Blackhawks Top 100- #74-Moose Vasko

Jun 1, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of a Chicago Blackhawks statue outside before game seven of the Western Conference Final of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Los Angeles Kings at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

We’re heading into the dog days of the offseason, counting the days until the Chicago Blackhawks 2014 Season kicks off. We’re going to do a Top 100 list of all time Chicago Blackhawks. It’s a fun way to pass the time and take a stroll down Memory Lane.

Moose Vasko– 1956-1966

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Playoffs

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Elmer Vasko got his nickname from the Chicago Stadium crowd that chanted Moose when he took the ice for his enormous size for a player in the late 50’s and early 60’s.  Moose Vasko was 6 foot 2 inches and he towered over most players of his day kind of like Zdeno Chara does today.  Vasko teamed up with Blackhawks legend Pierre Pilote as one of the best defenseman tandems of the day.

The highlight of Vasko career of course came during the 1961 season when he along with the very youthful Chicago Blackhawks team won the 1961 Stanley Cup.  Vasko played in the other dark age of Blackhawks hockey in the late 50’s so helping the team turn from losers to Champions will always be his biggest achievement.

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Vasko was a big stay at home defenseman and used his size to his advantage even if he wasn’t overly physical.  Vasko also was part of the original Minnesota North Stars team in 1967.  Vasko and the other young Hawks biggest disappointment was only winning the Cup once, but he will always be a Champion with one of the best nicknames in franchise history.

Vasko doesn’t have All-time stats, but he was a very good player on the 1961 Stanley Cup team, played a decade of hockey in Chicago, and lands at #74 on our All-Time List.

moose vasko (picture courtesy of fanbase.com)

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