Obs Heximer

Obs Heximer was a junior star in Niagara Falls when the New York Rangers came calling. They were able to sign him in 1929 to a two year contract reportedly totalling $11,000 - a significant sum for any junior player in that era.

Heximer may have been a goal scoring star in junior but not so much at the NHL level - at least not right away. He would only play in 19 games over those two seasons, and scored only one goal. Yet in the minor leagues with the Springfield Indians Heximer was a scoring star who led the team to a championship.

In 1931 Heximer ruffled feathers when he held out in a contract dispute with the Rangers' boss Lester Patrick. The dispute made headlines when Heximer attempted to play a charity game with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Patrick blocked the move.

The Rangers were reportedly trying to force Heximer to take a bit of a pay cut, as they regretted their decision to pay him so handsomely out of Niagara Falls. Heximer balked at this, of course. The issue was not fully resolved until the summer of 1932 when the Rangers sold Heximer to the Boston Bruins for a reported $10,000.

Heximer played the full 1932-33 season with the Bruins, scoring seven goals and twelve points.

Heximer would find himself back in the minor leagues for the following two seasons before resurfacing in the NHL with the New York Americans for 18 games in 1934-35.

Though he would continue playing professional hockey until the end of the decade, that was the end of Heximer's line at the NHL level.

Heximer returned to Niagara Falls and coached senior hockey.

Orville Heximer passed away on July 16th, 1988. He was 78 years old.