- Jack Laviolette
Jean-Baptiste "Jack" Laviolette (born -
July 27 ,1879 in Belleville,Ontario - died -January 10 , 1960) was a Canadian professionalice hockey player who played nine seasons for theMontreal Canadiens hockey club.Mr. Laviolette was one of the first
francophone stars of ice hockey. He was an outstanding scorer from the defenceman position. But Jack Laviolette's true place in hockey history has less to do with his scoring prowess and more to do with his role as the true founding organizer of the Canadiens hockey club. He was their first player, coach and general manager in their inaugural 1910 season.With the formation of the
National Hockey Association (NHA) in December 1909, (replaced 7 years later by the NHL), team/league ownerAmbrose O'Brien asked Mr. Laviolette to put together a team made up of French Canadian players to play as the "Les Canadiens" franchise in Montreal. Mr. Laviolette completed the task in time for the NHA's inaugural season. Among those that would sign on to that first team would be future hall of famersNewsy Lalonde ,Didier Pitre and the "Chicoutimi Cucumber," Georges Vezina. The team he built would go on to be the most successful franchise in professional hockey.Playing career
Mr. Laviolette would first play elite-level senior men's amateur hockey in 1904 for the
Montreal Nationals , famous for being one of the first men's teams composed offrancophones . From 1905 onward, he would play as a professional, first with the Soo Indians of theInternational Professional Hockey League for three seasons, and then return to Montreal to play forMontreal Shamrocks in the 1908 and 1909 seasons.He would then star for the new Canadiens franchise from 1910 until 1918 scoring 45 goals in 147 games.
Mr. Laviolette lost his right foot in an automobile accident in 1919, ending his playing career. A benefit game for Jack was arranged at the
Mount Royal Arena in 1921. He was the guest of honour, and also refereed.Career statistics
National Hockey League - Regular Season
* "Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties In Minutes"
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