Bill Juzda
Encyclopedia
William Juzda was a Canadian professional ice hockey defencemen from Winnipeg, Manitoba. He played with the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers of the National Hockey League and won two Stanley Cup
s with the Leafs in 1949 and 1951. Although not a prolific goal scorer Juzda built a reputation as one of hockey's hardest hitters. http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=13146
helping the Thistles earn a trip to the Memorial Cup
final in 1940. He was called up by the New York Rangers
during the 1940-41 season but spent a good part of the year with their AHL
affiliate, the Philadelphia Rockets
. He appeared in 45 games with the Rangers during the 1941-42 season. Juzda put his NHL
career on hold when he volunteered for World War II service with the Royal Canadian Air Force
(R.C.A.F.). He maintained his connection with hockey by playing for the R.C.A.F. hockey team in the Winnipeg National Defense Hockey League (WNDHL).
and was re-signed by the New York Rangers
in time for the 1946 season. He would appear in another 137 games with the Rangers before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs
in a multi-player deal in time for the 1947 season. With the Leafs, Juzda would win his two Stanley Cup
s in 1949 and 1951 playing alongside legendary Leaf team mates that included Ted "Teeder" Kennedy, Bill Barilko
and Howie Meeker
. He appeared in a total of 211 games with the Leafs. He left the NHL after the 1952 season.
in 1952 and earned an AHL 2nd team All-Star selection. In 1953 he returned to Winnipeg to play for the Winnipeg Maroons
for ten seasons making two Allan Cup final appearances. The Maroons toured Czechoslovakia where hockey veterans still refer to a bone-rattling body check as a “Juzda”. Also in the mid-fifties Juzda had brief stops with Intermediate hockey clubs, the Brandon Wheat Kings
and the Pine Falls Paper Kings. While Juzda officially retired from hockey after 1963, he played old-timers’ hockey well into his 70’s.
Juzda coached hockey from levels midget to senior. Until his death, Juzda resided in Winnipeg, MB and still wore his Stanley Cup Ring from the 1948–1949 season. http://www.worldcoast.ca/blog_entry/bill_juzda He was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
in 1992. http://www.halloffame.mb.ca/honoured/1992/bJuzda.htm He died on February 17, 2008.
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
s with the Leafs in 1949 and 1951. Although not a prolific goal scorer Juzda built a reputation as one of hockey's hardest hitters. http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=13146
Early years and pre-war NHL career
Juzda began his hockey career in the Western Junior Hockey League with the Elmwood Maple Leafs and Kenora ThistlesKenora Thistles (1926–1940)
The Kenora Thistles were a Manitoba Junior Hockey League team playing in the Canadian town of Kenora, Ontario, on the Manitoba border.-History:...
helping the Thistles earn a trip to the Memorial Cup
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
final in 1940. He was called up by the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
during the 1940-41 season but spent a good part of the year with their AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
affiliate, the Philadelphia Rockets
Philadelphia Rockets
The Philadelphia Rockets were a minor professional ice hockey team based in the Philadelphia Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Rockets played for three seasons in American Hockey League from 1946 to 1949...
. He appeared in 45 games with the Rangers during the 1941-42 season. Juzda put his NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
career on hold when he volunteered for World War II service with the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
(R.C.A.F.). He maintained his connection with hockey by playing for the R.C.A.F. hockey team in the Winnipeg National Defense Hockey League (WNDHL).
NHL career after WWII
At the conclusion of the war, Juzda was discharged from military service and he returned to hockey full time. He joined the New Haven Ramblers of the AHLAmerican Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
and was re-signed by the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
in time for the 1946 season. He would appear in another 137 games with the Rangers before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in a multi-player deal in time for the 1947 season. With the Leafs, Juzda would win his two Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
s in 1949 and 1951 playing alongside legendary Leaf team mates that included Ted "Teeder" Kennedy, Bill Barilko
Bill Barilko
William "Bashin' Bill" Barilko was a Canadian ice hockey player who played his entire National Hockey League career for the Toronto Maple Leafs.- Personal life :Barilko was of Ukrainian descent and had a brother, Alex, and sister, Anne....
and Howie Meeker
Howie Meeker
Howard William Meeker, C.M. is a former right winger in the National Hockey League, youth coach and educator in ice hockey and television sports announcer as well as a former Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament...
. He appeared in a total of 211 games with the Leafs. He left the NHL after the 1952 season.
Career after the NHL
Juzda played for the Pittsburgh Hornets of the AHLAmerican Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
in 1952 and earned an AHL 2nd team All-Star selection. In 1953 he returned to Winnipeg to play for the Winnipeg Maroons
Winnipeg Maroons (ice hockey)
The Winnipeg Maroons were an ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The 1964 team beat the Woodstock Athletics to win the Allan Cup, the championship trophy for senior hockey in Canada....
for ten seasons making two Allan Cup final appearances. The Maroons toured Czechoslovakia where hockey veterans still refer to a bone-rattling body check as a “Juzda”. Also in the mid-fifties Juzda had brief stops with Intermediate hockey clubs, the Brandon Wheat Kings
Brandon Wheat Kings
The Brandon Wheat Kings are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Brandon, Manitoba. They compete in the Western Hockey League, and joined the league in the 1967–68 season. Prior to that they played in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and were known as the Brandon Elks for a short time in the...
and the Pine Falls Paper Kings. While Juzda officially retired from hockey after 1963, he played old-timers’ hockey well into his 70’s.
Juzda coached hockey from levels midget to senior. Until his death, Juzda resided in Winnipeg, MB and still wore his Stanley Cup Ring from the 1948–1949 season. http://www.worldcoast.ca/blog_entry/bill_juzda He was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
The Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, dedicated to the history of sport in Manitoba and honouring the best in sport. The organization began in 1980 and in 1993, a museum was opened in The Forks...
in 1992. http://www.halloffame.mb.ca/honoured/1992/bJuzda.htm He died on February 17, 2008.
Awards and achievements
- AHLAmerican Hockey LeagueThe American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
Second All-Star Team (1953) - Played in NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
All-Star Game (1948 & 1949) - Stanley CupStanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
Championships (1949 & 1951) - Inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and MuseumManitoba Sports Hall of Fame and MuseumThe Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, dedicated to the history of sport in Manitoba and honouring the best in sport. The organization began in 1980 and in 1993, a museum was opened in The Forks...
in 1992 - “Honoured Member” of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of FameManitoba Hockey Hall of FameThe Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum was established in 1985 when the first honoured members were named and plaques were erected in their honour. The first group of inductees was large in order to recognize the accomplishments of Manitoba players, coaches, builders and teams at the...