Twice the NHL leader in assists, Olmstead’s great career was finally recognized by the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985, some 23 years after last appearing as a player in the National Hockey League.
Junior and Minor Pro
Hockey Card Collection
NHL Career
Coaching Career
Rookie Card
Career Stats
Bert Olmstead – Junior and Minor Pro
Olmstead starred for two seasons of junior hockey with the Moose Jaw Canucks in the SSJHL, 1944-45 and 1945-46. In his first year, the team won the SJHL title with a win over the Prince Albert Hawks. In the Abbott Cup finals, the Canucks took out the Winnipeg Monarchs to earn a berth in the Memorial Cup finals. In that final series, Moose Jaw fell short against the St. Michael’s Majors.
In 1945-46, the Canucks went undefeated during the regular season. Once again, the Prince Albert Hawks fell victim to Moose Jaw in the SJHL finals. The Canucks were ousted in the Abbott Cup semi-finals by the Edmonton Canadians.
Bert Olmstead Collection
From 1946-47 to 1948-49, Olmstead played in the USHL for the Kansas City Pla-Mors. In his first season, he was teamed with Bill Gadsby for part of the season and the Pla-Mors captured the championship with a win over the Omaha Knights in the finals. And, yes, there was a Harry Dick in the Kansas City lineup.
In his third year with the Pla-Mors, Bert scored 33 and assisted on 44 for 77 points over 52 games. He tied for 10th in the USHL for goals, tied for sixth for assists and tied for seventh for points. He also saw his first NHL action, appearing in nine games with the Chicago Blackhawks.
In 1950-51, Olmstead appeared in just 12 games in the USHL with the Milwaukee Sea Gulls. It would be the last he would spend in the minors. Bert caught on with the Montreal Canadiens for much of that season.
Bert Olmstead – NHL
Between 1948-49 and 1961-62, Bert Olmstead appeared in 848 regular season National Hockey League games with the Blackhawks, Canadiens and Maple Leafs. Over that time, he scored 181 and assisted on 421 for 602 points. Over 115 playoff games, he added 59 points.
Olmstead saw limited time with Chicago. On December 16, 1950, a deal as finalized that sent him to the Detroit Red Wings with Vic Stasiuk for Lee Fogolin and Steve Black. He would never play for Detroit. Instead, the following day, Olmstead was dealt to the Habs, in exchange for Leo Gravelle.
His amazing Stanley Cup run saw him win the Cup with Montreal in 1952-53, 1955-56, 1956-57 and 1957-58. He reached the finals with the Canadiens in 1950-51, 1951-52, 1953-54 and 1954-55. With the Maple Leafs, Olmstead won the prize in 1961-62 and went to the finals in 1958-59 and 1959-60 – both times against Montreal.
Much more of a playmaker than a sniper, Bert got on the charts in 1952-53 with Montreal, finishing ninth in the NHL with 28 assists and ninth in the race for the Art Ross Trophy with 45 points. He was named a Second Team All-Star at left wing with Ted Lindsay of the Detroit Red Wings taking the First Team honours.
The following year, 1953-54, Olmstead’s 37 assists placed him second in the NHL, eleven behind leader Gordie Howe. His 52 points placed him fifth in the league.
His two years as assists leader came in 1954-55 and 1955-56. In the first year, he led the NHL with 48 assists, five more than teammate Doug Harvey. He also finished seventh with 58 points and seventh with 103 penalty minutes.
In 1955-56, Bert’s numbers peaked, leading the league with 56 assists and finishing fourth with 70 points. He was again chosen as the Second Team All-Star left winger with Ted Lindsay, again, taking the First Team role.
After his 1961-62 Stanley Cup winning season with Toronto, Olmstead was claimed by the New York Rangers. He failed to report to New York and opted to retire from the game as a player. More on that below.
In 1985, Bert Olmstead was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. At his side were Gerry Cheevers and Jean Ratelle.
Bert Olmstead – Coaching
Olmstead’s coaching career was brief, lasting just three seasons. In 1965-66 and 1966-67, he served as head coach of the Vancouver Canucks of the WHL. In his second season, the Canucks finished third in the seven team league. Vancouver reached the WHL finals before being swept by the Seattle Totems.
Bert was the first ever head coach of the expansion Oakland Seals. In 1967-68, Olmstead coached the team for 64 games before being replaced by Gord Fashoway for the final ten games.
Interestingly, Olmstead and Fashoway played together with the 1948-49 Kansas City Pla-Mors and the 1950-51 Milwaukee Sea Gulls. It would be Fashoway’s only coaching in the NHL but he was a legend as both a player and coach in the WHL.
That Seals team had a decent roster with players like Charlie Burns, Ted Hampson, Kent Douglas, Bob Baun, Alain Caron and Charlie Hodge in the lineup. However, Oakland finished in last place, 19 points behind the eleventh place team.
Bert Olmstead – Rookie Card
Olmstead’s last card as a player appears as number 57 in the 1962-63 Topps set. However, 1961-62 was his last season and he did not play in 1962-63. He is shown on the card as a member of the New York Rangers.
On June 4, 1962, the Rangers claimed Bert from the Maple Leafs. After he refused to report to New York, a deal was in the works to ship him back to Montreal. However, that deal fell through and Olmstead retired from the game.
Bert Olmstead Career Stats
| Season | Team | Lge | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1946-47 | Kansas City Pla-Mors | USHL | 60 | 27 | 15 | 42 | 34 |
| 1947-48 | Kansas City Pla-Mors | USHL | 66 | 26 | 26 | 52 | 42 |
| 1948-49 | Kansas City Pla-Mors | USHL | 52 | 33 | 44 | 77 | 54 |
| 1948-49 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 1949-50 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 70 | 20 | 29 | 49 | 40 |
| 1950-51 | Milwaukee Sea Gulls | USHL | 12 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 11 |
| 1950-51 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 15 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 1950-51 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 39 | 16 | 22 | 38 | 50 |
| 1951-52 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 69 | 7 | 28 | 35 | 49 |
| 1952-53 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 69 | 17 | 28 | 45 | 83 |
| 1953-54 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 70 | 15 | 37 | 52 | 85 |
| 1954-55 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 70 | 10 | 48 | 58 | 103 |
| 1955-56 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 70 | 14 | 56 | 70 | 94 |
| 1956-57 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 64 | 15 | 33 | 48 | 74 |
| 1957-58 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 57 | 9 | 28 | 37 | 71 |
| 1958-59 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 70 | 10 | 31 | 41 | 74 |
| 1959-60 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 53 | 15 | 21 | 36 | 63 |
| 1960-61 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 67 | 18 | 34 | 52 | 84 |
| 1961-62 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 56 | 13 | 23 | 36 | 10 |
| NHL Totals | 848 | 181 | 421 | 602 | 884 |