LAWRENCE “LARRY” WILSON

BUFFALO HOCKEY BISONS ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER

Arguably the most recognizable figure in Buffalo Bisons history, Larry Wilson enjoyed a long and distinguished career in the American Hockey League, spanning 15 seasons as a player and six more as a head coach. He spent much of the early part of his career in the NHL with Detroit and Chicago, winning a Stanley Cup with the Red Wings in 1950. In 1955, he began a 13-year stay with the Bisons that would see him become the all-time leader in every offensive category.

In his first season with Buffalo, Wilson was named a Second Team AHL All-Star after scoring 39 goals and putting up 78 points in 62 games. He helped the Bisons to the Calder Cup Finals in 1959 and picked up another Second Team All-Star nod in 1959-60, when he led Buffalo in scoring with 33 goals and 78 points.

Another trip to the Finals ended in a loss to Springfield in 1962, but Wilson, and the Bisons, finally brought the Calder Cup back to Buffalo in 1963, after finishing with the best record in the league and knocking off Hershey in a tense seven-game series. Although his offensive numbers began to decline, Wilson remained an integral member of the Bisons organization, and he returned to the top of the team scoring page in 1966-67 when he notched 28 goals and 37 assists in 65 games.

Wilson played his last game in the AHL in 1968. His final numbers in Buffalo, including playoffs, are 827 games played, 271 goals scored with 441 assists for 712 points. All rank first in the storied history of the Bisons franchise. His 514 penalty minutes rank him 2nd in team history.