Legendary Lach shines in spotlight

posted by Dave Stubbs at 6h11 EST on Mar 26


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Elmer Lach with the Art Ross Trophy (left), awarded annually to the NHL's leading point scorer. He was the inaugural recipient in 1948. At right is the Frank Selke Trophy, honouring the NHL's outstanding defensive forward.
Allen McInnis, Gazette

• TV update: Short profile airs on CBC Montreal's 6 pm news tonight; longer version on The National next week, date TBA.

Canadiens legend Elmer Lach, the 91-year-old Hall of Famer who centred the Habs' magnificent Punch Line of Maurice (Rocket) Richard and Toe Blake, captivated an overflow crowd at Pointe Claire City Hall last night, regaling the audience with tales of his career.

Elmer's talk, which drew a standing ovation, was the centrepiece of an interactive discussion on the 100 years of the Canadiens, organized by the Pointe Claire Public Library's Mary-Jane O'Neill and held in the city's council chambers, Mayor Bill McMurchie a rapt listener in the front row.



Vintage equipment and modern-day gear of the Canadiens was on display, as were three NHL trophies brought in especially for the event by the white-gloved Craig Campbell of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Veteran broadcaster *** Irvin Jr., whose father, *** Sr., was Elmer's only coach during a 14-year Canadiens career, and Dave Stubbs of The Gazette and Habs Inside/Out, also spoke last night, discussing the remarkable history of hockey's most storied team.

Elmer will be profiled tonight on the CBC National News by reporter Lynne Robson, with a longer report to come in the days ahead.

More photos from the evening, from top:

• A 1940s woollen Habs sweater hangs beside the synthetic jersey of Canadiens' Robert Lang. They are displayed in front of replicas of the fibreglass masks worn by Rogie Vachon, Jacques Plante and Ken Dryden. At left is the Art Ross Trophy;
• Pointe Claire Oldtimers Hockey president Lorne Pearson studies the Art Ross (left) and Frank Selke trophies. The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, recognizing perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey, also was featured;
• Elmer Lach listens to speaker *** Irvin Jr.;
• Elmer and Dave Stubbs discuss modern skates and one-piece wooden sticks;
• Elmer on a roll... no microphone required;
• Youngsters find a comfortable place to hear stories of the Canadiens' past.

 

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Submitted by Peter Young on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 15:00.
After I landed in Montreal as an immigrant from England in May, 1953, Elmer Lach was one of the first hockey players I learned about. Just the month before he had scored the winning goal in overtime as the Canadiens beat the Bruins, four games to one, for their seventh Stanley Cup. Somewhere on the web, there's a clip of that goal, which came on Maurice Richard's pass out from the end boards. A few years later, just after the Rocket was forced to retire by Frank Selke, the long-time and then well-known journalist Andy O'Brien wrote in his biography of Maurice that that was the Rocket's greatest goal, even though Elmer scored it. I still remember getting the Parkies hockey card for Elmer during the 1953-54 season. It was the first NHL season I watched and Elmer's last as a player. It's encouraging to see that he's still looking hale and hearty. Perhaps he'll live long enough to see the club's recalcitrant management retire his jersey number, an honour he well deserves.

Eric37's picture
Submitted by Eric37 on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 13:03.
2 Questions: Can someone tell me why Elmer Lach has never had his number retired in Montreal? Additionally, why has Bill Durnan's accomplishments gone unrecognized in the rafters? Won the Vezina 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950. Stanley Cup in 1944, 1946. First Team All - Star 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950. I'm serious! E.

smiler2729's picture
Submitted by smiler2729 on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 13:30.
Lach's #16 is up there as Henri Richard. Enough retired numbers! We look cheesy enough with guys out there wearing 79, 71, 74, 67, 84. High training camp rookie numbers, sheesh.

Chuck's picture
Submitted by Chuck on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 13:12.
And speaking of Vezina, why is there not a #1 hung in his honour?

Eric37's picture
Submitted by Eric37 on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 14:14.
Great point! E.

N.B.habs fan's picture
Submitted by N.B.habs fan on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 11:48.
Great to see such honor in winning the art ross and well earned.

Submitted by vic on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 11:32.
I remember Elmer comming into the forum to play with a fracture cheek bone with the side of his face swollen up like a grapefruit.They did,nt use helmets those days

smiler2729's picture
Submitted by smiler2729 on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 11:15.
I think Elmer wore #16. That guy has cool written all over him. Wish I coulda been there, I like the picture of the young kids listening, reminds me of being that age, in love with hockey and listening to my grandfather talk about guys like Lach, Kenny Reardon, Dickie Moore, etc... My grandfather, a defenceman, was offered a contract by the Habs after WWII but his father told him that going into the family business would be more lucrative than playing in the NHL. That would've been so cool having Pierre-Paul "Pete" Daigle as a name associated with Lach, Blake, Richard, Bouchard and Durnan, oh well.

Odie Cleghorn's picture
Submitted by Odie Cleghorn on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 11:03.
Dave, Just two questions for you. What number did Elmer wear with the Habs and is he available to play tonight? Just looking at his eyes in one of those photos tells me that he's ready to go. What a great tribute to one of yesterday's unsung, quality players who always found a way to crack our lineup. Everybody knows about the Rocket and Toe, but Elmer Lach made that line complete. And, he won the first Art Ross to boot. Thank you Mr. Lach for reminding me why I became a devoted, dedicated, and devout fan of the Montreal Canadiens! Will ye no come back again??

Chuck's picture
Submitted by Chuck on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 11:00.
Historical question directed to Mr. Stubbs: Who wore that 1940's woolie? I don't know of a captain that wore #11 back then.

Submitted by habitual on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 10:44.
Well, please continue to share your love affair, Stubbsie. I will break my boycott of CBC to watch this, can you pls try to give us a heads up when the longer version is available?

Submitted by LatheDog on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 10:35.
It's not fair...........Elmer still has ALL of his hair at 91.....I lost all mine before I reached 30!!!

coachdoug's picture
Submitted by coachdoug on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 08:59.
Dave...that picture of you holding the skate(a bauer one95 I think) with Elmer's old stick is awesome...even though the equipment is modernized it is still steel on ice and the same basic stick to move the puck... Elmer looks pretty spry...full head of hair...he has lived right... I have a picture of my late Grandfather Antoine with his hockey team circa 1925...the coach is wearing a sweater and tie and the team has their team sweaters on because all the games were outdoors...I show the kids on my team when they ask why us coaches call it a sweater not a jersey... Go Habs Go! "Proud home of the now four...sacred cows...Breezer...you may be next"

Dave Stubbs's picture
Submitted by Dave Stubbs on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 13:14.
That's Robert Lang's left skate (no blood on it) and Elmer's holding it on the shaft of the old stick to demonstrate the rocker of the blade, showing me how much of it touches the ice. Dave Stubbs
Habs Inside/Out
Sports Columnist/Feature Writer, Montreal Gazette

 


Bryan's picture
Submitted by Bryan on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 08:30.
I think Stubbs is in love! And Lach's looking amazing for 91. I wonder if he drinks red wine... _______________________________ In Saku we trust.

Dave Stubbs's picture
Submitted by Dave Stubbs on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 08:50.
No denial here. The man is a living legend, one of the all-time greats and the most modest superstar you'll ever meet. Dave Stubbs
Habs Inside/Out
Sports Columnist/Feature Writer, Montreal Gazette

 


Submitted by nightmare_49 on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 17:00.
"Hear Hear"

Submitted by Dee on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 08:25.
Those were the days my friend,they played with heart and soul not just money!! They were the cream of the crop. Habs Fan 4 Ever & Ever Amen.

Submitted by Thomas Le Fan on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 07:18.
To quote Muddy Waters, "Ain't that a man!"