[bigjack]

Originally Posted by Maggie3and Me

Quote:

Orland was quiet and unassuming off the ice, but was a take-charge-guy on the ice. He possessed excellent ability and became a symbol of desire and dedication. He was a no-nonsense guy who was quick to defend any of his teammates - a great team player.

As a youngster he played for the Prince Albert Mintos of the SJHL. In his first season with the Mintos (1953-54) he won the championship and was the teams most important player, leading the entire league in assists. Orland went on to play 188 games for the Mintos, scoring 321 points. In between he played a couple of games for WHL's Saskatoon Quakers.

During these great junior days in Saskatchewan the boy they called Kurt was labeled as a "million dollar prospect." Kurt would never fulfill that promise, but eventually carved out a nice career for himself.

Orland moved on to have three steady seasons for the Vancouver Canucks of the WHL becoming the WHL rookie of the year in 1958. He also played in the AHL for the Springfield Indians and Buffalo Bisons. The native of Cudworth, Saskatchewan also made his NHL debut as a 24-year old during the 1960-61 season for the NY Rangers. He did pretty well, registering 6 points in 10 games.

On June 13, 1961 Kurt was claimed by the Boston Bruins in the intra-league draft. He spend most of the 1961-62 season in Providence (AHL) and only got to play in 8 games for Boston. During the off-season Orland was traded to San Francisco of the WHL for $ 20,000. He had a great season for the Seals, scoring 87 points in 70 games. Boston realized that they had made a mistake by trading away Orland so they bought him back soon after.

Orland had two unspectacular seasons in Beantown and was traded to Toronto together with Pat Stapleton and Andy Hebenton for Ron Stewart on June 8, 1965. Orland only played one season for the Maple Leafs before once again moving. This time it was back to the Big Apple as the NY Rangers claimed him in the intra-league draft.

Orland had two very fine seasons for the NY Rangers and when he reported to training camp to start the 1968-69 season he was fresh from his most successful season that included a career high 15 goals. But unfortunately disaster struck. Shortly after the camp opened Orland sustained a severe back injury that required a spinal fusion. For six months Orland endured tremendous pain while wearing a cast and then a brace. He missed the entire season except for two games.

He was still handicapped at the start of the 1969-70 season and was unable to achieve his potential. NY Rangers GM Emile Francis decided to not protect Orland in the expansion draft 1970. Vancouver Canucks GM Bud Poile immediately jumped at the opportunity to add Orland to his team. It was a great fit for Orland, who returned to the city where he once had played in the WHL (1957-58, 59-61). He had also met his wife in Vancouver.

Canucks coach Hal Laycoe was a big supporter of Kurtenbach's. "We didn't necessarily think of him as a big scorer. We though of him as a leader because of his competitive approach to hockey, his class as an individual and his ability to handle the rough going."

Orland saw his experience in Vancouver as a fresh start. He became the first captain in the franchise history (1970), a position he held with great dignity until 1974. Orland quickly became a fan favourite and had an exceptionally fine first season for the Canucks. He scored 53 points (21+32) in 52 games, which was easily his best season ever in the NHL to that point. The next season (1971-72) he topped that and scored 61 points (24+37).

"I can't explain it," Orland said at the time of his new found success. "It's true that now that I'm the team captain I'm in a slightly different role. Before, I was always the third center, specializing in checking assignments. Now, I'm getting a chance to spend more time on the ice and to work on power plays. That's made a difference, simply because I'm getting more opportunities. Shots are going in for me. My passes are getting to where I want them to go. It's just the way it is in sports."

Orland went on to play another two seasons in the picturesque city of Vancouver. At the age of 37 he decided to retire after a career that rewarded him with some of his best hockey while a member of the Vancouver Canucks.

Orland wasn't a spectacular player and he bounced around a lot over the years, but he played hard every night and his approach to the game was perfect. He once said. " I'm a hockey player by profession. I like hockey and make a living at it. I will play my best no matter where I land. " And that's exactly what he did.

bigjack,

I thought you might like this article regarding Kurtenbach. BENNETWOLF, I hope this gives you more insight into him.

Kurtenbach being the best fighter of the 60's to me is a stretch bigjack. I said he never was a fighter,but, could handle himself pretty well. I admit I saw him early then late in his career. With Vancouver, he had already made his bones and did not have to fight as much. I also said he was a pain in the ass to the Hawks, which, he was.

My comments are based on what I saw, not on what happened when I did not see him play. I know that players gave him a lot of respect and the fights I did see him in he handled himself pretty well. I do know a lot of players did not want to fight him.

I will try find more info and will post what I find.

Nice article and to most he was the best fighter of that era. It was normally 3 guys that they would mention. Fergie, Ted Harris, and Kurtenbach. Most picked Kurtenbach as the best fighter and Fergie by far as the best policeman! Noone was close to Ferguson as a policeman in the 1960's. Guys like Ted Green would get mentioned or a Reg Fleming, Vic Hadfield, Howe, but Kurtenbach prior to his injury was the cream of the crop to most.
This article describes Kurtenbach accurately. In NY prior to his injury, he was the 3rd line center and a 35 point man with around 25 assists and 10 goals. His role was to be a checker and get his assists and also lend physical support when needed. In 1969/70, he only played in 53 games and as a parttime player and only had 4 goals and 14 points with 47 minutes. In the playoff against Boston, he played all 6 games with 24 minutes and 3 points and was a presence.
Cashman fought him smart in NY staying in tight and didn't allow Kurtenbach to stand back and fire away.
As the great writer Gerry Eskenazi wrote in his book, "A Year on Ice",
"Later in that game, Jim Lorentz made the mistake of hitting Tkaczuk in the face with his stick and Kurtenbach saw it. The big man joins in and in what becomes the best fight of the night, he belts Lorentz around. Speer enters the bout, and the 3 are penalized."
That was typical of Boston in those days of jumping in anytme a Bruin was losing a fight.
In Derek Sanderson's book, "I Got To Be Me", he also wrote that Kurtenbach was the best fighter in the league. I can't kill Francis for letting him go in the 1970 expansion draft because he was 34 and had the back and Francis had young centers in Syl Apps and Don Luce waiting to step in. Francis used Larry Brown to acquire veteran 3rd line center Pete Stemkowski early in 1970 and sent Luce there also two days later. With Stemkowski, Francis unfortunately sent the young and talented Apps to Pittsburgh for Slats Sather in January of 1971. The year before with Kurtenbach returning from his injury, he had sent another young talented center-Whitey Widing to the Kings for Teddy Irvine.
I have computer issues right now and can't search the web or would look for some articles on Kurtenbach's fighting prowess and reputation. I can get on this site directly but am unable to search due to virus issues!
Kurtenbach in Eskenazi's book talks about how his reputation as a fighter has distressed him for some time. He said that he never changed his style since junior hockey except that he was scoring 80 or 100 points in a season so they wrote about that and not the other thing meaning fighting.
Eskenazi writes about his being a low key guy and the pain he's in as he attempts to comeback from the spinal fusion surgery. Eskenazi is amazed with Kurtenbach's being so low key as he asks is this the man with the fastest fists in hockey?
That to me distinguished Kurtenbach from Ferguson who was a warrior and would do anything to win and had a powerful personality whereas Kurtenbach was a reluctant fighter even though he did it so well!