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Winthrop "Ding" Palmer

BIRTHPLACE: Warehouse Point, Conn

BORN: December 5, 1906

DIED: February 4, 1970

TEAMS/ASSOCIATIONS: Yale University, US Olympic Team

 

Bio

Notching 87 goals from 1927-30, Ding Palmer emerged as Yale University’s all-time leading scorer, and even finished as the school’s No. 4 all-time point producer with 96.

Palmer played on varsity squads that lost just six games in three years during that same time span. In 1928, the Elis were 13-4-0, but improved that to 15-1-1 in 1929. In addition, the 1930 team, called the “greatest amateur hockey team in history” by E.S. Bronson, was 17-1-1.

Incredibly, the teams Palmer played on posted an aggregate record of 45-6-2 during his three years. In 1930, Palmer led the nation in scoring with 27 goals, 9 assists. Playing as a left wing, Palmer scored most of his goals unassisted and loved to shoot from mid-ice. He had an astounding 41 goals during the 1928 season and got seven goals in one game against New Hampshire. During the Harvard series in his senior year, he played outstanding defensively as well as offensively. His junior season was marred by illness; plagued by the flu, he played in just about half the schedule.

After leaving Yale, Palmer played on the 1932 United States Olympic Team which garnered a silver medal at Lake Placid, and also on the 1933 National Team which won the World Championship at Prague, defeating Canada 2-1 in the epic final game