Russ Blinco



Russ Blinco (March 12, 1908 - 1982) was a Canadian professional centre who played 6 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Maroons and Chicago Black Hawks. Blinco's name was inscribed on the Stanley Cup with the Montreal Maroons in 1935. He was born in Grand'Mere, Quebec, Canada.

Playing Career
Blinco started out in amateur hockey with the McGill Redmen and the Grand'Mere Maroons (1926-29) and three seasons with the Brooklyn Crescents of the Eastern Amateur Hockey League (1929-32).

He signed with the Montreal Maroons in 1932 and played a season with their farm team the Windsor Bulldogs in 1932-33. The next season he made the Maroons and won the Rookie of the Year award. Blinco stayed with them for four years (1934-38). He won the Stanley Cup in 1934-35.

The Maroons were losing money and they were forced to sell Blinco to the Chicago Blackhawks for cash in 1938. He played one season for them before retiring in 1939.

Blinco played in 268 NHL games and scored 59 goals and 66 assists. He was an extremely clean player, with only 24 penalty minutes in his entire NHL career.

Awards and Achievements

 * 1934 NHL Rookie of the Year (Montreal)

Trivia

 * Blinco became the first player to wear glasses during an NHL game in the 1937-38 NHL season.