Myles Lane

Myles Lane became the first American born collegiate player to jump directly to the NHL following his graduation from Dartmouth in 1928. He was an excellent athlete at Dartmouth - in hockey, football and to a lesser degree baseball. In hockey he scored 50 goals in 17 career games over 3 seasons. He was also an All American in football and led his team to the national championship in 1925. But despite all of his athletic gifts, his ultimate goal was his education and obtaining a law degree.

While playing in a game against the University of Toronto, Lane impressed the young Toronto coach. That coach's name was Conn Smythe. Smythe of course would go on to become one of the greatest coaches and managers in NHL history.

Upon graduation from Dartmouth, Lane was offered a one year teaching position but elected to continue his hockey career when the New York Rangers offered him a job. He dressed in 24 games for New York, scoring 1 goal, before he was sold to the Boston Bruins for $7500. The Rangers, who weren't pleased with his play and wanted to demote him to the minors, dealt Lane because he was expected to retire rather than be sent down to the farm team. It was his plan all along to play just the one year and earn a little cash before returning to Boston to enroll in Law School. However the trade to Boston changed things a bit for Lane. He began to study law while playing for the Bruins. He played in 19 more games with the Bruins that year, adding one goal. It was a good move for Lane as he helped the Bruins beat his old team - the Rangers - in the Stanley Cup finals to capture Boston's first championship.

Myles played semi-pro baseball in the Cape Cod League in the summers. After a game in the 1929 season, Myles received serious injuries when the car he was travelling in left the road. He sustained a broken bone in his knee, and three fractured vertebrae. The injuries robbed Myles of his speed, but all through his long rehabilitation, Myles pursued his law degree. Lane did play in 9 games in 1929-30 but missed the entire 1930-31 season. He played the following three years but mostly with the Can-Am league's Boston Cubs. He was called up for 25 games with the Bruins in 1933-34 but retired after the season to devote full-time to his law career.

The real interesting story of Myles Lane is not about his hockey or athletic endeavours, but his post sports career. After serving with the United States Navy in the Second World War, Myles joined a law firm started by President Roosevelt. From there he went on to the US Attorney's Office, before serving as chairman of the New York State Crime Commission, until finally being named a judge of the New York State Supreme Court. He was a famous opponent of organized crime.

Lane is a charter member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame (1973) and the National Football Foundation's Hall of Fame.