By Tom Annelin / HockeyThunderBay.com
PERUSING through the numbers of those who distinguished themselves with their on-ice exploits over the years, we find yet another Lakehead hockey stalwart that might not get the recognition that he undeniably deserves – Walter Bradley.
Born in Port Arthur back in 1936, Bradley was recruited as a 16-year-old by first-year coach Mickey Hennessy to play junior for the crosstown rival Fort William Columbus Canadiens, in the fall of 1952.
Paying immediate dividends for the talent-laden club, the rookie forward averaged over a point-per-game in helping the local Habs finish in top spot over the Port Arthur Flyers, Westfort Hurricanes and the West End Bruins.
The Canadiens went on to win the Thunder Bay Junior Hockey League championship, grounding the Flyers in six games, including seeing Bradley tally twice during a 7-1 romp in the finale.
After falling in the western playdowns to the St. Boniface Canadiens, Fort William returned to their winning ways the following season, hoisting the TBJHL trophy for another year.
A 58-point run, in 36 outings, saw Bradley contribute mightily that season.
Gaining revenge over St. Boniface, with a hard-fought west series win, that the Canadiens took 4-3, which also featured a tie, Bradley led the team offensively into the Abbott Cup western Jr. Final.
Taking on a strong Edmonton Oil Kings, that featured eventual Hockey Hall of Fame honourees Norm Ullman and Johnny Bucyk, Bradley’s contributions were not enough, as they fell four games to one versus the eventual Memorial Cup finalists.
From there, Bradley’s talents were sent to the Quebec Frontenacs where he led the squad in scoring, along with winning a third consecutive league title in 1954-55.
He was also tabbed the Quebec Jr. loop’s Best Gentlemanly Player award recipient.
The Frontenacs later advanced to the eastern final before being ousted by the powerful Toronto Marlboros, who went on the Memorial Cup.
Moving on from there, Bradley suited up for the Kitchener Canucks, where he led the seven-team Ontario Hockey Association in goals, with 51, while his 93 points were second-best overall.
Of note, the leading scorer in the league with 103 points, was his Kitchener teammate and fellow Lakehead product Stan Baluik.
The offensive exploits of the duo saw them both named OHA 1st Team All-Stars.
After the Canucks were cracked in the OHA playoffs, the Montreal Canadiens, who held his playing 
rights, shipped Bradley to the Montreal Royals, where he won two more championships; both the Quebec Hockey League’s Thomas McConnell Memorial Trophy and the Edinburgh Trophy after that.
Staying with the Royals through 1958, he later had a one-year stint in the old Western Hockey League with the Spokane Spokes where he was part of a healthy contingent of Lakehead players, namely Max Mekilok; Benny Woit; Joe Lund and Connie Madigan.
Summoned once again by the Canadiens, Bradley then joined the fledgling Eastern Professional Hockey League where he suited up with the likes of the Royals, Hull-Ottawa Canadiens and the Sault Ste. Marie Thunderbirds.
While the EPHL only lasted four years, it boasted a plethora of future NHL standouts such as Phil Esposito; Jean-Claude Tremblay; Jean Ratelle; J.P. Parise; Barclay Plager; Rod Gilbert; Pat Stapleton; Bill White and Jim Pappin.
The league also included many local greats, including Bradley; Woit; Eddie Kachur; Joe Szura; Bob McCammon; John Kowalchuk; Roger Sawicki; Don McLeod; Jim Moro and Gary Mork.
After Bradley’s time there came to an end, the International Hockey League beckoned.
He dressed in the IHL with the Toledo Mercuries; Fort Wayne Komets; Omaha Knights and the Toledo Blades.
Collecting more points than games played, more team success came for Bradley in 1963-64 with the Blades, who won the IHL’s Turner Cup.
Other local connections on that squad were Mork and Dave Vibert.
Stepping back from the pro ranks, Bradley went on to play two seasons of senior hockey, with the Guelph Regals.
Leading the team in tallies, he and Joe Malo were members of the Regals’ OHA Sr. winning-side in 1966, that would later fall in the Allan Cup eastern finals to the Sherbrooke Castors.
While he never quite got the opportunity to compete in the then six-team NHL, Bradley’s son Brian went on to play in 651 contests in the show, mainly with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The younger Bradley also skated with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, and Calgary Flames, while also competing with the Canadian National Team in 1987-88 as well as in the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Prior to that he helped Canada win gold at the 1985 World Junior Hockey Championship in Minnesota.
Ironically, he shared the team scoring lead at the World Junior event with Adam Creighton, the son of another Lakehead hockey stalwart, Dave Creighton.
Winning titles at multiple levels, while playing over 900 games in his career, Walter Bradley shone offensively throughout, amassing 880 points, including notching 426 goals, to help rightfully establish himself in the long line of the Lakehead’s hockey legends.