Rene Trudell

Joseph Rene Edward Trudell (January 31, 1919 – July 25, 1984) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 129 games in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers between 1946 and 1948. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1938 to 1949, was spent in the minor leagues.

Biography Born in Mariapolis, Manitoba, Trudell served in the Canadian military during the Second World War. Following the war, Trudell joined the New York Rangers senior affiliate, the New York Rovers playing on a line with fellow Manitobans Cal Gardner and Church Russell. Described by the press as 'flashy', the trio were dominate, with all three players being called up to the Rangers and making their debuts on February 10, 1946. From their debut, the three remained intact as a line until December 1947, with the unit being nicknamed 'Whiz Kids' and the 'rover-boy line.'

After spending parts of three seasons with the Rangers, on April 26, 1948, Trudell was traded to the reigning Stanley Cup champion Toronto Maple Leafs, alongside Gardner, Bill Juzda, and the rights to Frank Mathers for Wally Stanowski and Elwyn Morris, who subsequently sold him to the Springfield Indians, where he would play for a final season before retiring at the age of 30.

Ultimately Trudell spent his entire NHL career with the Rangers, scoring 24 goals and 28 assists for 52 points across 129 career games.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1935–36 West Kildonan North Stars MJHL 2 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 1936–37 Winnipeg Canadians MJHL 15 17 7 24 7 — — — — — 1937–38 Portage la Prairie Terriers MJHL 21 14 14 28 20 — — — — — 1937–38 Hudson's Bay Seniors MJHL 5 0 1 1 0 4 0 0 0 4 1938–39 Portage la Prairie Terriers MJHL 18 12 11 23 40 3 1 0 1 6 1939–40 Harringay Racers ENL — 20 15 35 — — — — — — 1940–41 Toledo Babcocks MOHL 22 8 21 29 46 2 2 0 2 4 1941–42 Yorkton Terriers S–SSHL 30 11 28 39 62 — — — — — 1942–43 Winnipeg RCAF WNDHL 13 6 12 18 26 5 1 1 2 6 1942–43 Winnipeg RCAF Al-Cup — — — — — 12 4 13 17 30 1943–44 Winnipeg RCAF WNDHL 9 5 0 5 20 — — — — — 1944–45 Winnipeg RCAF WNDHL 10 12 3 15 6 2 0 0 0 6 1945–46 New York Rovers EAHL 40 29 32 61 44 — — — — — 1945–46 New York Rangers NHL 16 3 5 8 4 — — — — — 1946–47 New York Rangers NHL 59 8 16 24 38 — — — — — 1947–48 New York Rangers NHL 54 13 7 20 30 5 0 0 0 2 1948–49 Springfield Indians AHL 48 18 28 46 34 3 3 3 6 0 NHL totals 129 24 28 52 72 5 0 0 0 2