Art Chapman

Art Chapman quietly played ten seasons in the National Hockey League. He was far from a notable goal scorer, but was described as "a smooth operating centre and good playmaker."

Art Chapman played his junior hockey in Winnipeg and senior hockey with the Winnepeg Falcons and then Port Arthur. He turned pro with Springfield of the Canadian-American league, then played with the Providence Reds.

The Boston Bruins signed him in 1930-31. Art Ross was in an experimental mood and Chapman was used in various combinations, playing on lines with Harold Darragh and Red Beattie, George Owen and Percy Galbraith, Bill Touhey and Eddie Burke or Joe Jerwa and Joe Lamb in 3 and 1/2 seasons with the Bruins.

Chapman was traded to the New York Americans during the 1933-34 season with Bob Gracie for Lloyd Gross and George Patterson, and the next season was joined on the wings by Sweeney Schriner and Lorne Carr, and this combination was the main attraction of the star-spangled crew for the next five years.

Chapman finished 6th in NHL scoring with 9 goals, a league-leading 34 assists for 43 points in 1934-35. He set up Schriner and Carr for their goals.In 1936-37, he made the second all-star team despite his team's last place finish.

He began to fade in 1937-38, but the Amerks had depth that year and finished second in the Canadian Division and pulled a big upset, beating their powerful rivals, the Rangers, in a classic overtime goal Carr scored to win the series, and the Amazing Amerks almost beat Chicago, but fell in the third and deciding game.

When Schriner was traded to Toronto, Chapman and Carr played with Harvey Jackson in 1939-40, but this was the final NHL season for Art as a player in the NHL and he retired after the playoffs.

Red Dutton hired him as his assistant coach but by December 18th, 1941, Dutton stepped down as coach and gave Chapman the job, deciding to concentrate on the ownership and management of the team. After winning four and losing four, the Amerks went right back to losing and finished last again.

After the Americans folded in September 1942,Chapman decided to pull on a uniform and became player-coach of the AHL's Buffalo Bisons. He led them to two straight Calder Cups and then eventually would coach the Vancouver Canucks of the Western League. In 1953-54, he coached them to a first place finish.

Chapman was born May 29th, 1906, and died January 1st, 1963