Bill Mosienko
A swift and graceful winger for the Chicago Black Hawks who once scored three goals in a mere 21 seconds.
1921–1994 (age 73)·Canadian professional ice hockey player·Birthday: November 2·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Bill Mosienko’s name is forever etched in hockey lore for one breathtaking, record-setting burst of speed. The Winnipeg native, known for his slick skating and scoring touch, spent his entire 14-year NHL career with the Chicago Black Hawks. While he was a consistent and skilled right-winger, a six-time All-Star who helped Chicago reach the 1944 Stanley Cup Final, his legacy was sealed on March 23, 1952. In a game against the New York Rangers, with Chicago trailing, Mosienko scored three goals in an astonishing 21 seconds—a feat that has never been matched. Off the ice, he was famously gentlemanly, winning the Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship in 1945. After his playing days, he returned to Winnipeg, where he remained a beloved ambassador for the game, his historic hat trick a permanent highlight of hockey's record books.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Bill was born in 1921, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bill Was Born
The biggest hits of 1921
#1 Movie
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Bill's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1921Born
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1926Started school
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1934Became a teenager
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1937Could drive
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1939Could vote
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1942Turned 21
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1951Turned 30
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1961Turned 40
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 50
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 60
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 70
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Died at 73
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
Key Achievements
- Holds the NHL record for the fastest three goals by one player, scoring a hat trick in 21 seconds in 1952.
- Played his entire 14-season NHL career (1942-1955) for the Chicago Black Hawks.
- Won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct in the 1944-45 season.
- Was a six-time NHL All-Star and helped the Black Hawks reach the 1944 Stanley Cup Final.
Did You Know?
All three goals of his record-setting hat trick were assisted by linemate Gus Bodnar.
He served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II while playing for the Black Hawks.
After retirement, he owned and operated a bowling alley in Winnipeg for many years.
His son, Bill Mosienko Jr., also played professional hockey in the minor leagues.
“I just kept shooting and the puck kept going in.”
