Hall of Famer Edgar Laprade dead at 94

[kmad]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/29/s...raceful-and-civil-center-dies-at-94.html?_r=0

Click to read more...

 

[Theokritos]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/29/s...raceful-and-civil-center-dies-at-94.html?_r=0

One of the most controversial HOF inductees in the eyes of many today, but an interesting player for sure.

What provides food for thought is that a player (albeit a gentlemanly one) from the O6 era (not exactly a period known for a lack of toughness) who once was checked so hard that there was "blood all over the place" has the following thing to say about modern hockey:

Edgar Laprade
What’s changed is the people who play the game. The players have become more mean.

Not at all a compliment to the way the game is played now.

 

[Sprague Cleghorn]

One of the most controversial HOF inductees in the eyes of many today, but an interesting player for sure.

What provides food for thought is that a player (albeit a gentlemanly one) from the O6 era (not exactly a period known for a lack of toughness) who once was checked so hard that there was "blood all over the place" has the following thing to say about modern hockey:



Not at all a compliment to the way the game is played now.

He also said that he preferred women's hockey today.

 

[Theokritos]

He also said that he preferred women's hockey today.

Out of the mouth of an O6 player that's not a compliment to today's NHL either.

 

[Killion]

Out of the mouth of an O6 player that's not a compliment to today's NHL either.

No its not, and you do read or hear similar critical comments from one generation to the next & on. Be it a player from the 20's or 30's talking about the 70's or 80's and or star players; guys from the 50's & 60's talking about the 90's & 00's & so on. Interesting. Some outspoken about it. Bobby Hull, Orr.....

 

[Canadiens1958]

Tough vs Mean

Big difference between tough and mean.

 

[tony d]

He was a good player back in the day. RIP

 

[Pominville Knows]

Too bad the SOB's printing hockey cards has hardly let him sign any certfied autos. Oh well, i guess the ones that are will get a premium now when no new ones is coming.

 

[Coach Craig]

Great ambassador for the city of Thunder Bay and a tremendous loss to the community.
Obit from the Chronicle Journal

 

[IMLACHnME]

Too bad the SOB's printing hockey cards has hardly let him sign any certfied autos. Oh well, i guess the ones that are will get a premium now when no new ones is coming.

Look at that man's bugle. Edgar Laprade may have played a clean game, a la Frank Boucher, another great Blueshirt, but whoever bent his bugle did not. Perhaps Lindsay?

 

[Killion]

Look at that man's bugle. Edgar Laprade may have played a clean game, a la Frank Boucher, another great Blueshirt, but whoever bent his bugle did not. Perhaps Lindsay?

Prolly had his nose broken a few times IMLACH, pretty common. Busted nose, teeth knocked out, cheekbones, all manner of facial injuries as you know... With Laprade, there was an infamous incident in 47 involving Wild Bill Eznicki. Clean check by Ezzie knocked Laprade out stone cold, taken off the ice at Maple Leaf Gardens straight to hospital where he spent 2 days, very serious concussion. Even well into the 80's & 90's some of the old timers who witnessed it claim that even to that day theyd never seen a harder, more devastating clean check than the one Ezinicki laid on poor Edgar that night.... later on after Eznicki had been traded to Boston by the Leafs, he got into a stick swinging incident with Ted Lindsay, and one that people talked about (if at all) in hushed tones.... So if I was a bettin man, Id say its more likely Wild Bill crunched his Bugle.... or are you referring to the tasty corn treat enjoyed by Hamilton Steelheads owner Duff McCardle, as played by Gordon Pinsent in the TV series Power Play or whatever it was called?....

 

[IMLACHnME]

Bugles revisited

Prolly had his nose broken a few times IMLACH, pretty common. Busted nose, teeth knocked out, cheekbones, all manner of facial injuries as you know... With Laprade, there was an infamous incident in 47 involving Wild Bill Eznicki. Clean check by Ezzie knocked Laprade out stone cold, taken off the ice at Maple Leaf Gardens straight to hospital where he spent 2 days, very serious concussion. Even well into the 80's & 90's some of the old timers who witnessed it claim that even to that day theyd never seen a harder, more devastating clean check than the one Ezinicki laid on poor Edgar that night.... later on after Eznicki had been traded to Boston by the Leafs, he got into a stick swinging incident with Ted Lindsay, and one that people talked about (if at all) in hushed tones.... So if I was a bettin man, Id say its more likely Wild Bill crunched his Bugle.... or are you referring to the tasty corn treat enjoyed by Hamilton Steelheads owner Duff McCardle, as played by Gordon Pinsent in the TV series Power Play or whatever it was called?....

I hit the glass ceiling well below Laprade, but was/remain well acquainted with the injuries associated with the game of hockey. Once had a hockey stick go right up the bridge of my bugle. Yes, I bled like a stuck pig, but there was no real damage to my proboscis. Imagine how close I came in that occasion to a serious eye injury.

Also, I love the "tasty corn treat" you mentioned. Hard to find them today.

 

[Coach Craig]

Globe and Mail piece yesterday was a great tribute to his career. After retirement he became a civic employee, running the Port Arthur Arena -- the original one that burned to the ground as well as opening a sports goods store. He also served on city council for Port Arthur as well as Thunder Bay's first council after the amalgamation of Port Arthur and fort William. He was very well respected by the people of the city.

 

[greyraven8]

Great ambassador for the city of Thunder Bay and a tremendous loss to the community.
Obit from the Chronicle Journal

Here's a link to that Chronicle Journal obit that I think will last a while:
http://cj1.chroniclejournal.com/obituaries/laprade/edgar

and here's the online tbnewswatch one:
http://www.tbnewswatch.com/sports/336614/Hall-of-famer_Edgar_Laprade_dies_at_94

 

[VanIslander]

HHOFer Laprade I drafted 462nd overall this winter, a steal in the 26-team ATD 2016 here on HfBoards. He currently centers my team's 4th line and is an elite option in that role: http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showpost.php?p=112465177&postcount=9

If you click on his name below you'll get a link to a more extensive bio by TDMM:

Greenville selects Edgar Laprade, the 1950 Lady Byng trophy winner after his fourth consecutive all-star game appearance, having six seasons of either no penalties or 2 minutes at most, despite consistent physical play. The 1946 Calder trophy winner and Lady Byng finalist in his rookie season had had a most noteworthy amateur career, winning the 1939 Allan Cup and embarrassing NHL veteran Milt Schmidt in the 1942 Allan Cup with Laprade's legendary checking. He went on to be 3rd in NHL assists in 1947-48 and retired at age 35 after 500 NHL games and 42 career PIMs. He is most remembered for his defensive play and penalty killing. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993.

Blessed with exceptional lateral mobility and an effortless skating style, he was a brilliant penalty killer and determined checker.... one of the league's most dangerous skaters on the counterattack... nicknamed "Beaver" by his colleagues as a tribute to his industrious work ethic.

... effortless skating style enabled him to rag the puck like a little wizard. He back-checked tirelessly and was a stellar face-off man...