the team asked for an explanation, Shore suspended the two players who spoke for the team, one of whom was Brian Kilrea. Alan Eagleson, then a little-known lawyer and sometime politician, was brought in to negotiate with Shore on the players' behalf. The battle escalated for months, ending with Shore giving up day-to-day operation of the club to the Los Angeles Kings; the genesis of the National Hockey League Players' Association stems from that incident. Shore took back full control of the team in 1974, changed its name back to the Indians and restored its traditional blue-white-red scheme. He continued to own the team until he sold it in 1976. For his contributions to the game of hockey, Eddie Shore was awarded the vanity license plate "MR HOCKEY" by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. On March 15, 1985, Shore was visiting his son in Springfield, Massachusetts. That night, Shore began coughing up and vomiting blood and was later rushed to the hospital. He was pronounced dead the next morning and the cause of death was later determined to be liver cancer. His funeral was held in his hometown five days later. He is buried in Hillcrest Park Cemetery in the Sixteen Acres section of Springfield. Shore was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1947. The Boston Bruins retired his uniform number, 2. The Eddie Shore Award is given annually to the AHL's best defenceman. In 1998, he was ranked number 10 on The Hockey News list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players, making him the highest-ranked pre-World War II player. Cultural references In the film Slap Shot, Eddie Shore's name, along with Toe Blake and Dit Clapper, is considered synonymous with "old-time hockey." Shore is also featured in the Don Cherry biopic Keep Your Head Up Kid: The Don Cherry Story where he was portrayed by Stephen McHattie. Awards, honours and records Named to the WHL first All-Star team in 1926. Stanley Cup winner in 1929 and 1939. Named to the NHL first All-Star team in 1931, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1939. Won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's Most Valuable Player in 1933, 1935, 1936, 1938. Named to the NHL second All-Star team in 1934. His #2' Jersey was retired by the Boston Bruins in 1947. Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1947. Won the Lester B. Patrick Award for contributions to hockey in