Over the years many Rangers opponents have had quirky habits. Hall of Famer Aurel Joliat, center for the Montreal Canadiens ace Howie Morenz, wore a baseball cap when he played, and woe to any foe who knocked it off Jolie’s head.
Habs Hall of Fame goalie Jacques Plante knitted “tuques” (wool hats) and wore them when he was a minor leaguer with the Montreal Royals. He was not allowed to wear them in the NHL, but his knitting never stopped.
Perhaps the oddest idiosyncrasy belonged to Boston Bruins defenseman John (Jack) Crawford. For many seasons in the 1940’s Jack would skate on to Garden ice as the only helmeted player.
In fact, for many seasons Crawford was the only player during the six-team NHL to wear headgear.
About 99 percent of the fans assumed that Crawford wore the helmet for protection of his cranium, but they would be wrong.
Jack wore it because he was prematurely bald and preferred that fact be kept under his hat – er – helmet!
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