Jack Hamilton, Youngest Four Goal Game Ever
Sam Bennett of Calgary scored four goals on January 13 thus becoming the third youngest player to do so in the NHL. Only Bobby Carpenter in 1981/82 and Jack Hamilton in 1943/44 were younger.
Hamilton was the youngest at 18 years, 6 months, 3 days old when he scored his four goals on December 5, 1943. The Canadian Press story about the game published on Dec. 6 detailed Hamilton's feat;
Youthful Jack Hamilton scored four goals and had one assist Saturday in the most successful performance of his short National Hockey League career as Toronto Maple Leafs defeated New York Rangers 11-4 before 9,359 fans.
Hamilton, elevated from Toronto junior ranks in mid-season last year, obtained his four goals by finishing off ganging plays in which his linemates, Jack McLean and Windy O'Neill figured prominently.
Before Saturday, the nine players who coach Happy Day had alternated on Toronto's third line had amassed only six goals in 14 games.
The trio of Hamilton, McLean and Thomas "Windy" O'Neill collected 5 goals and 12points on this night.
The Rangers, to that point in the season had gone winless in 14 games, picking up only one tie. After this rout they had been outscored by 82-40. Ranger goaltender Ken McAuley was in the midst of his rookie season and would play all but one of New York's 50 games that year. He finished with a record of 6-39-5 and a GAA of 6.24.
Hamilton's exploits lifted his season totals through 14 games to 8 goals and 5 assists good for sixth place on the Leafs. He would manage 12 more goals over his last 35 games to finish with an even 20 on the year. He would join the military the next year and play 13 games for Cornwallis Navy of the Halifax City Senior League. Hamilton returned to the Leafs in 45/46 scoring 16 points in 40 games. He would play the next nine years in the top-tier minor leagues before retiring as a professional and playing Senior hockey until 1958.
The boxscore from Hamilton's four goal game is below.
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