Fred Whitcroft
Inducted:
1962
Player Stats
5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
165 lb (75 kg; 11 st 11 lb)
Born:
2 December 1882
Milford, Ireland, United Kingdom
Died:
9 August 1931
Atlin, British Columbia, Canada
Position:
Rover
College:
NA
Frederick John Whitcroft was a dynamic "rover" and scoring sensation during hockey's transition into the professional era. Known for his blistering speed and creative stickhandling, Whitcroft was a high-priced "superstar" long before the NHL existed. He rose to prominence as a amateur star in Peterborough before joining the Kenora Thistles in 1907. While he missed the Thistles' historic Cup victory in January of that year, he was signed to a then-massive $700 contract to help them defend the trophy against the Montreal Wanderers.
Whitcroft later moved west and became the premier attraction for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Alberta Professional Hockey League. His scoring feats in Edmonton were legendary; he led the league in goals for two consecutive seasons and once scored six goals in a single game. In 1910, he was lured back east by the Renfrew Creamery Kings for a staggering $2,000 salary to play alongside legends like Cyclone Taylor and the Patrick brothers. Despite his immense talent, he retired at just 27 years old to pursue gold prospecting. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962.
Whitcroft's Awards and Record:
- 2x APHL Scoring Champion (1908, 1909)
- Alberta Professional Hockey League First All-Star (1908, 1909)
- Once scored 35 goals in just 10 games (1907–08 season)
Career Teams
Renfrew Creamery Kings
Edmonton Eskimos
Kenora Thistles
Number Worn:
45
Career Stats
Playing career:
1906–1910
Games Played:
35
Goals:
85
Points Per Game:
2.43
Stanley Cup Challenges:
6 Games / 12 Goals