Trio selected to Cincinnati Hockey Hall of Fame

Published on March 20, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Cincinnati RailRaiders News Release


CINCINNATI, Ohio - Defenseman Bill Hajt, right wing Phil Hergesheimer and Cincinnati Enquirer sports cartoonist Jerry Dowling will be inducted into the Cincinnati Hockey Hall of Fame during the first intermission of the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks 7:35 p.m. game Friday, March 26 against the Chicago Wolves at Cincinnati Gardens. The trio has been selected for induction by the Cincinnati Hockey Hall of Fame executive committee, media and fans.

Their inductions will bring to 10 the number of former coaches, players and individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the growth and awareness of hockey in Cincinnati enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

Hajt was a 14-year National Hockey League veteran and two-time All-Star defenseman for the Buffalo Sabres who began his professional career in 1972-73 by helping spark the Cincinnati Swords of the American Hockey League to the Calder Cup championship, leading club blueliners in scoring in the postseason with 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 15 games. He appeared in 66 games with the Swords the following season, ranking first on the club among defensemen in points (35) and assists (30). Originally selected by Buffalo in the third round of the June 1971 amateur draft, Hajt became a full-time player for the Sabres during the 1974-75 season, posting three goals and 26 assists in 76 games. He added a goal and five assists in 17 playoff games, as the Sabres advanced to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in franchise history.

Hajt went on to steady the Sabres backline for 13 additional seasons as an old-school, defensive defensman. He finished his NHL career with 42 goals, 202 assists and 433 penalty minutes in 854 games, all with Buffalo. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound native of Radisson, Saskatchewan added two goals and 16 assists with 70 penalty minutes in 80 Stanley Cup playoff games.

Hergesheimer spent two of his 14 professional seasons playing in Cincinnati, from 1949-1951 in the AHL with the Mohawks. In his career Hergesheimer twice led the AHL in goals, scoring 25 in 1937-38 and 34 in the 1938-39 season, when he led Cleveland to the first of its nine league championships. By the time the native of Winnipeg, Manitoba played his last AHL game in 1951, he had recorded 288 goals and 265 assists for 553 points in 548 games over 11 seasons with Cleveland, Hershey, Philadelphia and Cincinnati. Hergesheimer tallied 37 goals and 43 assists in 124 games for the Mohawks, including a team-leading 31 goals in 1949-50, the inaugural season of Cincinnati Gardens.

Hergesheimer was named a First Team AHL All-Star in 1939, 1944 and 1947, and earned a Second Team berth in 1948 and 1949. He set career highs with 48 goals, 44 assists and a league-leading 92 points with Philadelphia in 1946-47. Hergesheimer also appeared in 124 NHL games during his career, recording 21 goals and 41 assists with Chicago and Boston. He died March 6, 2004 in Kelowna, British Columbia. He was 89.

Dowling is widely recognized for his work as a sports cartoonist with the Cincinnati Enquirer, from 1967-1995. Among his first drawings for the Enquirer was a cartoon of hockey penalties. He went on to do numerous hockey drawings involving the Swords, Stingers, Tigers and Swords during his 28-year career at the Enquirer.

A native of Windsor, Ontario, Dowling also did freelance work with many of the local teams, drawing the bee that was used by the Stingers as well as drawing media guide and program covers for the club. He also did cartoon work for the Swords, Tigers and Cyclones. CINCINNATI HOCKEY HALL OF FAME (10)

Don Biggs (2003)

Jerry Dowling (2004)

Rick Dudley (2003)

Rocky Farr (2003)

Billy Goold (2003)

Bill Hajt (2004)

Phil Hergesheimer (2004)

Jack Murray (2003)

Bob Queenan (2003)

Floyd Smith (2003)

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American Hockey League Stories from March 20, 2004


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