Neil Armstrong

NHLOA Alumni
Linesperson
Plympton, Ontario
Neil Armstrong

Career Statistics

21
Seasons Active
1744
Regular Season Games
18
Stanley Cup Finals

Biography

Neil Armstrong appeared in more games than Gordie Howe–1,744, in fact–and can boast that not one of them was a home game! The native of Plympton Township, near Sarnia, Ontario, was on the line for 22 years, although he wasn’t sure he’d even survive his first. In that contest, November 17, 1957 when he was just 24, the Bruins and Leafs got into a brawl near the end of the third period. Boston’s Fern Flaman skated up to Armstrong, who had broken up a fight involving him, with his arm dangling, screaming, “You broke my arm!” Scared, Armstrong didn’t move, but Flaman soon started howling with laughter as he moved his arm freely to and fro.

By the time he retired in 1978, Armstrong had sustained only one serious injury himself, though not bad enough to force him to miss any games. In 1971, Gary Dornhoefer fell awkwardly along the boards, and Armstrong was up against the glass. The player’s stick cut Armstrong’s hand and broke a bone, forcing him to wear a cast for three months. For his remarkable string of appearances, he was nicknamed “Ironman.”

Armstrong was like any Canadian boy, playing minor hockey in Galt but not quite skilled enough to make it to the NHL. He was offered a chance to officiate a game in the same league, accepted, and went on to earn his OHA certification. He rose quickly through the ranks, and on October 16, 1973 Armstrong was honoured at the Detroit Olympia for officiating his 1,314th game, breaking the previous record set by George Hayes. He retired in 1978 and turned his hand to scouting, for the Montreal Canadiens. Throughout his career, Armstrong was also golf pro at the Sarnia Golf and Curling Club in the summer for some two decades.

He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Officials category in 1991.

Milestones

First NHL Game

November 17, 1957 Boston Garden
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Stanley Cup Finals

1977 Final

(4)
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1976 Final

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1975 Final

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1974 Final

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1973 Final

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1972 Final

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1971 Final

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1970 Final

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1969 Final

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1968 Final

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1967 Final

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1966 Final

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1965 Final

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1964 Final

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1963 Final

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1962 Final

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1961 Final

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1960 Final

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AllStar Games

1976 AllStar Game Spectrum Philadelphia, PA January 20, 1976
1973 AllStar Game Madison Square Garden New York, NY January 30, 1973
1971 AllStar Game Boston Garden Boston, MA January 19, 1971
1969 AllStar Game Montreal Forum Montreal, QC January 21, 1969
1967 AllStar Game Montreal Forum Montreal, QC January 18, 1967
1965 AllStar Game Montreal Forum Montreal, QC October 20, 1965
1964 AllStar Game Maple Leaf Gardens Toronto, ON October 10, 1964
1963 AllStar Game Maple Leaf Gardens Toronto, ON October 05, 1963
1961 AllStar Game Chicago Stadium Chicago, IL October 07, 1961
1960 AllStar Game Montreal Forum Montreal, QC October 01, 1960