Harry Broadbent emerged on the professional hockey stage in 1912 when he debuted with the powerhouse Ottawa Senators of the NHA. In his rookie year, he was seventh in scoring in the league.
Known in the league as Punch Broadbent, he gained the name because of his chubby face, which friends said puffed up like a charm doll when he smiled.
He quickly emerged as one of the best players in the league and in 1915, helping the Senators reach the Stanley Cup Final. In that series, he scored three goals in a losing effort to the Vancouver Millionaires.
Then, he went off to war.
For the next three-and-a-half years, Punch served with distinction in the front lines of Europe. A member of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery, he was promoted to bombardier in October 1916.
In March 1918, due to his war service, he was awarded the Military Medal. When the war was over, he was a lieutenant. Sadly, his brother Spencer, was killed in France during the war.
As soon as he arrived back in Ottawa, a delegation from the Ottawa Senators was there to greet him.
He returned to the ice in January 1919, playing for the Senators once again. For the next six seasons with the team, he won the Stanley Cup three times in 1920, 1921 and 1923. He also led the league in scoring in 1922, with 32 goals in 24 games. That same season, he set a record with 16 consecutive games in which he scored a goal.
He gained the nickname of “Old Elbows” for his passion on the ice, and he is regarded as one of the first true power forwards in NHL history.
In 1925, Broadbent was traded to the Montreal Maroons with Clint Benedict. The two men quickly made the Maroons contenders. Punch was the team’s leading scorer and he helped the Maroons win their first Stanley Cup in 1926 against his old team, Ottawa.
In 1928, Punch was traded back to Ottawa, then he played the following season for the New York Americans. At that point, he retired.
In his professional career, he had 172 goals and 58 assists in 360 games.
He coached the Ottawa Rideaus for a number of years in the Ottawa City Hockey League, helping the team win the championship in 1933.
In 1962, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
He died on March 6, 1971.