Honoring Blackhawks Greatest 17 on June 17
Kenny Wharram attended three training camps with the Chicago Blackhawks before finally getting a regular spot on the team in 1958-59 at the age of 25. He found his role with the Hawks when he was linked with Hall of Famers Stan Mikita and Ted Lindsay in the 1959-60 season. The trio formed the original «Scooter Line», due to their terrific speed. That line was key in the 1961 Stanley Cup win. After Lindsay retired, Ab McDonald and Doug Mohns played at left wing with Wharram and Mikita.
Wharram recorded seven straight 20-goal seasons from 1962-69 in his 14-year NHL career, all with Chicago. He was twice named an All-Star and won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 1964, given to the player who has exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct with a high standard of play. He is one of seven Blackhawks to win the award. In the 1963-64 season, he scored 39 goals and had 32 assists, for a career-high 71 points.
His speed was his greatest asset and he was also a tenacious worker who could put some finesse into the game when needed. Wharram also was one of the most accurate shooters in the NHL. He consistently finished among the top 10 in shooting accuracy, leading the entire league in 1963-64, scoring on over 20% of his shots.
Wharram had racked up three straight 60+ point seasons and looked better than ever during the 1969 training camp when he felt chest pains after getting off the ice. He was diagnosed with myocarditis, a virus that attacks the muscles of the heart, and was forced to retire. It was a tragic end to a career that was hard fought and had a lot more to give.
He finished his 14-year career with 252 goals and 281 assists in 766 regular season games. Wharram passed away on January 10, 2017 at the age of 83.
| POLL | ||
Which line nickname is the best in franchise history? | ||
| Pony | 23 | 21.3 % |
| Scooter | 31 | 28.7 % |
| Clydesdales | 26 | 24.1 % |
| MPH | 28 | 25.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
