Guyle Fielder


Guyle Abner Fielder is a retired American-born Canadian professional ice hockey center. He is the fourth-leading scorer in professional ice hockey history, behind only Wayne Gretzky, Jaromír Jágr and Gordie Howe, and holds the career records for minor-league ice hockey for the most games played, assists and points scored.

Playing career

Fielder moved to Nipawin, Saskatchewan with his Canadian parents at an early age and played junior hockey in Prince Albert and Lethbridge before turning pro.
A preeminent playmaker, Fielder's National Hockey League career was short and not notable—he played a total of 15 games for the Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins—as opposed to his minor league career. He played a total of 22 seasons in the Western Hockey League, mainly for the Seattle Totems, as well as for the New Westminster Royals, the Salt Lake Golden Eagles and the Portland Buckaroos. He also played a single season for the St. Louis Flyers of the American Hockey League and had short stints with the Quebec Aces and the Edmonton Flyers.
In an era where there were only six teams in the NHL, thus barring many talented players from a shot at the big time, Fielder was the WHL's greatest star. After winning Rookie of the Year honors with New Westminster in 1952, he was a six-time league MVP, the league scoring leader nine times and a three-time honoree as most gentlemanly player. His one season in the AHL in 1953, unusually enough, won him Rookie of the Year honors in that loop as well. He was drafted by the Houston Aeros of the WHA in 1972, but chose to remain out west, playing his final season for the Buckaroos in 1973 before retiring.
Among Fielder's scoring feats were four seasons of more than 100 points—his mark of 122 in 1957 broke the professional record—and 10 seasons of 70 assists or more. He retired having scored 438 goals and 1,491 assists for 1,929 points. His point total set a professional record, exceeding even Gordie Howe's output to that point, and is still the all-time minor league mark. His assist total is first all-time in the minor leagues, and is double of his nearest rival. Fielder played in 1,487 games, also the all-time minor league record.

Career achievements