Bobby Schmautz: The Most Hated and Feared of the Big Bad Boston Bruins?
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- čas přidán 2. 04. 2021
- In the words of Dave "Tiger" Williams, "The Boston Bruins had plenty of tough guys, but the difference with Schmautz is that he'd carve your eye out."
In the 1970s, the “Big Bad Bruins” and “Lunchpail Bruins” boasted some of hockey’s toughest players like John Wensink, Terry O’Reilly and Stan Jonathan. But the most feared Bruin of all may have been a 5-foot-9, 155- pound hard shooting right winger winger named Bobby Schmautz.
Let’s take a look back at the great career of the man they called Schmautzie!
Bobby Schmautz’s road to NHL stardom began in Saskatoon, where he was one of three hockey playing brothers alongside Cliff Schamutz (who played briefly in the NHL) and Arnie Schmautz (a star in the Western League).
After three years in the Western League -- mostly with the Los Angeles Blades.
Schmautz joined the Dallas Blackhawks of the Central Pro League and soon after progressed to the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks. After two seasons there, it was back to the minors for Schmautz and a dizzying odyssey of transactions would follow.
Schmautz became a big player for the Canucks in 1972-73 scoring 38 times while also finishing with 71 points and 137 penalty minutes. He represented the Canucks at the 1973 NHL All Star Game.
Schmautz was enjoying another All Star campaign in 1973-74 with 26 goals in his first 49 games. However, in February he was dealt to the Bruins for the rights to centre Mike (Shaky) Walton, winger Fred O’Donnell and center Chris Oddleifson. Interestingly, Canucks GM previously backed out of a deal that would have sent Richie Leduc and Dave Forbes to Vancouver along with Oddleifson. As it turned out, O’Donnell never reported to Vancouver and eventually signed with the WHA New England Whalers.
Schmautz was a perfect fit for the The Bruins, who were seeking RW to play along side John Bucyk and Gregg Sheppard. GM Harry Sinden also looked at looked at Schmautz as a replacement for feisty RW Johnny McKenzie, who jumped to the WHA the previous season.
Schmautz would spend seven seasons in Boston, stringing together five straight campaigns of 20 goals or more, playing mostly for head coach Don Cherry. He made it to the final three times and is best remembered for scoring 11 goals in 14 games in the 1977 playoffs and a year later scoring in overtime against Montreal’s Ken Dryden in game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals to tie the series at 2-2.
Schmautz started the 1979-80 season with Boston but fell out of favor with new coach Fred Creighton and Harry Sinden and was traded to the Edmonton Oilers for future considerations in December. Two months later, was reunited with coach Don Cherry via a trade to the Colorado Rockies.
The following October he rejoined the Vancouver Canucks and, at the age of 35, was second on the team with 27 goals and collected 137 penalty minutes.
He was not re-signed by the Canucks, who were in a youth movement and he was not signed by any other team.
His career was over.
Any discussion of Bobby Schmautz needs to include his penchant agitating opponents.
Examples include aiming his first shot of a game directly at a goalies head and for using his stick as a weapon to fend off bigger foes. In fact, Schmautz was the inspiration for Paul D’amaotos “Dr. Hook” character in the movie “Slapshot.”
It’s no surprise that the wild-eyed Schmautz was despised by opponents.
.
Don Cherry, recalls Schmautz this way:
He was one of those players you just didn't fool with. In training camp, I would tell all the rookies, "If you want to challenge O'Reilly, Jonathan or Wensink, be my guest. But see that little guy over there, just leave him alone."
Then Quebec Nordiques goon Paul Stewart doesn't mince words when recalling Schmautz:
… no one was more ruthless than Schmautz when it came to intentionally inflicting injury … I nearly lost my eye to a deliberate high stick from him one night. I was far from his only victim … He could not have cared less for other players’ safety, nor did he feel an ounce of regret after injuring someone. It wasn’t a heat of the moment thing. It was calculated.”
Schmautz and Stewart engaged in wild stick fight outside the locker rooms in Colorado.
The Boston Herald described Schmautz as a “wiry, long-haired, crooked-nosed hyper-kinetic forward known for his high wrist shot that goalies hated, stick work that earned him the moniker “Dr. Hook” and a maniacal glare that would have scared the devil.”
Loved by teammates, hated by foes, Bobby Schmautz averaged 28 goals per season in his NHL career and played in two NHL All Star games. Those who played along side Schmautz remember him as being tough, talented, feisty -- and a great teammate.
Produced by Mark Willand www.prohockeyalumni.org - Sport
I love this channel, a walk down memory lane. Old Time Hockey.
Thanks, Bob ... Glad you enjoy it!
Im Australian, don't know how I got here but that was awesome little documentary....
how is aussie hockey doing?
Another great video from this channel.
Many people believe the best days were when they first began watching hockey as a kid. This was the era when I started watching. I ended up a flyers fan but this early 70s Bruins squad versus the Canadiens were my first memories. Boston was loaded with toughness and Montreal was loaded with talent. And the NHL was on free network television.
His last name - was such a classic NHL last name.
1977 - he was absolutely awesome ! Rough and rugged.
I recall Jim Robson's comment of Schmautz during a Canuck's game saying that he could wrist a shot over the far end of the glass from beside his own goal. Amazing!
"Bobby Schmaurtz," Was A Tough Fighter on The Ice Too As Researched His Career & Played For A Numerous of Teams & Impressed Me With His Style of Play!" "GOD BLESS HIM & GOD BLESS ALL WHOM CONTRIBUTED TO THIS GREAT GAME OF HOCKEY WE ALL LOVE & PLAYED!"
RIGHT ON!
He was a fan favorite. That crazy slap shot. His style was reminiscent of Eddie Shack.
As a kid I didn't think about player size. Now I see he was on the small side. A bit of Ritche Aprile vibe from the Sopranos. Manson Lamps. Yes he was a hero in VAN. The Slap shot was what we waited for.
Manson lamps 😅😅 Crazy enough to still take an eye out
I remember my grandfather screaming his name in the late 70's when he was a Bruin. No idea he was the inspiration for Dr. Hook in "Slapshot", perfect.
I'm Supreme That's All He Screamed, My Father Is Half Italian & I Couldn't Understand What He Said!" "Now I Do?"
"I'm Sure You Know & Facebook Familiar Stan Jonathan Too Then!"
"I'm Suprised'' That's All He Said!"
Dr. Hook was the inspiration for the mutant “Wolverine” according to the guys that wrote the character for the X-Men comics.
As a Saskatchewanian, this pleases me.
Your "grandfather" you say. Damn...I was doing the same thing around that time. Man, I'm gettin' old
We LOVED this guy in Boston! Rest in peace, Schmautzie.
He is alive !
@Fil Duarte Not as of March 28, 2021 he isn't.
@@SWog617 you are correct, my bad
And that's why I hate the Bruins, some of the dirtiest players I have ever seen
RIP Schmautz
He was only 155lbs. Loved him. I didn’t realize he played in the 70s.
Thee were lots of guys on that team I'd worry about before Bobby. That was one tough team
You got that right! The title is more or less clickbait to see what what the hell he's talking about.
they were all talk. Whenever a real team showed up, the Bruins folded like a cheap suit.
Stan Jonathan and Terry O'Reilly were more feared than Shmautz.
Your work on these mini bios are amazing.
The production and information is delivered so well.
Its difficult to get alot of the deep history of the game represented here on youtube.
Thank you for the time spent on them, don't stop!
Cheers
Much appreciated! I have a strong connection to the players of this era and I am enthused to tell their stories. Thank you!
@@ProHockeyAlumni That feeling is very much apparent in your videos.
Important that somebody tells these players stories, as it is for younger generations to hear of them with that passion and respect.
Legendary legacies.
My favorite Bruin growing up
I use to go to the Seattle Totem games. I loved those jerseys! Wish the Seattle NHL team would have used this name and logo!
I went to Totem games also from 1969-1973 lots of fun.can’t wait for the Kraken to start up next season!
RIP Bobby thank you for the memories
we had seats at the end of the ice high in the loge section and when he was on the ice you had to pay close attention...his shot could find you
on the Canadiens goal the color man was Johnie Pierson who just passed also
Cashman, O'Reilly, McKenzie, Wensink...all there
With all these super stars, you wudda thunk they could have beaten the weakling Habs at least once in 4 tries!!! You score with a stick, not with fists!
Bobby Schmautz...the original Brad Marchand.
I wonder if they used his likeness in any way for the killer in "No Country For Old Men" same haircut and eyes.
Gee...I was thinking that too...the haircut is scary...
The killer in that movie is Javier Bardem. A spanish actor.
He just wouldn't bother tossing a coin.
Dude, thank you for making these videos. It's really cool for me to be able to delve into these old-time 60s-70s players I never had the chance to see, and others who have been more or less forgotten.
Also, I believe this is the guy Drake Batherson gets his 'Schmautzy' nickname from.
Thanks ... love our young fans, who respect the game's history!
With a name like Schmautz, he had to be good.
"Good Point!"
"Not To Forget Whom They Nick Named The Boston Strangulur, I Think Who Was Dom Auwrey After A Downey Brook Bench Brawl When One Of The Opposite Players Was Accidentally Choked Out!"
I see what u did there.
So the guy scores 27 goals . Adds 34 assists in 73 games . And his career is over. Unheard of. God bless Bobby
He tried to stage a mutiny in Vancouver to get Harry Neale fired and it backfired because only himself and the team captain wanted it. Harry subsequently cut him as soon as he got the GM job which was probably the single smartest move Neale ever made.
@@GetBenched2010 well that explains Vancouver but not the other 20 teams. The great Ted Lindsay was the father of the players union which would be far worse to the owners and yet he played 4 more seasons
@@cheltenjones3638 he already had a reputation as a dressing room cancer and clubhouse lawyer well beyond that and was 37 years old. He'd burned his way through 4 teams in one calendar year to boot so nobody wanted him.
but his waterloo was staging a "team party" in Vancouver at the end of the year even though he was cut a few months earlier. 5-6 players attended that one while the rest of the team went to the "official" team party. His attempts to divide the team even when he was no longer with them was likely the final straw and he never played again.
GetBenched ...where did you get that information? It doesn’t evoke any memory of this for me. What connection to the team did you have at that time?
I watched him with the Bruins for many years as a kid and I don't recall this dark side of him, I mostly remember his lightning fast slapshot that always missed, and I can always remember saying "if he could only be accurate just half the times."
Had that mean streak --- just a little guy, he needs to protect himself. THX!
Certainly a favorite when he wore the black and gold. He had a heavy shot for his size. He was a great fit with the Bruins in the 1970's. Different game today with a greater focus on player safety . Recall vividly Schmautzie flying down his wing and ripping a laser of a shot.
Absolutely love your videos from the best era in hockey
Always slapped one at Drydens head to warm up the game
I used to live across the street from him in Coquitlam BC
He was my first Bruins hero as a kid
That’s odd...for YEARS, I would have sworn that I had seen Schmautz skate with the Oakland Seals...
Sadly, he passed on 28 March, 2021, the very same day on which he was born in 1945. RIP
you may being thinking of Paul Shmyr?
Remember when there was bodychecking in the NHL? That was cool.
I saw him play at least one of the seven games he played for the the Rochester Americans!
The opposing hockey team would have certainly said when he took to the ice..."We're up Schmautz creek now!"
Really enjoy all of these videos.
I remember sitting next to the ice near the opponents goal when he was playing for the Seattle Totems in '69-70 I believe. It was when the 'curve-limit' for sticks was still flexible...LOL. He had a wicked hook on that stick and would blast slap shots at or damn near the goalie's head from 8 ft out, and pound 'em off the boards or practically splinter the plexi if he didn't score. Loved having him on our team, he was a force to be reckoned with. R.I.P. Bobby.
super memories and very much appreciated.
When cable tv. came to town channel 38 and the opening banjo use to fire me up I was 8 years old and havent missed many games.im from Ct.Go B's Taylor's hall👍
Talking to Harold Snepsts in Portland back in the late 90’s, he jokingly said “Schmautz still scares him to this day, I avoid his phone calls at all costs”
"Fear Is Good, If Your Not if Your Not The At End Of it!" "Bobby Orr, Stan Jonathan, Bobby Smaurts, John Wiensic, Terry Orielly, Bobby Smaurts, Bobby Orr, & Mike Milbury, Tiger Williams, Larry Robinson, Pierre Bouchard, Cam Neely, & Many More!" "Help Me Out Guys & Girls For Those Whom played & Followed The Great Game Of Hockey!"
Man I loved O'Rielly. He once punched a ref because he didn't like a call and only got a one game suspension lol. Hockey was nuts in the 70's.
@@2buxaslice "We, My Brothers & I Whom Who With & Against & Partied With From Mount Saint Charles High School & Rink, to Providence, LaSalle, Academy, Burriville High School & Rink, Ponaganset High-school Teams, To Boston Garden/Boston Bruins & To Hartford Whalers/Connecticut & Pomphet, Conn. To New York /New York Rangers & Franchise Teams Like New York Islanders!!!"
Schmautz was awesome! A slap shot that would scare the Devil into allowing the puck into the goal. He was a great Bruin! We miss you, Bobby!
he was one of a kind!
These are really well done. Ty!
Glad you think so! I appreciate the feedback.
Who would’ve thought that he was one of the Schmautz brothers ?!
Bobby was a scrappy player and a good scorer but, as a fighter, he wasn't in the same class as O'Reilly, Wensink and Jonathan. Not even close. RIP Bobby, a good Bruin.
True. Not a pure fighter exactly, but he was meaner and angrier, and had no fear of anything. That makes for a dangerous guy.
I loved those bruins teams (still do, but it’s a very different game)
I would take Bobby over the useless stan johnathan any day.
@@valeriethornblade9466 hahaha fool
Mario Tremblay tagged him a good one and I'm no Tremblay fan lol. It's on utube somewhere. Luved the 70s Bruins
@@moemanncann895 I saw the game. It's true. The only fight Trembly ever won.
Another great job 👏
Thank you so much 😀
Quite the warrior. In the reference of him representing the Canucks in the Allstar game and getting the winning goal for the East, how does that work since I think Vancouver is a tad ways west.
For whatever reason, Vancouver played in the East Division.
@@ProHockeyAlumni They put both expansion teams, Sabres and Canucks in the East and moved the Blackhawks to the West. It was done to try to mitigate the awful original expansion draft that basically created a minor league West division resulting in the Blues being swept three years in a row in the cup final. The Hawks were chosen because they finished last in the East in 68-69. Of course the next season, Tony Esposito and Bill White arrived and the Hawks finished first in the East. But too late; the schedule had already been prepared so the Hawks became the best in the West. That's how Vancuver went east!
This channel is a blessing
Intelligent viewers are a blessing, too! Thx - miss Schmautzie 🏒👍
27 goals his last year and no team wanted him....he’d get 5 or 6 million a year today
he was in great shape ... knees were sore but he could still snipe.
He was 35 in '80. I dont think anyone would have paid him that amount at that age.
What was Gretzky earning in his final year in '96 at 35?
I wonder how much they paid Howe at 35?
@@MrJohnnyDistortion Not 1965, not 1980, not 1996.......TODAY he would have been paid 5 or 6 million.
@@daniel213141
NO WAY!!!
Mario Tremblay sure rocked him in the 76 playoffs.
As much as I didn't like Tremblin, he did rock Bobby a couple of good ones. Great commentary by Danny Gallivan in that bout
Another good one. 👍👍thanks.
My dad played with cliff crazy stories he tells
I can only imagine
Captain Hook !!
Bobby Schmautz = Slap Shot - Dr. Hook!!
Great video 👍🏻
Hank Nowak behind Schmautz at the entrance.
Thats when Hockey was at its Best !! Go Bs !!
Schmautz just died 3 weeks ago...
"True Sir!"
Thomas P Sanzi .....I had more than one chat with him back in the early 1980’s in Vancouver.....tough tough guy. RIP.
My kind of hockey player
If their name starts with "Sch".... Life long Flyers fan here and ours was Dave Schultz.
The long bitter feud between O’Reilly and Schultz was like a Viking saga.
Respect, from a Bruins fan.
Yes hell of a bruiser scared the sot benders out of red army. L.o.l APRIL FOOLS
@@ontheroad5317 Right back atcha. I'm also a Sixers fan and in 1983 when the Sixers beat the Celtics to go to the finals in the Garden, Boston fans started chanting, "Beat L.A." to Philly. I don't think there has ever been anything classier in sports.
one of my fave videos is larry robinson using schultz as a punching bag. loved the cringing. flyers put the skill level of the nhl back a decade.
Thats Brad Marchand father
Hahaha.. beauty
dangerous stick man
Nice!
Wonder if he ever played with Paul Schmyr or Stan Smyl.
He died on his 76th birthday this year.
R.I.P.
i was an avid bruins fan, but i have to admit i would cringe when watching schmautz wield that stick--very scary...and i'm not sure the nhl ever suspended him...
I know the NHL has had some weird Divisional and Conference alignments, but how does a Vancouver Canuck score the winning goal in an All-Star game for the "East"?
crazy, but for some reason it all seemed OK back then.
@@ProHockeyAlumni Haha I guess, eh!
“How ya doin’?”
Classic.
Show the fight between him and Mario Tremblay !! Lasted one punch
no way I'm showing that fiasco!
That would be honesty!
with the curved stick he used every shot was in the third upper deck
Stupid thing to do trade FIREY player like Schmautz from Vancouver he lit up the crowd there I know they regretted it later
You should have included his fight with Mario Tremblay, just so that Paul Stewart could get a laugh.
Yes Tremblay just destroyed him. I remember that night May 23, 1978
I wonder if Schmautz still regrets that nod to Tremblay behind the net
Yup. Remembered well. Tremblay was very underrated as being that tough.
@@edwards.6857 he was a scrappy player . What a team those 70s Habs were. You had superstars on first line ( Guy, Jacques, Steve),... third line Doug and prime Gainey absolute best checkers), but in between that second line could score and play tough. Sometimes forgotten playing on that stacked team. Mario scaddled down that right side in OT to set up Lambert, for the biggest moment of his careeer ( maybe Tremblays too) . A fun time to follow Montreal, the best time for sure.
@@chr970 Unfortunately I was a die hard Bruins fan back then as a kid but I would argue that those Canadian teams in the late seventies were probably the greatest team assembled. They had no weakness. They were tough, great defense, and fast. When they beat the Bruins in those years. They beat a team that possibly could have won a cup if those Canadian teams weren't so great. It was like Sham going up against Secretariat.
Big hockey fan here since 1971. Funny, I don't remember Schmautz's tough guy antics when he was a member of the Vancouver Canucks. At the time one of the smallest teams in the NHL. I guess surrounded by the likes of O'reilly Jonathan Milbury etc gives one courage. interesting comment earlier why his career ended so abruptly.
you may be right!
Until he met Mario Tremblay.
Yep the Bruins were never the same in the series after that. The Bruins thought they could bully the Canadiens after tying the series in Game 4.
@@BBQFanNo1 Puh-lease Schmautz losing in a fight he shouldn't have been in wasn't what sunk the Bruins, if it was that simple the Bruins would have happily lost some pride, the Bruins sweat blood to win, Trembley was bigger, and a much better fighter than Schmautz, Montreal had a great team, that's what beat the Bruins, Bobby Schmautz getting beat up by Mario Trembley didn't crush the Bruins.....Get real.
What a Schmautz.
Wasnt that the yr when montreal beat them in a game .
13 / o .
In montreal ,
I had to turn the tube off !
Yeah i winnipeg jets now but but b.s was a cool cat hell of a fighter SCARED the snot benders out out out just about everyone tough. Guys had to try him .no one died .but they call the bad bruins .for nothing thats how many goals my jets scored last night. Jets i luv u. P.m. u great coach i will not die till the jets when Lords Stanley cup.
Bobby “shots on glass”
When you remember holding his card, right.?
The most hated and feared Bruin is Marchand
Fear not the one who licks faces
Feared...nah! Hated...by almost all
Epitome of courage according to Don Cherry
Ironically, Paul Stewart became a referee for many years.
And a good one … he let ‘em play
As a Montreal kid and diehard Habs fan of the day, we loved to hate the Bruins.
gotta respect that
RIP
Tremblay use him as a punching bag
Moral of the story here is, everytime the Canucks make a trade with the Bruins,its a bad one
Lookin like Anton Chigurh on skates
God forbid the Canucks keep a player who gets involved physically and can get points.....
Liked watching him when he was a Canuck.
The one punch KO Mario Tremblay politely served him was awesome.
and that is why I cut it out of the video! what a low-light for Schmautzie
mario tremblay kicked his ass
yes indeed he did.
Why leave out the pummeling he received from Mario Tremblay?
Worst Bruin? Kenny "The Rat" Linseman should at least get an honorable mention.
Most hated Bruin: John Wensink. (hated O'Reilly too)
Wensink was a cement head. Schmautz was a player.
Wow.
I have no respect for a man who will intentionally injure another imagine if they did this to bobby orr or good old 99 these kinds of players are garbage in my book
And 0 cups. End of story.
I agree. You could forgive someone for being a bit of a tool but when you attempt to injure someone, no. Speaking of people who injured Gretzky (and Paul Kariya) I feel the same way about Gary Suter the former Calder Trophy winner and All Star defenseman with the Flames and BlackHawks. Or Ulf Samulesson who ended Pierre Mondou and Cam Neely's careers. I wonder how many Bruins fans would cut Ulf the butcher the same slack as they would this prick. Cashman or O'Reilly I can respect. Not Schmautz.
A agree.
Mario Tremblay lit his lamp in the finals. You can find it on YT.
he wasn't feared by Mario Tremblay...!!!...Tremblay made him eat his lunch allright...punched his lights right out..!!!!!
how does a guy who scores 27 goals and is a good teammate not get signed?
Good question ... Canucks were convinced he was slowing down by he end of the season ... but he clearly could have helped someone
Ain't it Sch-mall-itz, not Smots z
either way -- a tongue-twister!
The good old days when there was genuine hate. Hockey today is soft. I wish we could see 70's hockey again. Too many Europeans and bleeding hearts playing now.
Agreed
Hate - has to be there - in any sport. A very underestimated emotion.
Flyers vs Leafs ... some of the best hockey hate of all time; Clark was vicious and a gift to the town of brotherly love.
Most of our pro sports are soft today. Pete Rose was right when he said baseball today is sift and boring. The NBA is super soft. Don't get me started on the NFL, which is getting to be more and more like touch football.
i would think stan jonathan would be the or one most feared.
as a fighter perhaps ... but Schmautzie would carve your eye out.