Yvan Cournoyer

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


image_caption =
image_size =
position = Right Wing
shot =
height_ft = 5
height_in = 7
weight_lb = 172
played_for = Montreal Canadiens
league = NHL
nationality = CAN
birth_date = Birth date and age|1943|11|22|mf=y
birth_place = Drummondville, Quebec, CAN
career_start = 1963
career_end = 1979
halloffame = 1982

Yvan Serge Cournoyer (born November 22, 1943) is a former hockey right winger in the National Hockey League who played for the Montreal Canadiens from 1963 to 1979. Cournoyer was born in Drummondville, Quebec. He was nicknamed "The Roadrunner" due to his small size and blazing speed, which he credited to longer blades on his skates.

Professional career

Cournoyer's professional hockey career began in 1961 with the Montreal Junior Canadiens of the Ontario Hockey Association. By the time he was eighteen years old, his legs had become so muscular that he required specially tailored pants.citeweb|url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=p198201&type=Player&page=bio&list=ByName#photo|title=Legends of Hockey -- The Legends -- Honoured Player -- Cournoyer, Yvan -- Biography|accessdate=2008-04-20] Cournoyer made his NHL debut in 1963 with the Montreal Canadiens and earned a full-time spot with the club in 1964 after just seven games with the American Hockey League's Quebec Aces.citeweb|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=1123|title=Yvan Cournoyer's profile at hockeydb.com|accessdate=2008-04-20]

Cournoyer was initally regarded by Canadiens head coach Toe Blake as a defensive liability and undeserving of a regular shift, though he was still frequently used on the power play.citeweb|url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=p198201&type=Player&page=bio&list=ByName#photo|title=Legends of Hockey -- The Legends -- Honoured Player -- Cournoyer, Yvan -- Biography|accessdate=2008-04-20] That changed after Blake's departure following the 1968 Stanley Cup Championship, when incoming coach Claude Ruel granted Cournoyer a full-time shift. Cournoyer went on to have his first forty-goal season in 1968-69citeweb|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=1123|title=Yvan Cournoyer's profile at hockeydb.com|accessdate=2008-04-20] and was named to the NHL's Second All-Star Team.

In 1971, with the arrival of head coach Scotty Bowman, Cournoyer was placed on a line with fellow future Hall of Famers Guy Lafleur and Steve Shutt. Cournoyer scored a career-high 47 goals in the 1971-72 season In 1973, he had his best postseason ever, scoring 15 goals and tallying 10 assists in 17 games, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy following the Canadiens' defeat of the Chicago Black Hawks in the Stanley Cup Finals.citeweb|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=1123|title=Yvan Cournoyer's profile at hockeydb.com|accessdate=2008-04-20]

Cournoyer was named captain of the Canadiens in 1975 following the retirement of Henri Richard, pushing him to play harder in his new leadership role.citeweb|url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=p198201&type=Player&page=bio&list=ByName#photo|title=Legends of Hockey -- The Legends -- Honoured Player -- Cournoyer, Yvan -- Biography|accessdate=2008-04-20] The speedy Cournoyer's ability to stay true to his form in his older age was a favorite topic of discussion of the Montreal fans and hockey media, however, and he did slow down due to a disc in his back that was pressing on a nerve and causing him great pain.citeweb|url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=p198201&type=Player&page=bio&list=ByName#photo|title=Legends of Hockey -- The Legends -- Honoured Player -- Cournoyer, Yvan -- Biography|accessdate=2008-04-20] Cournoyer eventually had to have surgery on his back and missed the entire 1977 postseason.

Cournoyer returned for the 1978 season and played in 68 games, scoring 24 goals and collecting 29 assists to match his previous season's total of 53 points, though it was evident his back still bothered him. He managed to perform in the playoffs again, however, with seven goals and four assists in fifteen games en route to Montreal's third consecutive Cup.citeweb|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=1123|title=Yvan Cournoyer's profile at hockeydb.com|accessdate=2008-04-20] However, he was forced to retire in 1978 after playing in fifteen games. When he retired, he only trailed Lafleur, Maurice Richard, and Jean Beliveau on the Canadiens' all-time scoring list.citeweb|url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=p198201&type=Player&page=bio&list=ByName#photo|title=Legends of Hockey -- The Legends -- Honoured Player -- Cournoyer, Yvan -- Biography|accessdate=2008-04-20] Cournoyer won a total of 10 Stanley Cups as player, second only to Henri Richard.

Cournoyer played for Canada in the 1972 Summit Series, scoring three goals (including one in the final game), and is part of the famous picture wherein Paul Henderson jumps into his arms after scoring the game (and series) winner.

Cournoyer coached the Montreal Roadrunners during the 1994-95 season and was an assistant coach to the Canadiens during the 1996-97 season.citeweb|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=1123|title=Yvan Cournoyer's profile at hockeydb.com|accessdate=2008-04-20] He currently serves as an official ambassador to the Montreal Canadiens.

ee also

*List of NHL players
*List of NHL seasons
*Stanley Cup
*List of Stanley Cup winners
*List of players with 5 or more goals in an NHL game

References

External links

*Legendsmember|Player|P198201|Yvan Cournoyer
*hockeydb|1123|Yvan Cournoyer

Persondata
NAME = Cournoyer, Yvan
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Ice hockey player
DATE OF BIRTH = November 22, 1943
PLACE OF BIRTH = Drummondville, Quebec, Canada