Samuel "Sam" Rothschild (October 16, 1899 – April 15, 1987) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 102 games in the National Hockey League (NHL). Rothschild was the first Jewish player in the NHL.[1][2] He played for the Montreal Maroons, Pittsburgh Pirates, and New York Americans. He was the last surviving member of the 1926 Stanley Cup champion Maroons.

Samuel Rothschild
Rothschild with the Montreal Maroons
Born (1899-10-16)October 16, 1899
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Died April 15, 1987(1987-04-15) (aged 87)
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Weight 145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for NHL
Montreal Maroons
Pittsburgh Pirates
New York Americans
Playing career 1924–1928

Early life

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Rothschild was born in Sudbury, Ontario, to Daniel and Annie Rothschild, the city's first Jewish settlers.[3] Daniel Rothschild was a merchant in the city, whose retail and office property is listed on the city's register of historic properties.[4]

Playing career

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Rothschild played hockey in the Montreal area for Montreal Harmonia, McGill University, and the Montreal Stars before returning home to play for the junior Sudbury Wolves in 1919. He played the next four seasons with the senior Sudbury Wolves before joining the expansion Montreal Maroons in 1924, becoming the first Jewish player in the NHL.[5] He played three seasons with the Maroons before being sold to the Pirates in 1927.[6] He finished the 1927–28 season with the New York Americans after being suspended by the Pirates in December 1927.[6][7] It was his last season in the NHL.

Post-NHL career

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Following his retirement from the NHL Rothschild took up coaching, and coached the junior Sudbury Wolves to the 1932 Memorial Cup championship. He married Eva Yackman in 1933.[3]

He was also a prominent supporter of curling in the city, including stints as president of the Northern Ontario Curling Association and the Canadian Curling Association from 1957 to 1958, and securing the city's status as host city of the 1953 Brier.[3] He was later inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame.[3]

As well, he served for two years on Sudbury's city council.[3] He died at a hospital in Sudbury on April 15, 1987.[8]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1915–16 Sudbury Midgets NOHA
1916–17 Montreal Harmonia QAAA 9 16 0 16
1917–18 Montreal 65th Regiment MCHL
1917–18 Montreal Vickers MCHL
1918–19 Montreal Vickers MCHL 1 5 0 5
1918–19 Montreal Stars MCHL 5 2 3 5 6
1919–20 Sudbury Cub Wolves NOJHA 1 0 0 0 0
1920–21 Sudbury Wolves NOHA 9 10 2 12 0
1921–22 Sudbury Wolves NOHA 6 5 5 10 3
1922–23 Sudbury Wolves NOHA 7 6 4 10 22 2 1 0 1 2
1923–24 Sudbury Wolves NOHA
1924–25 Montreal Maroons NHL 28 5 4 9 5
1925–26 Montreal Maroons NHL 33 2 1 3 8 4 0 0 0 0
1925–26 Montreal Maroons St-Cup 4 0 0 0 0
1926–27 Montreal Maroons NHL 22 1 1 2 8 2 0 0 0 0
1927–28 Pittsburgh Pirates NHL 12 0 0 0 0
1927–28 New York Americans NHL 5 0 0 0 4
NHL totals 100 8 6 14 25 6 0 0 0 0

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Ontario Jewish Communities: Sudbury - Sports". Ontario Jewish Archives. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  2. ^ The Big Book of Hockey for Kids – Eric Zweig – Google Books
  3. ^ a b c d e Sam Rothschild at Greater Sudbury Heritage Museums.
  4. ^ Early Community History: Sudbury, First Jewish Settlers. Ontario Jewish Archives.
  5. ^ Day by Day in Jewish Sports History – Bob Wechsler – Google Books
  6. ^ a b "Unconditional Release of Sammy Rothschild". The Globe. December 30, 1927. p. 13.
  7. ^ "Sammy Rothschild Goes To New York Americans". The Globe. January 6, 1928. p. 6.
  8. ^ DEATHS The Globe and Mail (1936-Current); Apr 18, 1987; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail pg. A12
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