View source for Bruce Stuart

{{For|those of a similar name|Bruce Stewart (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| halloffame = 1961
| image = Bruce Stuart, Portage Lakes.jpg
| caption = Bruce Stuart with the [[Portage Lakes Hockey Club]] in the [[1905–06 IPHL season|1905–06]] season.
| image_size = 230px
| birth_date = {{birth date|mf=yes|1881|11|30}}
| birth_place = [[Ottawa]], Ontario, Canada
| death_date = {{death date and age|mf=yes|1961|10|28|1881|11|30}}
| death_place = Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lb = 180
| position = [[Centre (ice hockey)|Centre]]
| shoots = Left
| played_for = [[Quebec Bulldogs]]<br/>[[Ottawa Senators (original)|Ottawa Senators]]<br/>[[Montreal Wanderers]]<br/>[[Portage Lakes Hockey Club]]<br/>[[Pittsburgh Victorias]]
| career_start = 1898
| career_end = 1911
}}

'''Charles Bruce Stuart''' (November 30, 1881 – October 28, 1961) was a [[Canadians|Canadian]] [[amateur]] and professional [[ice hockey]] [[forward (ice hockey)|forward]] who played for the [[Quebec Bulldogs]], [[Ottawa Senators (original)|Ottawa Senators]], [[Montreal Wanderers]], [[Portage Lakes Hockey Club]], [[Pittsburgh Victorias]] and [[Pittsburgh Professionals]] from 1899 to 1911. Stuart is considered to be an early version of a [[power forward (ice hockey)|power forward]], a forward who combines size and physical play with scoring ability, in hockey history. Stuart won the [[Stanley Cup]] with both the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Wanderers.

==Personal life==
Stuart was born in [[Ottawa]] on November 30, 1881, one of five children to Captain William Stuart and Rachel Hodgson Stuart. He had two brothers: Allan Gilbert and [[Hod Stuart|William Hodgson (Hod)]] and two sisters: Jessie Maud and Lottie May.<ref name="Citizen"/> His father had been a [[lacrosse]] player of note with the [[Ottawa Capitals]], as well as a [[curling|curler]], and his older brother Hod was also a well-known athlete.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91925073/veterans-in-the-field-of-canadian/ "Veterans in the field of Canadian sports – Mr. W. Stuart"] ''Montreal Star''. April 8, 1902. Retrieved 2023-04-04.</ref>

==Playing career==
Bruce and his older brother Hod played for [[Ottawa Senators (original)|Ottawa Hockey Club]] (Senators) in the [[Canadian Amateur Hockey League]] (CAHL) in [[1899 CAHL season|1899]], in their home city of [[Ottawa]]. In 1900, they moved to [[Quebec City]] for business. They started playing hockey again in 1901, joining the [[Quebec Bulldogs]] in the CAHL. He then played professionally with the [[Pittsburgh Victorias]] in the [[Western Pennsylvania Hockey League]] (WPHL) in [[1902–03 WPHL season|1902–03]] and in [[Houghton, Michigan|Houghton]], with the [[Portage Lakes Hockey Club]], in the old [[International Professional Hockey League]] (IPHL) between 1904 and 1907. With Portage Lakes Hockey Club he won two league titles in [[1905–06 IPHL season|1905–06]] & [[1906–07 IPHL season|1906–07]] as a teammate of [[Cyclone Taylor]].

Stuart joined the [[Montreal Wanderers]] for the [[1907–08 ECAHA season|1907–08]] season in time to win the Stanley Cup in 1908, and then captained the Ottawa Senators in [[1909 ECHA season|1909]] to the Stanley Cup.

Bruce Stuart's brother Hod, a defenseman who was considered one of the better hockey players in Canada at the time, died in a diving accident in the [[Bay of Quinte]] near [[Belleville, Ontario|Belleville]], [[Ontario]], on June 23, 1907, at an age of 28. At the time of the accident, the two brothers had not seen each other for over a year, as they had been playing in different cities.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/73681551/hod-stuart-met-instant-death/ "Hod Stuart met instant death"] ''Ottawa Citizen''. June 24, 1907 (pg. 2). Retrieved 2021-03-17.</ref>
 
In 1910, when the [[National Hockey Association]] (NHA) imposed a salary cap, cutting player's salaries in half, Stuart attempted to form a rival league.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Globe |date=November 24, 1910 |page=10 |title=Bomb in Ottawa Camp}}</ref> The rival league failed to organize, as the [[Montreal Arena]] was refused to the players.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Globe |date=December 14, 1910|page=10 |title=Outlaws Hurrying to Cover}}</ref> Stuart returned to captain the Senators to the 1911 Stanley Cup.

==Playing style==
[[File:Bruce Stuart.jpg|thumb|left|120px|Stuart on a hockey card with the [[Ottawa Senators (original)|Ottawa Senators]].]]
Bruce Stuart, a [[centre (ice hockey)|centre forward]] position wise, was a tall player for his era measuring around 6 feet in height, and weighing around 180 pounds. When Stuart replaced [[Ernie Russell]] at the centre forward position on the Montreal Wanderers in March 1908, the [[Ottawa Citizen]] recognized that while he "is not as tricky a scorer as Russell" he was thought "to be a better man carrying the disc through a defense", and the newspaper also recognized that he still had good shot.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61259229/who-wanderers-are/ "Who Wanderers Are"] ''Ottawa Citizen''. March 21, 1908 (pg. 17). Retrieved 2021-03-17.</ref> He also played occasionally at other forward positions, including [[rover (ice hockey)|rover]] and [[winger (ice hockey)|left wing]].<ref name="Citizen"/>

Stuart employed a physical playing style along with his size, which earned him a fair share of injuries throughout his hockey career. During the [[1910 NHA season]] Stuart suffered a broken left [[collarbone]] in game against the [[Renfrew Creamery Kings]] on February 12, after a scuffle with [[Hay Millar]] and a subsequent collision with [[Frank Patrick (ice hockey)|Frank Patrick]].<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/73687108/bruce-stuart-badly-injured/ "Bruce Stuart badly injured"] ''Ottawa Citizen''. Feb. 14, 1910 (pg. 9). Retrieved 2021-03-17.</ref> The injury held him out for the remainder of the 1910 season and significantly weakened the Senators in their quest on defending the Stanley Cup against the Montreal Wanderers. Stuart had also, on different occasions during his hockey career, both of his knees dislocated, three ribs broken, his nose smashed twice, a bone in his right foot splintered, several teeth knocked out and his right hand fractured.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/73686355/confidence-main-thing-in-sport/ "Confidence main thing in sport – Stuarts' secret of success"] ''Ottawa Citizen''. Apr. 1, 1910 (pg. 8). Retrieved 2021-03-17.</ref>
{{quote box| quote="They seemed satisfied with my work, and Manager [William] Jennings asked me to play with the team again next year. It's too far off to discuss the matter definitely now. Yet, I would like to have played for my home town last winter, but circumstances deemed otherwise. I joined [the] Wanderers, and every game in which I took part, whether against Ottawa, Shamrock[s] or any other team, I always played hard to win." |source= – Stuart on his time with the Montreal Wanderers in 1907–08. [[Montreal Star]], April 2, 1908.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122263055/bruce-stuart-now-at-his-home-in-ottawa/ "Bruce Stuart now at his home in Ottawa"], ''Montreal Star''. April 2, 1908. Retrieved 2023-04-04.</ref>|align=right|width=385px}}
In the local Ottawa newspapers Stuart was often praised for his leadership qualities. During the [[1910 NHA season|1910 season]], when he captained the Ottawa Senators in the NHA, the [[Ottawa Journal]] claimed him "unanimously conceded to be the greatest hockey general that ever wore skates" and that he had "complete control over his men from the minute the game starts". The newspaper also noted him to be a clutch scorer and claimed that he had "scored more goals, at critical moments, when his team was behind, than any other forward in the game".<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/73974875/ottawa-captain-in-bad-shape-laid-up/ "Ottawa captain in bad shape, laid up for rest of season"] ''Ottawa Journal''. February 10, 1915 (pg. 4). Retrieved 2021-03-21.</ref> Even when Stuart represented the Montreal Wanderers, a rivaling club to his hometown Ottawa Senators, in [[1907–08 ECAHA season|1907–08]], Stuart still claimed he always played hard to win, despite his expressed preference of representing Ottawa that winter.

==Post career==
Stuart retired from playing after the [[1910–11 NHA season|1910–11 season]]. He managed the Bruce Stuart and Co. [[shoe]] store he owned in Ottawa until 1952 along with some coaching. The shoe store, located at 275 Bank Street in Ottawa, outside of shoes and boots also sold skates.<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2194&dat=19091210&id=1Z0uAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5tgFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6652,2269167&nbsp; Stuart's Opening – Splendid Boot and Shoe Business at 275 Bank St.] ''Ottawa Citizen''. Dec. 10, 1909 (pg. 9). Retrieved 2021-03-17.</ref>

After his player career Stuart took to [[golf]] and [[curling]] for recreation. As a golf player he was a member of the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club. As a curling player he was active with the Ottawa Curling Club, and he donated a trophy to the club for competition.<ref name="Citizen"/>

Despite his age, he attended his induction into the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]] in [[Toronto]] in 1961.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former Ottawa Players Bruce Stuart And Percy LeSueur in Hall of Fame |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66620685/bruce-stuart/ |access-date=January 1, 2021 |publisher=Ottawa Journal |date=June 14, 1961|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> He died not long after, survived by his wife Irene Stuart (née MacDonald).<ref name="Citizen"/> He was interred at [[Beechwood Cemetery]].<ref>{{cite news |work=Ottawa Citizen |title=Stuart, Bruce (Classified Ad) in Announcements |date=October 30, 1961 |page=36}}</ref>

==Statistics==
<small>Exh. = Exhibition games</small>
{| BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="0" width="65%" style="text-align:center"
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | &nbsp;
! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | &nbsp;
! colspan="5" | Regular season
! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | &nbsp;
! colspan="5" | Playoffs
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! [[Season (sports)|Season]]
! Team
! League
! GP !! [[Goal (ice hockey)|G]] !! [[Assist (ice hockey)|A]] !! [[Point (ice hockey)|Pts]] !! [[Penalty (ice hockey)|PIM]]
! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM
|- ALIGN="centre"
| [[1899 CAHL season|1899]] || [[Ottawa Senators (original)|Ottawa Hockey Club]] || [[Canadian Amateur Hockey League|CAHL]] || 1 || 1 || 0 || 1 || – || – || – || – || – || –
|- ALIGN="centre" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1900 CAHL season|1900]] || Ottawa Hockey Club || CAHL || 5 || 11 || 0 || 11 || – || – || – || – || – || –
|- ALIGN="centre" 
| [[1901 CAHL season|1901]] || [[Quebec Bulldogs]] || CAHL || 6 || 5 || 0 || 5 || – || – || – || – || – || –
|- ALIGN="centre" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1902 CAHL season|1902]] || Ottawa Hockey Club || CAHL || 8 || 9 || 0 || 9 || – || – || – || – || – || –
|- ALIGN="centre" 
| [[1902–03 WPHL season|1902–03]] || Pittsburgh Victorias || [[Western Pennsylvania Hockey League|WPHL]] || 10 || 16 || 6 || 22 || 20 || – || – || – || – || – 
|- ALIGN="centre" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1903–04 || [[Portage Lakes Hockey Club]] || Exh. || 14 || 44 || 0 || 44 || 6 || 9 || 28 || 0 || 28 || 13
|- ALIGN="centre"
| [[1904–05 IPHL season|1904–05]] || Portage Lakes Hockey Club || [[IPHL]] || 22 || 33 || 0 || 33 || 59 || – || – || – || – || – 
|- ALIGN="centre" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1905–06 IPHL season|1905–06]] || Portage Lakes Hockey Club || IPHL || 20 || 15 || 0 || 15 || 22 || – || – || – || – || – 
|- ALIGN="centre" 
| [[1906–07 IPHL season|1906–07]] || Portage Lakes Hockey Club || IPHL || 23 || 20 || 9 || 29 || 81 || – || – || – || – || –
|- ALIGN="centre" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1907–08 ECAHA season|1907–08]] || [[Montreal Wanderers]] || [[Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association|ECAHA]] || 3 || 3 || 0 || 3 || 18 || – || – || – || – || –
|- ALIGN="centre" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| || Montreal Wanderers || [[Stanley Cup]] || || || || || || 3 || 8 || 0 || 8 || 18
|- ALIGN="centre"
| [[1909 ECHA season|1909]] || [[Ottawa Senators (original)|Ottawa Senators]] || [[Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association|ECHA]] || 11 || 22 || 0 || 22 || 30 || – || – || – || – || –
|- ALIGN="centre" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[Canadian Hockey Association (1909–10)|1909–10]] || Ottawa Senators || [[Canadian Hockey Association (1909–10)|CHA]] || 2 || 4 || 0 || 4 || 0 || – || – || – || – || –
|- ALIGN="centre"
| [[1910 NHA season|1910]] || Ottawa Senators || [[National Hockey Association|NHA]]|| 7 || 14 || 0 || 14 || 17 || – || – || – || – || –
|- ALIGN="centre" 
| || Ottawa Senators || Stanley Cup || || || || || || 4 || 10 || 0 || 10 || 6
|- ALIGN="centre" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1910–11 NHA season|1910–11]] || Ottawa Senators || NHA|| 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || – || – || – || – || –
|- ALIGN="centre" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" align="centre" | [[Canadian Amateur Hockey League|CAHL]] totalt
! 20
! 26
! 0
! 26
! –
! –
! –
! –
! –
! –
|- ALIGN="centre" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" align="centre" | [[International Professional Hockey League|IPHL]] totalt
! 65
! 68
! 9
! 77
! 162
! –
! –
! –
! –
! –
|- ALIGN="centre" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" align="centre" | [[Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association|ECAHA]] + [[Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association|ECHA]] totals
! 14
! 25
! 0
! 25
! 48
! –
! –
! –
! –
! –
|- ALIGN="centre" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" align="centre" | [[National Hockey Association|NHA]] totals
! 10
! 14
! 0
! 14
! 17
! –
! –
! –
! –
! –
|- ALIGN="centre" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" align="centre" | [[Stanley Cup]] totals
! 
! 
! 
! 
! 
! 7
! 18
! 0
! 18
! 24
|}
==Achievements==
*[[International Professional Hockey League|IPHL]] champion – [[1905–06 IPHL season|1905–06]] & [[1906–07 IPHL season|1906–07]] (Portage Lakes Hockey Club)
*[[Stanley Cup]] – 1908 (Montreal Wanderers); 1909, 1910 & 1911 (Ottawa Senators)

==References==
===Bibliography===
{{cite book|title=Players: The ultimate A-Z guide of everyone who has ever played in the NHL|last=Podnieks|first=Andrew|year=2003|publisher=Doubleday Canada|isbn=0-385-25999-9}}

===Notes===
{{reflist |refs=
<ref name="Citizen">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ciAyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=g-UFAAAAIBAJ&pg=7272%2C3384880 "Bruce Stuart, Former Hockey Great, Dies"] ''Ottawa Citizen''. Oct. 30, 1961 (pg. 12). Retrieved 2021-03-17.</ref>}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Biography}}
* {{icehockeystats|legendsm=P196111}}
* {{Find a Grave|8880394|Bruce Stuart}}

{{s-start}}
{{succession box | before = [[Harvey Pulford]] | title = [[Ottawa Senators (original)#Team captains|Ottawa Senators captain <br />(Original Era)]] | years = 1908–11 | after = [[Marty Walsh (ice hockey, born 1884)|Marty Walsh]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stuart, Bruce}}
[[Category:1881 births]]
[[Category:1961 deaths]]
[[Category:Hockey Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Ice hockey people from Ottawa]]
[[Category:Montreal Wanderers players]]
[[Category:Ottawa Senators (NHA) players]]
[[Category:Ottawa Senators (original) players]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Victorias players]]
[[Category:Portage Lakes Hockey Club players]]
[[Category:Quebec Bulldogs players]]
[[Category:Stanley Cup champions]]
[[Category:Canadian ice hockey centres]]