Sprague Cleghorn
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Sprague Horace "Peg" Cleghorn, (March 11, 1890, Montreal, PQ, - July 12, 1956, Montreal, PQ), was a skilled ice hockey player for teams in the NHL and CAHL who turned in a Hall of Fame career but was widely regarded as one of the dirtiest players of his era.
He played on Stanley Cup-winning teams in 1920, 1921 and 1924. In 1909-10, Cleghorn began his career with the New York Wanderers, moving to Renfrew of the NHA the next season. He then played for the Montreal Wanderers for six seasons. He played defence for the Ottawa Senators (1918 to 1921), Toronto St. Pats (1920-21), and Montreal Canadiens (1921 to 1923). After the 1924-25 season, the Boston Bruins bought him from the Canadiens for $5000. Sprague played his final three seasons in the NHL with Boston (1925 to 1928). He then moved to the minor-league Newark Bulldogs (1928 to 1929). Later, he coached the CAHL Providence Reds (1930 to 1931) and NHL Montreal Maroons (1931 to 1932).
Just before the start of the 1921/22 season, Sprague and teammate Billy Coutu were traded to the Hamilton Tigers as part of the NHL's first multi-player trade. Sprague and Coutu were traded for Harry Mummery, Amos Arbour and Cully Wilson.
Even in an era of rough play, Cleghorn was notorious for being among the dirtiest of the lot, and ranked amongst the league leaders of penalty minutes nine of the first ten seasons of the NHL's history. In 1923, Cleghorn hit Ottawa Senators player Lionel Hitchman in the head with his stick. Charged with aggravated assault, Cleghorn was found guilty and fined $50.
Cleghorn was hit by a car in early June 1956, and died of his injuries at Montreal's St. Luc Hospital on June 20, 1956. His funeral was July 14, 1956 and he was buried at Mount Royal Cemetery in Montreal, PQ. Sprague Cleghorn's brother, Odie Cleghorn, was found dead in his bed just hours before the funeral, as a result of heart failure, perhaps induced by the stress of the loss of his brother.
Sprague Cleghorn was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958.
See Also
External Links
Career Statistics: http://www.bruins-legends.com/C/cleghorn.htm
Obituary: http://www.losthockey.com/obit_main.cfm?letter=c
Grave site: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7950757&pt=Sprague%20%27Peg%27%20Cleghorn