Pete Babando

Peter Joseph Babando (May 10, 1925 – February 19, 2020) was an American-born Canadian ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League with all four of the United States–based Original Six teams (Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Black Hawks and New York Rangers).

The son of Italian immigrants, Babando was born in Braeburn-Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania. His family briefly moved back to Italy before settling in South Porcupine, Ontario, when he was a youngster.

Babando died on February 19, 2020, at the age of 94.

Career During six NHL seasons, Babando scored 86 goals, and 73 assists (for 159 points) in 351 regular season games. On April 23, 1950, in game seven of the Stanley Cup Final, he scored the Cup-clinching goal as a member of the Red Wings, to defeat the New York Rangers at 8:31 of the second overtime. As of 2022, it remains the only game seven of the Stanley Cup Final to go multiple overtimes. At the time, he was one of the few American-born players in the NHL. The goal was the third and final Stanley Cup playoff goal in Babando's career. About three months later, Babando was traded to the Chicago Black Hawks as part of a nine-player deal. Babando was also a member of the Clinton Comets of the Eastern Hockey League.

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1943–44 Galt Red Wings OHA-Jr. 6 2 0 2 10 4 1 2 3 2 1944–45 Galt Red Wings OHA-Jr. 19 13 10 23 30 — — — — — 1945–46 Boston Olympics EAHL 32 25 10 35 50 12 8 8 16 10 1946–47 Hershey Bears AHL 51 19 26 45 81 11 2 0 2 0 1947–48 Boston Bruins NHL 60 23 11 34 52 5 1 1 2 2 1948–49 Boston Bruins NHL 58 19 14 33 34 4 0 0 0 2 1949–50 Detroit Red Wings NHL 56 6 6 12 25 8 2 2 4 2 1950–51 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 70 18 19 37 36 — — — — — 1951–52 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 49 11 14 25 29 — — — — — 1952–53 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 29 5 5 10 14 — — — — — 1952–53 New York Rangers NHL 29 4 4 8 4 — — — — — 1953–54 Buffalo Bisons AHL 63 21 43 64 46 3 2 0 2 2 1954–55 Buffalo Bisons AHL 59 20 30 50 61 10 5 6 11 6 1955–56 Buffalo Bisons AHL 59 26 19 45 65 5 1 1 2 2 1956–57 Buffalo Bisons AHL 33 7 9 16 30 — — — — — 1957–58 North Bay Trappers NOHA 16 9 8 17 44 — — — — — 1958–59 Whitby Dunlops OHA-Sr. 50 22 27 49 28 9 3 5 8 8 1958–59 Whitby Dunlops Al-Cup — — — — — 12 3 5 8 8 1959–60 Whitby Dunlops OHA-Sr. 53 28 34 62 48 10 8 3 11 12 1960–61 Clinton Comets EHL 1 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 1961–62 Clinton Comets EHL 67 43 68 111 37 6 2 3 5 4 1962–63 Clinton Comets EHL 66 55 83 138 26 13 9 22 31 16 1963–64 Clinton Comets EHL 68 26 65 91 34 15 12 11 23 34 1964–65 Clinton Comets EHL 61 37 65 102 26 11 8 6 14 2 1965–66 Clinton Comets EHL 1 1 0 1 0 — — — — — 1966–67 Clinton Comets EHL 71 39 49 88 101 9 2 4 6 4 NHL totals 351 86 73 159 194 17 3 3 6 6 EAHL/EHL totals 367 226 340 566 276 66 41 54 95 70 AHL totals 265 93 127 220 283 29 10 7 17 10