Bun Cook
A swift and cerebral winger, he formed one of hockey's most famous early lines and helped build the New York Rangers into champions.
1904–1988 (age 84)·Canadian ice hockey player and coach·Birthday: September 18·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Frederick 'Bun' Cook emerged from the rough-and-tumble Canadian senior leagues, winning an Allan Cup in 1924 before turning pro. His path truly defined itself in New York, where he joined his brother Bill and center Frank Boucher to create the 'Bread Line,' a unit celebrated for its dazzling combination play. Cook was the line's engine on the left wing, a playmaker with a sharp scoring touch who backchecked with ferocity. He was integral to the Rangers' first two Stanley Cup victories in 1928 and 1933, providing both clutch goals and veteran leadership. After his playing days, he embarked on a long coaching career in the minors, famously mentoring a young Gordie Howe in Omaha and shaping generations of players with his deep, firsthand knowledge of the game's fundamentals.
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.
Bun was born in 1904, 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 Bun Was Born
The biggest hits of 1904
Bun's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1904Born
New York City opens its first subway line
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1909Started school
Robert Peary claims to reach the North Pole
President: William Howard Taft
1917Became a teenager
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1920Could drive
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1922Could vote
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1925Turned 21
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1934Turned 30
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1944Turned 40
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1954Turned 50
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1964Turned 60
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 70
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 80
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1988Died at 84
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
Key Achievements
- Won the Stanley Cup twice with the New York Rangers, in 1928 and 1933.
- Was a vital member of the famed 'Bread Line' with his brother Bill Cook and Frank Boucher.
- Captured the Allan Cup, Canada's senior hockey championship, with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in 1924.
- Played over 450 games in the NHL for the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Bun' originated in childhood, derived from a comic strip character named Bunco.
He coached the Omaha Knights to the USHL championship in 1957, with a 17-year-old Gordie Howe on the roster.
He and his brother Bill were the first sibling pair to both have their numbers retired by the New York Rangers.
He once scored a playoff overtime winner for the Rangers against the Montreal Canadiens in 1932.
“You don't win by standing still; you have to keep moving.”
