Aubrey "Dit" Clapper was one of the early stars of the NHL as a forward and a defenseman.

Clapper was born in Newmarket, Ontario, but his professional career began as a defenseman with the Boston Tigers of the Can-Am League in 1926. One year later his contract was sold to the Boston Bruins, and he made his NHL debut at right wing by scoring against the Chicago Black Hawks on Nov. 15, 1927.

The next season, Clapper helped the Bruins win the Stanley Cup for the first time, defeating the New York Rangers 2-0 in the best-of-3 Final. He scored the first goal of the Final, in the second period of Boston's 2-0 win in Game 1.

Clapper was at his best when skating with Cooney Weiland and Dutch Gainor on what became called the "Dynamite Line." In 1929-30, Clapper scored 41 goals, second in the NHL to Weiland's 43, and his 61 points were third after Weiland (73) and Frank Boucher of the Rangers (62).

By 1937, Clapper was shifted back to his original position. In 1938-39, with Clapper and Eddie Shore anchoring the defense, the Bruins won the Stanley Cup. Clapper had 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) in 42 games and was named a First-Team NHL All-Star for the first of three consecutive seasons.

In 1940-41, Clapper had 26 points (eight goals, 18 assists) in 48 games and was second in Hart Trophy voting to teammate Bill Cowley. He then had five assists in 11 playoff games to help the Bruins win the Stanley Cup for a third time.

Clapper was named a Second-Team NHL All-Star in 1943-44 at age 36.

In 1945 Clapper was named Bruins player/coach, and with six games in 1946-47 he became the first NHL player to play 20 seasons. He also was Bruins captain from 1932-38 and 1939-46.

Clapper had 477 points (229 goals, 248 assists). He was the first player and one of two (Neil Colville) to be voted an NHL All-Star as a forward and a defenseman. At the time of his retirement, his 835 games were the most in NHL history.

The Bruins retired Clapper's No. 5 on Feb. 12, 1947, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame that same year. It's one of the few times the traditional waiting period was waived.