Back to the Buffalo Sabres Newsfeed

Mortson, ex-AHL Bison, dies at 90

Gus Mortson, captain of the 1959-60 Buffalo Bisons who spent parts of three seasons with the American Hockey League team here after a long career in the NHL, died Saturday in Timmins, Ont. He was 90.

A tough defenseman who led the NHL in penalty minutes four times, Mortson began his NHL career with Toronto, helping the Leafs to Stanley Cups in 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1951. He was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in 1953 in a deal that brought goalie Harry Lumley to Toronto. One reason Mortson was expendable was the arrival of a young blueliner named Tim Horton.