The year is 1909. The National Hockey Association (NHA), forerunner to the National Hockey League, is formed.
Ambrose O'Brien of Ottawa has purchased franchise rights for a team in Montreal, with some financial help from T.C. Hare. The city has had several great teams represent the English speaking portion of the city. But O'Brien's vision is to create a team French Montreal can cheer for, and thereby create a civic rivalry where he could easily cash in! Les Canadiens - the Flying Frenchmen - are born.
O'Brien seeks out Jack Laviolette, one of the earliest Francophone hockey stars, to put together a team of French Canadian players. Laviolette finds enough players to ice a team, including Hall of Famers Newsy Lalonde, Didier Pitre and the "Chicoutimi Cucumber" Georges Vezina.
Also on the team are Joseph Cattarinch, Ed Decary, Arthur Bernier, Skinner Poulin, Joseph Bougie, Ed Chapleau, Edgar Leduc, Edward Millaire, Patsy Séguin, and goaltenders M. Larochelle and Teddy Groulx. Rick Duckett and Noss Chartrand may also have played.
From the Windsor Hotel to hockey's most glorious team, the Montreal Canadiens are celebrating 100 years of hockey in 2009.
Greatest Hockey Legends.com is preparing to celebrate too. I now have over 100 Montreal Canadiens legends profiled. From the earliest stars through several dynasties through to more recent eras, most of the Montreal Canadiens' greatest players are profiled here at Greatest Hockey Legends.com!
For the complete alphabetical listing of Montreal Canadiens legends profiled, please go directly to my Habs Legends satellite site.
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