Kent Douglas

Kent Gemmell Douglas (February 6, 1936 – April 12, 2009) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and coach.

Early career
Douglas started his career with the Kitchener Canucks in the Ontario Hockey Association. He spent two seasons with the Canucks and eight seasons in the American Hockey League and the Western Hockey League with the Springfield Indians, Winnipeg Warriors and the Vancouver Canucks. In Springfield, Douglas came under the tutelage of Hall of Famer Eddie Shore, the then owner of the Indians. There, Douglas learned Shore's tough defensive style of play which contributed to the Indians three consecutive Calder Cup championships from 1960 to 1962.

Later years
In 1962–63, Douglas made his first trip to the National Hockey League. He played with the Toronto Maple Leafs and continued his aggressive style of play during his rookie season in the NHL. In 70 games, Douglas recorded 22 points and 105 PIM. The Leafs, that year, made it to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they played the Detroit Red Wings. Toronto defeated the Red Wings in five games, giving Douglas a Stanley Cup in his first season in the NHL. Douglas was also awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year in the NHL, making him the first defenceman to do so. The following season, Douglas split his time between the Leafs and the Rochester Americans of the AHL. He played 41 games with the Leafs and 27 games with the Americans that season. In his 41 games with the Leafs, he recorded only one point.

Douglas remained with the Leafs organization through the 1966–67 but was not a member of the 1964 and 1967 Stanley Cup teams, as he was assigned to Rochester of the AHL for the playoffs in those two years. In the 1967 expansion draft, Douglas was claimed by the California Seals in the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft. The California Seals changed their name before the start of the 1967-68 season to the Oakland Seals. Douglas played 40 games with the Seals before being traded to the Detroit Red Wings. Douglas played the remainder of the season and the 1968–69 season with the Red Wings. He was sent down to the AHL again the following year with the Rochester Americans. Douglas stayed in the AHL for the next three seasons, making the Calder Cup Finals with the Baltimore Clippers in 1971–72. In 1972–73 Douglas joined the New York Raiders in the World Hockey Association. Douglas played one season with the Raiders before returning to the minor leagues once again. He played three more seasons before retiring.

Douglas died of cancer in 2009 at the age of 73.

Awards and achievements

 * Calder Cup Championships (1960, 1961, & 1962)
 * AHL First All-Star Team (1962)
 * Eddie Shore Award (1962)
 * Calder Memorial Trophy (1963)
 * Played in NHL All-Star Game (1962, 1963 & 1964)
 * Stanley Cup Championship (1963)
 * AHL Second All-Star Team (1971)