Bobby Orr

Robert Gordon Orr ("Bobby Orr") was born in Parry Sound in Ontario, Canada on March 20, 1948. Bobby Orr had plenty of athletes in his family. His grandfather was a top-tier soccer player, and his father was a one-time hockey prospect. Although offered a chance to play professional hockey, his father turned down the offer to join the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II. As a child, Bobby Orr often found that he was the fastest skater on the team, regularly winning speed competitions at hockey practice. He had always played the wing position as a forward until his coach, former NHL player Bucko McDonald, moved him to defense. While in his new position, Bucko encouraged Bobby to continue to play with his natural speed, stick handling ability, and offensive rushes. Orr would later go on to say, "Bucko taught me everything I know," regarding playing hockey.

Orr first professionally played hockey for the Boston Bruins in the 1966-1967 season. In his rookie season, he scored 13 goals and 28 assists, ending the year with one of the best rookie seasons for a defenseman in the NHL at that point. Orr continued to play for Boston until the 1974-1975 season where he finished with 46 goals and 89 assists. It was his sixth season in a row with at least 100 points. He won the league scoring title and the Art Ross trophy for the second time. Despite his achievements during the season, tension escalated with the Boston Bruins regarding contract negotiations for the upcoming years. The two eventually parted ways, prompting Bobby Orr to sign a five year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks. Ultimately, Bobby would only play 26 games in three seasons with Chicago due to repeated knee surgeries. Bobby Orr retired with 270 goals, 645 assists, and 915 points in only 657 games.

Bobby Orr is credited with completely revolutionizing the way defensemen played hockey, making it very possible for a defenseman to be an offensive threat on the ice. He was the only defenseman to win the league scoring title with two Art Ross Trophies in his career. He still holds the NHL record for the most points and assists in a single season. Bobby Orr won eight consecutive Norris Trophies and three consecutive Hart Trophies. He won two Stanley Cups with the Boston Bruins; one in 1970 and again in 1972. In both victories, Bobby Orr scored the game winning goal and was voted MVP for the playoffs. He was inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame in 1979 at age 31, making him the youngest player to be inducted at that time.