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pool of novice players to join the team but, after five games, the gimmick was disbanded and replaced with professionals. Retiring from hockey in 1940, he took on a series of small jobs before opening his own hardware store in
Chicago. As of 2007, Suomi was the last surviving member of the 1936–37 all-American Chicago Black Hawks team and, following the 2010 death of
161:. Although he did not aspire to play at a professional level, Suomi nevertheless spent his young life playing hockey and was eventually scouted while playing with friends. Suomi began his career playing for the Chicago Baby Ruth team in 1934, a marketing ploy started by the company that produced the candy of the same name. In 1936, he joined a minor league team in
172:
Suomi's time in the
National Hockey League came as a result of another marketing ploy, this time on the part of the Chicago Black Hawks. Having benched all of his Canadian players, the manager declared his intent to field a team composed entirely of American players. Suomi was selected from among a
251:. The team was designed as a marketing gimmick for the Curtis Candy Company and played before all of the Chicago Black Hawk games to increase their attendance. While Suomi made the team, his two friends were rejected and they returned to
982:
309:. He played five games with the Black Hawks, but scored no points, and, after four wins and one loss, Suomi and the other Americans were let go and replaced with the professionals.
305:
players on his team and declared his intentions to field a team that consisted entirely of individuals born in the United States. The 1936–37 was Suomi's sole season in the
967:
278:, but his past association led him to be rejected for being too professional. He played 17 regular season games for the Detroit Tool Shop, scoring eight goals and five
997:
320:. In a 2002 interview, however, he denied having ever played for the team. His last season in hockey was with the Chicago Hornets of the Arena Hockey League.
169:
and, based on his experiences with the
Chicago Baby Ruth team, was deemed too professional to be eligible for the 1936 United States Olympic ice hockey team.
356:
in March 2010, he became the oldest living former NHL player, a title that he held until his death on
September 23, 2014, a month before his 101st birthday.
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211:. As a teenager, he played at both the high school and college level. His brother, John Suomi, played minor league hockey in
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According to some statistics, Suomi spent the remainder of the 1936–37 season with the
Michigan-Ontario Hockey League's
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177:, the oldest living former NHL player. He is also believed to be the first former NHL player to reach the age of 100.
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231:, Suomi decided that he had nothing to lose and took his belongings in a cardboard box with him to the bus station.
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344:, but soon gave it up. He then worked as a welder and electrician and was not called to serve in
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for 'Finland'). Although Suomi never had any serious aspirations to play professional
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352:. As of 2007, he was the last surviving member of the team. Following the death of
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348:. He later founded "Al's Hardware", eventually to be run by his children, in
316:. Throughout 20 games, he scored only two points but spent 14 minutes in the
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293:. Unlike the others, however, he received an invitation to try out for the
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league, participating in two playoff games and scoring a total of two
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Jack Manley, who offered them a chance to play professional hockey in
36:
Al Suomi, in 1937 with the
Chicago Hornets of the Arena Hockey League.
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286:. In addition, he played in four playoff games, scoring one assist.
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for a total of 13 points. During the regular season, he had six
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In 1936 Suomi, along with other MOHL players, took jobs in
908:. Hallowell & James Funeral Home. September 25, 2014
145:(October 29, 1913 – September 23, 2014) was an American
751:. Downers Grove, Illinois. October 1, 2014. p. 14
255:. For the next season, from 1935–36, he was called to
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on
October 29, 1913. His father was an immigrant from
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Biographical information and career statistics from
267:. He was offered an opportunity to try out for the
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983:Ice hockey people from St. Louis County, Minnesota
239:For the 1934–35 season, Suomi was a member of the
822:. LostHockey.com. February 2002. Archived from
781:Hiitelä, Juha; Vancouver (September 29, 2014).
219:, he and two of his friends were approached by
98:170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
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783:"Vanhin NHL-kiekkoilija Al Suomi on kuollut"
185:Suomi was born to a working-class family in
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340:After the ArHL folded in 1940, Suomi began
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998:Sportspeople from Eveleth, Minnesota
701:List of centenarians (sportspeople)
973:American people of Finnish descent
149:player, who played 5 games in the
90:5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
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988:Ice hockey players from Minnesota
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265:Michigan-Ontario Hockey League
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874:Pates, Kevin (June 6, 2010).
943:The Internet Hockey Database
728:The Internet Hockey Database
445:Eveleth-Gilbert High School
365:Regular season and playoffs
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978:Chicago Blackhawks players
724:Al Suomi career statistics
16:American ice hockey player
993:American men centenarians
855:. Legends of Hockey. 2007
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876:"Eveleth's Al Suomi: 96"
332:Al's hardware store, in
820:"Albert William Suomi"
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307:National Hockey League
229:Minneapolis, Minnesota
215:. In 1934, during the
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193:, and shares the name
151:National Hockey League
350:Countryside, Illinois
334:Countryside, Illinois
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939:Hockey-Reference.com
301:had benched all the
143:Albert William Suomi
576:Chicago Black Hawks
299:Frederic McLaughlin
295:Chicago Black Hawks
155:Chicago Black Hawks
127:Chicago Black Hawks
935:Eliteprospects.com
853:"Al William Suomi"
532:Detroit Tool Shop
489:Chicago Baby Ruth
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272:Olympic ice hockey
187:Eveleth, Minnesota
69:September 23, 2014
902:"Albert W. Suomi"
826:on August 2, 2007
745:"Albert W. Suomi"
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620:Detroit Pontiacs
360:Career statistics
261:Detroit Tool Shop
259:, and joined the
241:Chicago Baby Ruth
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19:Ice hockey player
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910:. Retrieved
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884:. Retrieved
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859:December 24,
857:. Retrieved
830:December 24,
828:. Retrieved
824:the original
791:. Retrieved
789:(in Finnish)
787:Ilta-Sanomat
786:
776:
759:– via
753:. Retrieved
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354:Louis Holmes
346:World War II
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243:team of the
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175:Louis Holmes
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71:(2014-09-23)
963:2014 deaths
958:1913 births
793:February 6,
755:January 13,
658:NHL totals
318:penalty box
209:left winger
157:during the
952:Categories
941:, or
937:, or
933:, or
906:Obituaries
707:References
342:refereeing
324:Later life
205:ice hockey
181:Early life
147:ice hockey
123:Played for
48:1913-10-29
253:Minnesota
153:with the
107:Left wing
76:La Grange
59:Minnesota
886:July 22,
695:See also
617:1936–37
529:1935–36
486:1934–35
441:1931–32
384:Playoffs
303:Canadian
257:Michigan
213:Virginia
167:Michigan
103:Position
80:Illinois
25:Al Suomi
931:NHL.com
571:1936–37
398:League
280:assists
263:of the
225:Chicago
201:Finnish
191:Finland
163:Detroit
55:Eveleth
391:Season
95:Weight
87:Height
82:, U.S.
61:, U.S.
623:MOHL
535:MOHL
493:USAHA
450:HS-MN
395:Team
249:goals
221:scout
196:Suomi
914:2014
888:2010
861:2007
832:2007
795:2019
757:2023
436:PIM
269:1936
118:Left
114:Shot
66:Died
42:Born
726:at
638:14
581:NHL
433:Pts
420:PIM
415:Pts
954::
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430:A
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