6 More Yoopers Who Played in the NHL

A few weeks ago we posted a blog entry about Jeff Finger, and our knowledge of him being the only Yooper to play in the NHL. We stand corrected! Since the NHL season is coming to a close soon we wanted to give you another Upper Peninsula hockey update. Here are six more Yooper NHL players, old-timers from the 1920-60s. And please if you know of more, let us know. Thanks Paul, for the tip on these NHL Yooper alums.

Clarence “Taffy” Abel

From Sault Ste. Marie played for the Rangers and Blackhawks from 1926-34
Clarence “Taffy” Abel is the most notable of these six players. In addition to eight NHL seasons he won a Stanley Cup in 1928 with the New York Rangers and won a silver medal in the 1924 Winter Olympics. He has been enducted in the the United States Hockey Hall of Fame and Lake Superior State University named their hockey arena after Abel, which was built in 1976.

John Sherf

From Calumet played for the Redwings from 1935-44

Ike Klingbeil

From Hancock played for the Blackhawks in 1936-37

Bernie Ruelle

From Hancock played for the Redwings in 1943-44

Rudy Zunich

From Calumet played for the Redwings from 1943-44

Tony Bukovich

From Painesdale played for the Red Wings in 1943-45

Of course there are several NHL players who have come through the Upper Peninsula to play hockey at Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan, and Lake Superior State. But for those who actually grew up in the Upper Peninsula, it is a pretty exclusive club.