Mayasich: The Greatest American

John Mayasich is perhaps the top hockey player in the history of the sport in the USA. From high school to the Olympics, Mayasich was always the premier player on the ice. Over 50 years after his high school days in Eveleth, MN many of his records still stand. Mayasich went on to be a three time All-American with the Minnesota Golden Gophers. He was the leading scored in the WCHA in 1954 and 1955.
However, it was on the international stage in which Mayasich made his mark. The talented forward led the USA to a Silver at the 1956 Olympics only to follow up with a Gold at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley. Mayasich contined to play for the US National Team well into the 1960's.
The Eveleth native is a member of the hometown United Stated Hockey Hall of Fame.
After hockey, Mayasich went onto a long and successfull career in the broadcasting business in Minneapolis.

Scheifele & Brian Leetch's Volvo

A hockey player from Greenbelt, Maryland? Sure. The following is the wacky hockey travels of Steve Scheifele. Left Maryland to play junior in Stratford, Ontario for the Cullitons. Drafted by the OHL Toronto Marlboros, decided to head to Boston College. The first non- New Englander recruit by the B.C. Eagles. Took time out his freshman year to wreck Brian Leetch's Volvo. Headed to Moscow as a member of the USA World Junior National Team. While in Russia played with John LeClair, Jeremy Roenick and other future NHL stars. Left Boston College early to sign with Bobby Clarke and the Philadelphia Flyers. Two years in the minors split between the Hershey Bears and the ECHL Richmond Renegades. Held the ECHL record for the fastest goal from the start of a game. Then it was over.
Today, Scheifele resides in Florida and is knee deep in the insurance game. Extra time is now spent out on his boat fishing the weekends away.

The Erdmans - The Smartest Family in Hockey

Five Hockey playing brothers. Five Ivy League educations. Four graduated from Princeton, one graduated from Yale. All five planned to follow their father's footsteps and attend Princeton. Charles Erdman Jr. was a college track star and graduated from Princeton in 1919.
Charles and Harold were the class of 1946 at Princeton. Peter was the class of 1950, David the class of 1953. Micheal the class of 1957. However,Harold never finished at Princeton, due to World War II and a military commitment, Harold transfered and graduated from Yale.
Harold went on to play for the Sands Point Tigers of the Metropolitian Hockey League in the 1940's. Harold also played for the famous St. Nick's Hockey team in the 1940's.
At last report, Harold was retired and living in Princeton area. Peter remained in Princeton as well and David took off north to live in Maine. Charles wound up on the left coast and finally Michael resides in the Philadelphia suburbs.

Byron Shutt - A Hall of Famer's Brother

Steve Shutt scored exactly 424 NHL goals, mostly with the Montreal Canadiens. Byron Shutt never made it to the NHL. Byron Shutt scored 10 WHA goals, Steve never played a game in the WHA. While Steve took the Junior route to professional hockey, Byron obtained his degree from Bowling Green University and to this day remains in Ohio.
Byron was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins ot the NHL and the hometown Toronto Toros of the WHA. Byron played in the AHL, CHL and the WHA in the late 1970's and early 1980's. His best season was his last when he played for the Saginaw Gears of the IHL. In his final season as a pro, Shutt scored 72 points. One other thing, the most penalty minutes Steve racked up in a professional season was 51 while with Montreal. Byron can boast about 235 minutes in a single season while skating for the Flint Generals.
Today, Shutt operates Maple Leaf Landscaping and is the hockey coach for Bay Village High School.

Russ Priestley: Hockey and Cartoons

Melrose resident Russ Priestley played collegiate hockey for the powerhouse Illinois in the early 1940's. That's correct, Illinois was a hockey powerhouse. Illinois was the only team to beat Dartmouth in 1942. Priestley left Illinois to join Boston Junior Olympics and won the National Amateur Championship. The following season was spent with the Boston Olympics of the Eastern League. Priestley's brother, Bob, was also a member of the team. Bob joined the ice hockey team as soon as the football season wrapped up for the Philadelphia Eagles. Bob Priestley graduated from Brown University before playing a season of professional football with the Eagles.
Russ Priestley signed up for the Air Corps Pilot Training program and was not called to active duty until March 1943. Priestley was pushed through the program in nine months- the shortest time period ever for a pilot. He didn't touch a pair of skates for 3 1/2 years.
Priestley's career was spent as a cartoonist working out of Boston. His clients included advertisement agencies, insurance companies, manufactuerers and many others. Today, Priestley remains active as editor and writer for the Melrose Mirror, a monthly journal.