A Legendary Defenseman, A Brutal Injury, And A Stomach-Turning Act Of Grit

Published on May 27th, 2025 8:54 pm EST
Written By: Dave Manuel


Eddie Shore famously refused anesthetic and calmly watched a doctor reattach his nearly severed ear, cementing his hockey legend forever. Eddie Shore played hard.

One of the NHL's earliest stars, he was known for physical play and a high tolerance for pain.

But one story stands out, even in a career full of them.

In the 1930s, while playing for the Boston Bruins, Shore took a hit that nearly tore his right ear off.

He skated to the locker room.

A doctor prepped him for emergency stitching.

Shore said no to anesthetic.

Instead, he grabbed a mirror.

He watched - start to finish - as the doctor sewed the ear back on.

No flinching. No reaction.

Just Shore, monitoring the work in silence.

He wasn't trying to prove anything.

He just wanted the job done right.

That season, he scored 10 goals and added 27 points.

He won the Hart Trophy as league MVP.

But what people remembered was the ear.

The injury. The calm. The decision to stay conscious and watch.

That story followed him more than any stat ever did.

Today, the Eddie Shore Award is given annually to the AHL's top defenseman.

For most, it's about on-ice performance.

But for those who know the history, it's about something else.

A player who sat in a locker room and watched his ear get sewn back on -
because missing a game wasn't an option.

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