 5 5 17 1 0 0 0 0 1969–70 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 76 5 26 31 73 — — — — — 1970–71 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 73 3 13 16 39 4 0 2 2 2 1971–72 Los Angeles Kings NHL 22 1 2 3 11 — — — — — 1971–72 Buffalo Sabres NHL 43 1 11 12 58 — — — — — 1972–73 Buffalo Sabres NHL 78 5 24 29 56 6 0 0 0 8 1973–74 Cleveland Crusaders WHA 44 5 21 26 37 — — — — — 1974–75 Cleveland Crusaders WHA 77 0 16 16 83 5 1 3 4 8 1975–76 Winnipeg Jets WHA 71 1 12 13 62 12 0 2 2 32 WHA totals 192 6 49 55 182 17 1 5 6 40 NHL totals 790 36 196 232 579 74 2 9 11 36 Sources:

Coaching record Team Year Regular season Postseason G W L OTL Pts Finish W L Win% ResultWPG1977–7880502821021st in WHA8 1 Won Avco Cup (NEW)WPG1978–79612827662(fired) — — — —Total 14178558 8 1 Source:

Achievements Award Year(s) Stanley Cup champion (as player)1955, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1969 Calder Cup champion (as player)1965 Avco World Trophy (as player)1976Avco World Trophy (as coach)1978