Wilbert Carl (Wib/”Dutch”) Hiller

Before joining the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1937, Wib Hiller played amateur hockey in Kitchener, Sudbury and England. His Sudbury teams were Memorial Cup finalists in 1935 and Allan Cup finalists in 1936.

Hiller was known as a tough, defensive forward and it was said that he was the fastest man on skates.

On left wing for the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens, he played 385 regular season games (91 goals / 113 assists) and 48 playoff games (9 goals / 8 assists). He assisted on the Stanley Cup winning over-time goal for the Rangers in 1940, and in the Cup winning game with the Canadiens in 1946, earning a goal and an assist.

The nickname “Dutch” was acquired while playing on the Rangers’ “Roughneck Line” to better reflect its character and the Pennsylvania-German roots of his hometown.

Hiller was also instrumental in organizing the K-W Senior Dutchmen in 1947, and from 1948 to 1950 he was head coach with the Los Angeles Monarchs of the Pacific Coast Hockey League.

His entire career took place during the radio era – hockey games were first broadcast in 1923 and Hockey Night in Canada television broadcasts did not begin until 1952. However, the NHL made its television debut on an experimental broadcast from Madison Square Garden on February 25, 1940. Among the Rangers playing in that game were “Dutch” Hiller and “Ott” Heller – both from Kitchener. The Rangers beat Montreal six to two.

Photograph courtesy of the Hockey Hall of Fame/Imperial Oil-Turofsky.