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).

Pete Babando
Born	(1925-05-10)May 10, 1925 Braeburn, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	February 19, 2020(2020-02-19) (aged 94) Timmins, Ontario, Canada
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	187 lb (85 kg; 13 st 5 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Boston Bruins Detroit Red Wings Chicago Black Hawks New York Rangers
Playing career	1945–1967

The son of Italian immigrants, Babando was born in Braeburn-Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania.^[1] His family briefly moved back to Italy before settling in South Porcupine, Ontario, when he was a youngster.^[2]

Babando died on February 19, 2020, at the age of 94.^[3]

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 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, 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 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals to go multiple overtimes.^[4] 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.^[5] 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

References

1. "NHL journeyman Pete Babando scored dramatic Stanley Cup-winning goal".
2. "A Game-7 hero to call our own".
3. @jeaner4789 (20 February 2020). "@NHL just wanted to inform the NHL fans that former NHL alumni Pete Babando has past away[sic] at the age of 94. He play…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
4. "Babando, first to score OT goal in Game 7 of Cup Final, dies at 94". NHL.com. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
5. Clinton, Jared (February 20, 2020). "Pete Babando, first Game 7 overtime hero in Stanley Cup final history, passes away at 94". TheHockeyNews. Retrieved May 22, 2020.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
• Picture of Pete Babando's Name on the 1950 Stanley Cup Plaque
• Sports Heros (Timmins)