Jack Price

In the 1951-52 season the Chicago Black Hawks gave four junior players one-game auditions with the big club. All four junior players were teammates in Galt of the Ontario Hockey Association.

Mike Buchanan and Tony Poeta played their one game and were never heard from again, at least not in NHL circles.

Kenny Wharram played his one game, returned to junior for some more seasoning, and returned to become one of the best players in Chicago hockey history.

Jack Price was the fourth player and he was somewhere in between those two extremes. The 5'9" 180lb left winger played for Chicago in 1953 and 1954, totaling 4 goals and 10 points in 47 career games. He also played in 4 Stanley Cup playoff games but picked up no points.

In the summer of 1954 Price was traded to Toronto in exchange for Ray Timgren. The Leafs never used him and Price disappeared to the minor leagues, playing most notably with the AHL Hershey Bears (winning 2 Calder Cup championships) and Pittsburgh Hornets (winning one more!). He did the vagabond tour that most minor league players do, too, playing briefly in many spots in Canada.

Price finally did make it back to NHL ice, but it was not as a player. After retiring as a player in 1964 he became an on ice official, eventually becoming a NHL linesman. He later continued as a NHL penalty time keeper.

Price was a natural athlete, also excelling in golf. He worked as a golf pro starting as early when he was still in junior hockey, and throughout his hockey career when opportunities arose. He was well known at several Pittsburgh courses.

Price later worked as a machinist.

Jack Price passed away on May 24th, 2011 in Boardman, Ohio.