How Boston Immortalized Noel Picard Twice

It is perhaps the most famous photo in hockey history. Bobby Orr flying through the air, like the Superman he almost was. His arms up in victory, as he just scored the Stanley Cup winning goal of 1970.

Those in the background are also immortalized. Glenn Hall is the goalie who gave up the goal. And a young defenseman named Noel Picard is guilty of hooking Orr's leg's, propelling his jump into flight.

Noel Picard seemed destined to be immortalized, though not necessarily in a great light. A couple years earlier the towering rookie defenseman was the laughing stock of the league. Playing against the same Boston Bruins in 1967-68, a tired Picard hustled to bench head down, yelling for his replacement. The gate opened up and he quickly took a spot on the bench, only to find all the players were laughing uncontrollably.

After looking up he realized exactly why they were so amused. Picard had jumped on to the Bruins' bench!

The play was still alive, and a St. Louis player quickly jumped on the ice to even the playing field. Picard didn't care. He immediately vacated enemy territory and made a b-line to the Blues bench, which in those days was on the opposite side of the rink. He dove in over the boards, hoping no one would notice, but the observant referee was forced to blow his whistle and call a "too many men on the ice penalty."

Despite these gaffes, Noel Picard was emerging as a pretty dependable defenseman in his 335 NHL game career. The Quebec born Picard - who was given the name Noel because he was born on Christmas Day - was buried in the Montreal Canadiens system for most of the 1960s. Come expansion in 1967 he joined the Blues for 5 seasons, and became a fan favorite.

Picard would likely have enjoyed a longer NHL career, or definitely would have caught on with a WHA team, had he not severly injured his foot in the summer of 1971 in a horse riding accident that kept him out of much of the two seasons. Doctors had even considered amputating his foot. Much to his credit he worked his butt off to get back into the NHL, but the already slow-footed defender lost considerable mobility and greatly hampered his game.

After a season in Atlanta, Picard retired in 1973.