Cincinnati Hockey Hall of Fame inductees Bill Hajt and Jerry Dowling to guest on Mighty Ducks Weekly

Published on March 23, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Cincinnati RailRaiders News Release


CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Bill Hajt and Jerry Dowling, who will be inducted along with Phil Hergesheimer into the Cincinnati Hockey Hall of Fame Friday, March 26 at Cincinnati Gardens during the first intermission of the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks-Chicago Wolves game, will be among the featured guests tonight (March 23) on Mighty Ducks Weekly. The show can be heard from 6-7 p.m. on WCKY-AM (1360).

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.

"It is a great honor to be inducted into the Cincinnati Hockey Hall of Fame,"Hajt said. "I loved Cincinnati. I had two wonderful years there, and especially the year that we won the Calder Cup. It was a fun time for me and a major stepping stone for my professional hockey career. I feel very fortunate to have lived and played there. I am looking forward to coming back and reliving the old memories!"

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 Cyclones during his 28-year career at the Enquirer.

"It is quite an honor to be selected to the Cincinnati Hockey Hall of Fame," Dowling said. "Some of my drawings are on display in Legends Museum (where the Hall of Fame is located). Now I'll be in there with them."

Note: Bill Hajt and Jerry Dowling will be available to meet fans, sign autographs and pose for photographs prior to Friday's game from 6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. in Legends Museum. Don Biggs, Billy Goold and Bob Queenan, who were each inducted as part of the inaugural Hall of Fame class in 2003, are also scheduled to appear.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 23, 2004


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