Vic Hadfield’s long and noteworthy NHL career began on the rinks of Oakville, where he played all of his minor league hockey games—and developed an immense passion for his sport. A true prodigy, Hadfield proved himself to be an up-andcoming superstar throughout his childhood and teen years. After establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with, he was signed at the age of 19 by the Chicago Black Hawks.
That season, he played for their junior OHL team, the 1959 St. Catherine’s Teepees, where he further cemented his athletic excellence. During the regular season and playoffs, he averaged an impressive 1 point per game, and led the team to win the Memorial Cup championship. The impressive young athlete was then assigned to the Buffalo Bisons, Chicago’s AHL farm team, for the 1961–62 season. After another remarkable year of play, the then8 unprotected agent was snatched by the New York Rangers, where he would stay for the next 13 years. During this time, he became a member of the team’s legendary Goal-A-Game line, and became the first Ranger—and the 6th NHL player—to score 50 goals in a single season. This same year, the team made it to the 1972 Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in 20 years, where they lost to Bobby Orr’s Boston Bruins.
Throughout his sojourn as a Ranger, Hadfield scored a total of 262 goals and became the only left-winger in team history to score 100 points in one season. However, he wasn’t just known for his scoring ability: he was widely hailed for his leadership, his dazzling sense of humour, and his overwhelming tendency to defend his teammates. In 1974, Hadfield was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
There, he continued his legacy, scoring 30 goals in each of his two seasons with the team. Unfortunately, after sustaining a knee injury in 1976, he was forced to retire. Over his 16-year NHL career, Hadfield played 1,002 games, scored 323 goals, and added 389 assists. For these achievements, he was ranked 20th on the all-time list of New York Rangers in 100 Ranger Greats.
Additionally, the Rangers retired his number 11 jersey in December 2018, an honour bestowed on few athletes. He is the 10th Ranger to have his jersey retired. Hadfield now owns the Vic Hadfield Golf & Learning Centre in Oakville, where he offers lessons, clinics, and practice space to golfers of all ages. Despite his international renown, Oakville has never left Hadfield’s heart: still, he continues to give back to the town that raised him.
