Delvecchio, Alexander P.
Hockey
b. Dec. 4, 1931, Ft. William, ONT
When Delvecchio replaced Sid Abel, centering Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay on Detroit's "Production Line" in 1952, production actually improved. Howe and Lindsay were the NHL's two top scorers, and Delvecchio finished fifth with 16 goals and 43 assists. During his twenty-four seasons in the NHL, all with the Red Wings, he was among the league's top ten scorers eleven times and he won the Lady Byng Trophy for combining skill and gentlemanly conduct three times, in 1959, 1966, and 1969.
The son of Italian immigrants, Delvecchio originally joined the Red Wings for one game in 1950, right out of junior hockey, but was then sent to the minor leagues for seasoning. He rejoined the team in 1951 and was there to stay until his retirement after the 1973-74 season.
In the seventh game of the 1955 Stanley Cup finals against Montreal, Delvecchio scored Detroit's first and last goals, assisting on the other, for a 3-1 victory.