Al Suomi (1913–2014), American ice hockey left winger

Al Suomi was an American left winger who appeared in five NHL games with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1936–37, later ran a hardware store in Countryside, Illinois, and became the oldest living former NHL player.

Overview

Albert William "Al" Suomi (October 29, 1913 – September 23, 2014) was an American professional ice hockey player known for a brief stint in the National Hockey League and a long life after hockey. He played as a left winger and is remembered both for his time on the ice and for his post‑playing career in small business.

Playing career

Suomi reached the highest level of the sport when he appeared in five National Hockey League games with the Chicago Black Hawks during the 1936–37 season. His NHL appearances were concentrated in that single season, a common pattern in an era when rosters were smaller and opportunities at the top professional level could be brief.

The left wing position that Suomi occupied traditionally emphasizes a mix of offensive pressure, puck support along the boards, and defensive responsibility on the flank. Players who filled that role in the 1930s competed on harder ice, with different equipment and rules than modern athletes, and often combined hockey with offseason or post‑career work.

Later career and business

After leaving professional hockey, Suomi finished his playing days with the Chicago Hornets of the Arena Hockey League and retired from the sport in 1937. He transitioned to civilian life by opening a neighborhood business: the family operated "Al's Hardware" in Countryside, Illinois. The hardware store became a long‑running local enterprise and was managed by his children after he stepped back from daily operations. The shop reflects a common path for early 20th‑century athletes who parlayed local prominence into small business ownership.

Legacy and later life

Suomi lived to be 100 years old, becoming a centenarian whose lifetime spanned much of hockey's modern development. Following the death of Louis Holmes in March 2010, Suomi was recognized as the oldest living former NHL player, a distinction he held until his death in 2014. His surname, Suomi, is the Finnish word for Finland, a reminder of common immigrant surnames in North American communities of the era.

Notable facts

Position: left wing, a forward role that balances offense and defensive coverage along the boards.
NHL record: five games with the Chicago Black Hawks during the 1936–37 season.
Final professional season: played for the Chicago Hornets of the Arena Hockey League before retiring in 1937.
Post‑hockey career: founded and ran Al's Hardware in Countryside, Illinois, a family business later operated by his children.
Longevity: became the oldest living former NHL player in 2010 and remained so until his death in 2014.

Al Suomi's story illustrates the pattern of early professional hockey players whose time at the sport's top level was often brief but who maintained ties to their communities through business and family. His life spanned a formative century for hockey in North America and reflects both the sport's modest professional roots and the long personal histories of its participants.