Chapleau born Ron Schock played impressive 909 games in National Hockey League

Ron Schock, who was born in Chapleau in 1943, but moved with his family to Terrace Bay in 1948 where he started his hockey career played an impressive 909 games in the National Hockey League from 1964 to 1978.

Inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1990, an article on its web site says that in Terrace Bay he developed his "outstanding skills" which saw him go on to enjoy a successful NHL career.

It adds that given there was no junior or juvenile league there while Ron was growing up, "Ron found himself playing in a men's intermediate league at the age of 16 advancing to to the Western Canadian finals."

A Boston scout observed Ron's talents and he moved into the Bruins organization and he was sent to play with  Junior 'A' Niagara Falls Flyers. He also played with the Junior 'A' Kingston Frontenacs, the article said. He had a strong career with the Flyers.

Ron's grandparents were the late Mr. and Mrs. Tom Edwards a Chapleau pioneer family. His sister Norma was in the same grade as me at Chapleau Public School, and it surprised us when they moved in 1948. 

Ron played for several NHL teams starting with the Boston Bruins then on to the St. Louis Blues. While he was there while attending a hockey dinner he was asked what team he would "least" like to be traded to. He replied the New York Rangers or Pittsburgh Penguins. Two days later he was traded to Pittsburgh. Such is the hockey world.

On the web site 'Greatest Hockey Legends.com" Ron told Joe Pelletier, "That is a trade I'll never forget. I had been playing golf with the Blues' owner, Sid Salomon, on a Friday and he had been telling me how well the team seemed to be going and how he was looking forward to having me on the team the next season. The following Monday, I was traded to Pittsburgh!"

Ron Shock is perhaps most famous for his double overtime "Midnight Goal" that won game 7 for the Blues over the Minnesota North Stars on May 3, 1968, and sent the Blues to the Stanley Cup finals in the first year of the NHL expansion. Arguably, this was a major contribution to the early popularity of the St.  Louis Blues franchise, according to Wikipedia.

Ron also noted in his interview with Mr. Pelletier that  like most players who played just prior to the original expansion in 1967, he  took great pride in the fact that he made the NHL in the era of only 6 teams.

"I knew I was lucky to be with the Bruins, let alone being in the NHL. After all, there was only 120 jobs available in the NHL those days. You had to be VERY good to make it. "I think any of us who made it at that time just wanted to be wanted by someone."

He also told Mr. Pelletier: "It was a different time for the player then. This was still the time before using jets was the in thing to do. At that time we still took trains. Because of that I think teams were closer because they spent more time together. I can still remember a lot of the old stories the veterans used to tell".

Although he had said he did not want to be traded to the Penguins, Ron spent eight successful years there which included leading the team as Captain. His best season was in 1974-75 when he earned 86 points.

When he retired Ron had played in 909 games with 166 goals and 351 assists for 517 points.

Ron and Adie Lafrance, Floyd Curry and Jason Ward so far are the only Chapleau born who played in the National Hockey League. My email is mj.morris@live.ca.