Throwback Thursday: Harold “Mush” March
By Josh Brink
Mush March pumping gas during the 1934 off-season, a month after he had just won the Stanley Cup. Talk about hard working! (Photo: Howe & Arthur)
Back on April 10, 1934 Mush March scored the only goal in the game during a double overtime victory vs. the Detroit Red Wings helping to seal the 34’ Stanley Cup in 3 games to 1. John Devaney and Bert Goldblatt later created a book titled “The Stanley Cup” and spoke with Harold “Mush” March specifically on his account of that goal. In response he said, “Well on that goal that won the series, they had a face-off. I shot it and it went through Cude’s legs (Wilf Cude, the Detroit goaler who later starred with the Montreal Canadiens) and into the net. I didn’t realize it at the second, you know, that we’d won the Stanley Cup, but it was great. I rushed in and got the puck and then the fellows grabbed me and wheeled me on their shoulders all the way around the rink. It was nice to see my name on it for the first time. It’s always nice to be a champion.” (Q
Mush March also helped propel the Chicago Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup Championship once again in 1938. In what is called one of the biggest upset in NHL history, the Chicago Blackhawks beat the favored Toronto Maple Leafs 3 games to 1. Mush March had injured his groin in game 1 which they ended up winning anyway but he was greatly missed in Game 2 when he did not play and the Blackhawks were defeated. Then being the tough guy he was he played in Games 3 & 4 to help seal the deal and become one of the first Blackhawk ever to win two Stanley Cups.
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He continued to play for the Chicago Blackhawks for 4 more seasons but began to decline as he aged and after suffering a bad injury to his knee during the 1943-44 season. Knowing that his knee was not right and was slowing him down he called it quits after 17 season with the Blackhawks in 1945. He did stay in the game though skating as a linesman for 11 years following his retirement. For many years Mush held the recognition as the oldest living former player of the NHL. However, Harold “Mush” March was not invincible and immortal as he may have seemed and passed away on January 9, 2002 at the age of 93.
I hope you enjoyed this Throwback Thursday edition featuring the Chicago Blackhawks great Harold “Mush” March. I’d ask if anyone has a great memory of him still today but much of the fans that would have watched him are probably no longer with us. Regardless though, if you have any memories or were a huge fan of Mush please feel free to share your thoughts of him below in the comments section. Here’s to Mush!!! GO HAWKS!
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