Eddie Olson
Encyclopedia
Edward F. Olson was a retired ice hockey
player. One of nine brothers from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
, all of whom played college, amateur, pro or Olympic hockey. Eddie started his hockey career playing amateur for the Marquette Sentinels. He soon moved to the Coast Guard Cutters, playing two seasons with other hockey stars John Mariucci
and Frank Brimsek
before being shipped out in 1944. Olson played professionally in the American Hockey League
for the St. Louis Flyers
(1946–1951) and the Cleveland Barons (1951–1955). He was the first American-born player to win the league scoring title in 1953, as well as earning MVP that same year. His final season was as a player–coach, winning the league championship with the Victoria Cougars (1955–1956), as the first American to coach a Canadian team. After his playing career he went on to coach many different amateur and high school teams, and never had a losing season. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
in 1977 and the St. Louis Amateur Hockey Hall of Fame in March 2008.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player. One of nine brothers from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
Upper Peninsula of Michigan
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the northern of the two major land masses that make up the U.S. state of Michigan. It is commonly referred to as the Upper Peninsula, the U.P., or Upper Michigan. It is also known as the land "above the Bridge" linking the two peninsulas. The peninsula is bounded...
, all of whom played college, amateur, pro or Olympic hockey. Eddie started his hockey career playing amateur for the Marquette Sentinels. He soon moved to the Coast Guard Cutters, playing two seasons with other hockey stars John Mariucci
John Mariucci
John Mariucci was an American ice hockey player, administrator and coach. Mariucci was born in Eveleth, Minnesota. He attended the University of Minnesota where he played for both the hockey and football teams. He was named an All-American in hockey in 1940...
and Frank Brimsek
Frank Brimsek
Francis Charles "Mister Zero" Brimsek was an American professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Boston Bruins and Chicago Black Hawks in the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
before being shipped out in 1944. Olson played professionally in the American Hockey League
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...
for the St. Louis Flyers
St. Louis Flyers
The St. Louis Flyers were a minor league ice hockey team, based in St. Louis, Missouri, playing home games at the St. Louis Arena in the city's Central West End, across from Forest Park....
(1946–1951) and the Cleveland Barons (1951–1955). He was the first American-born player to win the league scoring title in 1953, as well as earning MVP that same year. His final season was as a player–coach, winning the league championship with the Victoria Cougars (1955–1956), as the first American to coach a Canadian team. After his playing career he went on to coach many different amateur and high school teams, and never had a losing season. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
United States Hockey Hall of Fame
The United States Hockey Hall of Fame was established in 1973 with the goal of preserving the rich history of the game in the United States while recognizing the extraordinary contributions of select players, coaches, administrators, officials and teams....
in 1977 and the St. Louis Amateur Hockey Hall of Fame in March 2008.