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Then there was Frank Finnigan, the "Shawville Express," who had his number 8 retired the new Senators when they returned to the league in 1992.
He was a flawless defensive forward.
Stanley Cup Champion (1927, 1932)
Stanley Cup Finalist (1935, 1936)
Selke Trophy (1930*, 1933*, 1934*, 1936*)
Played in NHL All Star Game (1934)
Team Captain (1930-1931; 1932-1933)
#8 retired by the Ottawa Senators (1992)
Top-10 Scoring (9th, 10th)
Top-10 Goalscoring (6th, 6th)
Top-10 Playoff Scoring (5th, 8th, 8th)
Top-10 Playoff Goalscoring (3rd, 9th)
Top-10 Playoff Assist (3rd, 4th, 5th, 5th)
Top-10 Playoff Penalty minutes (7th, 10th)
- Named the best defensive forward of the 1930's by Ultimate Hockey
- Named the best penalty-killer of the 1930's by Ultimate Hockey
- Brother of Ed Finnigan and father of Joan Finnigan, a published writer
- As he had to take the train from Shawville to Ottawa, Frank picked up the nickname of "Shawville Express"
- He received his first fee for playing hockey when he was 13, playing for Quyon against Fitzroy Harbour, for which he received $10
- Finnigan signed as a free agent by Ottawa Senators on February 21st, 1924
- On September 26th, 1931, he was claimed by the Toronto Maple Leafs from the Ottawa Senators for the 1931-32 season in thedispersal draft
- On march 15th, 1934, Finnigan scored the final Senators goal in the final season that the NHL Senators played in Ottawa. He scored an unassisted goal at the 1 minute, 7 second mark of the second period
- Transferred to the St-Louis Eagles after Ottawa Senators franchise relocated on September 30, 1934
- He was Traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs by the St-Louis Eagles for cash on February 13th, 1935
- Finnigan recorded the most game played in the Ottawa Senators franchise history with 363
- During World War II, Finnigan joined the Canadian Air Force
- When a movement began to bring back the Senators in the early 1990's, Finnigan was recruited as a living link to the team's illustrious past. Finnigan was scheduled to drop the first puck for the new Ottawa Senators expansion franchise, but died in 1991 from a heart attack on Christmas day
- He was the last surviving member of the 1927 Stanley Cup champion Senators and was also the oldest living NHL player
- The street in front of the main entrance to the Ottawa Senators' arena, the Scotiabank Place, is named the ''Frank Finnigan Way'' in his honour. There is also a restaurant inside Scotiabank Place named ''Frank Finnigan's''
Joe Pelletier said:
Frank Finnigan was born in Shawville, Quebec, only 75 km outside the city of Ottawa. It was in Ottawa that Finnigan established himself as a legend of hockey.
Frank never got a chance to really play until the 1926-27 season. He responded well, scoring 15 goals in 36 games, and adding 3 more in 6 playoff contests en route to winning the Stanley Cup against Boston. "The Shawville Express" even managed to score the game winning goal in the first game of the finals!
When forward passing was finally allowed in all three zones in 1929, Frank had his best statistical year ever, posting 21 goals and 15 assists in 43 games.
Finnigan, an eight-year veteran who played a reliable two-way game, gave the Leafs a solid second line winger and an expert penalty killer. After playing a key role in the Leafs' 1932 Stanley Cup victory, Frank was returned to Ottawa.
Although he was small he was nearly impossible to knock off of his feet. He was strong as an ox, having worked as a telephone lineman in Ottawa prior to turning pro with the Sens. Finnigan was an extraordinary defensive forward.
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Then there was Frank Finnigan, the "Shawville Express," who had his number 8 retired the new Senators when they returned to the league in 1992. He was a flawless defensive forward.
1936-1939 Diamond Match Cover said:
Trail of the Stanley Cup said:
He became a regular in 1928, with Kilrea and Nighbor, and led the team in goals and points for two years. He was the policeman of the line and took a lot of penalties.
