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A Century of Montreal Canadiens
The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. In each issue, you'll find news, features and opinions about the NHL and leagues across North America and the world.
№ 27
The Twenty-seventh Season 1935-36 TOP STORY After the Canadiens’ season ended, owners Leo Dandurand and Joe Cattarinich did an accounting of the past two seasons and they must have had their pockets inside-out. The Great Depression was seriously hampering attendance in Montreal and author D’Arcy Jenish reported in 100 Years of Glory a loss of $60,000 in just two seasons. So Dandurand and Cattarinich sought to unload the white elephant and met with a Cleveland businessman who wanted to purchase and move the franchise to Ohio. Before an agreement was struck, a group of Montreal buyers came forward and saved the Canadiens. Businessmen Ernie Savard, Maurice Forget and Louis Gelinas led a contigent that bought the team for $165,000. On the ice, the franchise wanted to start over again and the rebuilding process began.…
№ 16 HENRI Richard
AT ONE POINT during Henri Richard’s rookie season of 1955-56, a reporter asked Canadiens coach Toe Blake whether the young Richard spoke any English. “I don’t think he can even speak French,” was the reply. “I’ve never heard him talk.” Richard was so quiet that when his older brother, Maurice, marched him up to GM Frank Selke’s office to sign his first contract, Henri left without even knowing his salary. For the record, it was $7,000 in the first year and $8,000 in the second year. “Mr. Selke asked Maurice, ‘Is Henri ready?’ and Maurice said, ‘Yes, he’s ready,’ and he turned around and walked out of the room,” Henri Richard said. “I couldn’t speak English and they put this paper in front of me and I signed it. I didn’t know what I…
№ 18 SERGE Savard
NO DEFENSEMAN in the history of the Canadiens, or any other team for that matter, has won as many Stanley Cups as the eight gathered by Serge Savard. But if not for his persistence in the face of the organization’s ambivalence, Savard might have been exiled to mediocrity in Detroit. The Canadiens managed to get Savard into their fold in 1961 when he was just 15. He was almost six feet tall when he was 11 and by the time he caught the Canadiens’ eye he was 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds. That year, Cliff Fletcher was running youth hockey in Quebec for the Canadiens and moved Savard from his team in Amos to a midget team in Rosemont in Montreal. Things did not start well. “After a while, the Rosemont coach told me he…
№ 24
The Twenty-fourth Season 1932-33 TOP STORY Expectations were at an all-time high in Montreal and not just because the Habs’ quest for a three-peat in 1931-32 had come up short. Louis Letourneay sold his interest in the franchise to Leo Dandurand and Joe Cattarinich. Cecil Hart was out as Canadiens coach and Newsy Lalonde was brought back to guide the troops. Lalonde, 45, was a scoring dynamo for the Canadiens in the second decade of the 20th century, serving as captain, coach and living legend. While the fans had great hopes, the same couldn’t be said in the dressing room. Lalonde had a reputation for not being a players’ coach and at one time punched one of his players who tried to stand up to him. According to D’Arcy Jenish’s book The Montreal…
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