February 17, 1959 -- The NHL's best players have come to Buffalo twice for All-Star Games over the years. The one everyone remembers came in 1978, when the two conferences squared off.
This is the anniversary of the other one.
Bill Dobbyn was a member of the Buffalo Bisons hockey team, and was considered a top prospect. Sadly, he took a stick to the eye on Dec. 27, 1958, and lost his vision in the eye. Red Wings' general manager Jack Adams wanted to put together an All-Star game to raise money for Dobbyn.
The other five NHL teams wanted to help too. Therefore, several top players took to the ice as the all-stars played the Bisons. A crowd of 9,368 filled the Aud for the game.
How many games feature nine future Hall of Famers? This one did: Bobby Hull, Ted Lindsay, Pierre Pilote, Glenn Hall, Johnny Bower, Andy Bathgate, Johnny Bucyk, Bill Gadsby and Bert Olmstead.
No wonder the All-Stars won, 6-2. Lindsay and Bill Dineen had two goals each.
--- Budd Bailey
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