Samuel Rothschild

Samuel "Sam" Rothschild (October 16, 1899 – April 15, 1987) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 102 games in the National Hockey League (NHL). Rothschild was the first Jewish player in the NHL. He played for the Montreal Maroons, Pittsburgh Pirates, and New York Americans. He was the last surviving member of the 1926 Stanley Cup champion Maroons.

Early life Rothschild was born in Sudbury, Ontario, to Daniel and Annie Rothschild, the city's first Jewish settlers. Daniel Rothschild was a merchant in the city, whose retail and office property is listed on the city's register of historic properties.

Playing career Rothschild played hockey in the Montreal area for Montreal Harmonia, McGill University, and the Montreal Stars before returning home to play for the junior Sudbury Wolves in 1919. He played the next four seasons with the senior Sudbury Wolves before joining the expansion Montreal Maroons in 1924, becoming the first Jewish player in the NHL. He played three seasons with the Maroons before being sold to the Pirates in 1927. He finished the 1927–28 season with the New York Americans after being suspended by the Pirates in December 1927. It was his last season in the NHL.

Post-NHL career Following his retirement from the NHL Rothschild took up coaching, and coached the junior Sudbury Wolves to the 1932 Memorial Cup championship. He married Eva Yackman in 1933.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1915–16 Sudbury Midgets NOHA — — — — — — — — — — 1916–17 Montreal Harmonia QAAA 9 16 0 16 — — — — — — 1917–18 Montreal 65th Regiment MCHL — — — — — — — — — — 1917–18 Montreal Vickers MCHL — — — — — — — — — — 1918–19 Montreal Vickers MCHL 1 5 0 5 — — — — — — 1918–19 Montreal Stars MCHL 5 2 3 5 6 — — — — — 1919–20 Sudbury Cub Wolves NOJHA 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1920–21 Sudbury Wolves NOHA 9 10 2 12 0 — — — — — 1921–22 Sudbury Wolves NOHA 6 5 5 10 3 — — — — — 1922–23 Sudbury Wolves NOHA 7 6 4 10 22 2 1 0 1 2 1923–24 Sudbury Wolves NOHA — — — — — — — — — — 1924–25 Montreal Maroons NHL 28 5 4 9 5 — — — — — 1925–26 Montreal Maroons NHL 33 2 1 3 8 4 0 0 0 0 1925–26 Montreal Maroons St-Cup — — — — — 4 0 0 0 0 1926–27 Montreal Maroons NHL 22 1 1 2 8 2 0 0 0 0 1927–28 Pittsburgh Pirates NHL 12 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1927–28 New York Americans NHL 5 0 0 0 4 — — — — — NHL totals 100 8 6 14 25 6 0 0 0 0