Size matters in the world of professional hockey, as much as anything can really matter in a game where greatness is about skill, speed, and hockey sense. Here, though, are 10 players who have made clear that lack of height is hardly a deterrent on the ice.]
From speed, agility, skill, intelligence, and determination, these pint-size players have shown the world that a small stature is no impediment to greatness in hockey. Sep 19, 2017; Let's pay tribute to their undeniable field impact and try to rank the 10 greatest sub-6 footers in hockey historical past by peak. Career achievements will likely be key right here.
1. Roy Worters - 5'3"
The diminutive Roy Worters—5'3"— is the smallest player ever to suit up between the pipes in the NHL. At five-foot-three, Worters was a man to be reckoned with in the crease. Part of the nickname "Shrimp", he proved he was big in talent. With his excellent reflex and agility, Worters served as a tough adversary for any opposing team. As such, he was rightfully inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1969 after a dominant career which saw him set nearly every record there was to set.
2. Nathan Gerbe - 5'4"
The 5-foot-4 Nathan Gerbe has been defying the odds his whole life, proving that you can be small in size, but talented in speed and goal scoring. That relentless tenacity and determination has kept Gerbe in the league for parts of the past few seasons.
One could say that this undrafted free agent has every time, went out and proved that size does not play a factor when it comes to skill, and heart after his grit and determination in all his games has inspired all fans( well maybe not rival fans) players, coaches and managers.
3. Brian Gionta - 5'7"
The 5-foot-7 Brian Gionta had an impact on the game that far transcended his physical stature. Gionta was remember as a hard-nosed player willing to go to the net when the going got tough, and he earned the respect of his teammates and opponents alike.
He served as captain of the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres, and his leadership qualities were as impressive as his ability to find the back of the net. Throughout his career Gionta was a member of the New Jersey Devils before playing for the Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, and Boston Bruins among others.
4. Cole Caufield - 5'7"
Drafted 15th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2019 NHL Draft, Cole Caufield is already becoming one of the best small players in the NHL. In the 2020-21 campaign he emerged as a scoring option while contributing to the Canadiens' Cinderella run to the Stanley Cup Final as a 20-year-old. He brings speed, agility and an ability to score that suggests he is a star in the making.
5. Martin St. Louis - 5'8"
D Drew Doughty vs. RW Martin St. Louis: At 5-8 St. Louis made up for his lack of height with blinding speed and excellent skill. He enjoyed a great career in Tampa Bay, where he won the Hart Trophy and the Stanley Cup with the Lightning. St. Louis' 1,033 career points cemented his legacy as one of the best one of the smallest players in NHL history, and proved to young players for generations to come that height should never get in the way of playing in the best league in the world.
6. Cam Atkinson - 5'8"
One of the reasons Cam Atkinson has been so successful in the NHL is due to his quickness and well-developed hands. A smaller player, he-came-off-a-41-goal-and-28-assists-for-69-points-career-season-in-2018-19. His work ethic on the ice and ability to score put him in the good graces of fans and organization's alike—so much so that he has become invaluable to whichever team he has been a part of throughout his career.
7. Jared Spurgeon - 5'9"
Jared Spurgeon, one of the smallest defensemen around in height and weight in the NHL, has made the definition of a defenseman look a little bit different. Now his speed and ability to move the puck have him in a position to make himself indispensable for the Minnesota Wild. Spurgeon has been a significant part of this team because of his consistency and able to produce at both ends of the ice.
8. Jonathan Marchessault - 5'9"
Or, if you prefer : Jonathan Marchessault : 5-foot-9 center, made the Stanley Cup. One thing he's shown is that he can still play at an NHL level despite a lack of size. His offensive skills on the ice and all of his intangibles off make him a perfect fit for the Golden Knights, who capatilized on waiving him to the Penguins before the 2017-18 season, him becoming a unrestricted free agent and a future Hall of Fame resume that includes the locker room trophy “Stanley Cup Champion”.
9. Ray Whitney - 5'10"
He was 5 feet 10 inches and was a crafty player with good playmaking skill and scoring. Whitney was one of the smallest players in the league, but he had a successful career that saw him win a Stanley Cup in 2006 with the Carolina Hurricanes. A true professional and individual admired by many throughout his lengthy career, Whitney was so good at generating scoring chances and providing offensive input for others.
10. Joe Malone - 5'10"
The 5-foot-10 Joe Malone was a 'short' NHLer, by the era's standards of the early 1900s. Nevertheless, he had a huge effect on the game itself. Malone netted seven times in a match, the one and only player in NHL history to achieve this, a record which still stands to this day. His mastery of scoring goals and wine him and dine him with some of the best statistical achievements in the history of the game have crowned him a hockey legend.
These are the players that have proved time and time again size is not an obstacle in the NHL. Both players have left a lasting legacy through their skill, determination and contributions to the game—encouraging younger players to follow in their footsteps and heed advice from people who suggest that they are too small to play the game.
While we honor the accomplishments of these extraordinary hockey players, remember – in the world of hockey size doesn't matter, its the size of the heart of the player which does! Here's to these amazing athletes, who have been an example to all hockey players regardless of their size who are capable of dreaming of making it in professional hockey.
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