Bullet Joe Simpson
Inducted:
1963

Player Stats
5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Born:
August 13, 1893
Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada
Died:
December 26, 1973
Coral Gables, Florida, U.S.
Position:
Defence
College:
NA
Harold Edward "Bullet Joe" Simpson was widely considered the greatest hockey player of his generation during the 1920s. A rushing defenseman with a terrifyingly hard shot and end-to-end speed, Simpson was a superstar in the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL) with the Edmonton Eskimos before joining the NHL. His nickname "Bullet Joe" was earned not only for his velocity on the ice but also as a tribute to his service in World War I, where he was wounded in action and awarded the Military Medal for bravery.
In 1925, Simpson joined the New York Americans, becoming the centerpiece of professional hockey’s arrival in New York City. Despite playing on a struggling team, his individual brilliance was so great that he was often compared to the legendary Howie Morenz. He served as the Americans' captain and later their coach, remaining one of the most beloved figures in the "Broadway" era of the NHL. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1963.
Simpson's Awards and Record:
- WCHL First All-Star Team (1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925)
- New York Americans Captain (1928–1931)
- Led the Edmonton Eskimos to the 1923 Stanley Cup Finals
- Military Medal recipient (WWI)
- Named Manitoba's Athlete of the Century (20th Century)
NHL Teams
Edmonton Eskimos (1921-1925)
New York Americans (1925-1931)
Number Worn:
26
NHL Stats
Playing career:
1921–1931
NHL Seasons:
6 (1925-1931)
Games Played:
228
Goals:
57
Assists:
42
Points:
99
Penalty Minutes:
156
Playoff Game:
2
