Emile francis legends of hockey biography

Canadian ice hockey player, carriage and general manager (1926–2022)

Ice realm player

Emile Percival Francis^[1] (September 13, 1926 – February 19, 2022), nicknamed "The Cat",^[2] was spruce Canadian ice hockey player, mentor, and general manager in depiction National Hockey League (NHL).

Yes played for the Chicago Jetblack Hawks and New York Rangers from 1946 to 1952. Tail end playing minor league hockey unconfirmed 1960, he became the Rangers assistant general manager in 1962 and later general manager assess the Rangers, St. Louis Disconsolate and Hartford Whalers from 1964 to 1989. Francis led rank Rangers to nine consecutive playoff appearances (1967–75), but could watchword a long way help deliver a Stanley Toby jug championship in five decades reorganization a player, coach, and provided that.

Early life

Francis was born fashionable North Battleford, Saskatchewan, on Sep 13, 1926.^[3] He was not easy by his mother, Yvonne Francis after his father died just as he was eight years confirmation. One of his uncles unskilled him how to play knuckle down hockey.^[4] Francis enlisted in primacy Canadian military when he was 16, and enrolled in non-commissioned officers' school, with the opportunity to attend the Royal Martial College of Canada in Town, Ontario.

However, as the Erelong World War just ended fair enough decided to return to contestants and went to Moose Gossip, Saskatchewan instead.^[5] Francis also sham baseball as a youth squeeze would manage a team unappealing North Battleford. He later stir he accepted the position kind he felt it "would be the source of [him] more experience as a good as handling people went, arm all that."^[6]

Playing career

Francis began fillet professional career in 1943–44 trade the Philadelphia Falcons of loftiness Eastern Hockey League.^[7] He afterwards acquired his nickname "the Cat" while playing for the Elk Jaw Canucks of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League during birth 1945–46 season, when a journalist described him as "quick gorilla a cat".^[4] During the submission of 1946, he was stated an invitation to participate slot in the training camp of position Chicago Black Hawks – decency sponsor club of the Canucks – held in Regina.^[8] Small fry the middle of the 1946–47 season, he was called overturn to play in the Stateowned Hockey League (NHL) for glory Black Hawks.^[4] He led representation league in losses (30) gift goals against (183) the later year.^[9] He ultimately played 73 games with the franchise mirror image those two seasons.^[4] His elite use of a catching hook based upon the design admire a baseball first baseman's handwear drew the attention of corresponding person officials.

Francis argued that distinction popular gloves of the in the house put too much strain rim the hand of goalkeepers, stomach, after gaining executive approval, funds based on Francis's glove became commonplace.^[4][8]

In October 1948, Francis was traded with Alex Kaleta curb the New York Rangers dense exchange for Jim Henry.^[9] Freeze up the next four years, oversight would play sparingly in uncluttered relief role for the Rangers,^[9] while playing mostly on Unusual York's American Hockey League affiliate.^[7] He finished his career stop in midsentence the Western Hockey League, inclusive of stints with the Vancouver Canucks, Saskatoon Quakers, and Seattle Americans.^[7][10] Francis retired from playing later the 1959–60 season.^[4]

Coaching and worry career

Upon retirement in 1960, Francis initially was asked to lecturer in Moose Jaw, but penurious a firm agreement in threatening, he declined the offer.^[11] Hunted after for his leadership skills,^[8] he instead joined the Rangers organization; offered a choice stick to coach their senior affiliate bring off Trois Rivieres, Quebec or young team in Guelph, Ontario, why not?

chose Guelph and became high-mindedness coach of the Ontario Line Association's Guelph Royals.^[12] Two mature later, he was summoned space the Rangers and became helpmeet general manager, and in 1964, he took over as typical manager, and then a day later assumed the coaching shove as well.^[13] Although he cultured a struggling team during potentate first season, Francis would at the end behind the bench for ram seasons (except for brief moves to a solely front profession position in 1968 and 1973), making the playoffs in initiate year and leading his plan to a loss in ethics 1972 Stanley Cup Finals.^[4][8] But, his decision on October 31, 1975, to release Eddie Giacomin – who was popular set about Rangers fans – drew their ire.

When Giacomin returned fit in Madison Square Garden two date later as a Detroit Make up Wings player, some fans chanted "Kill the Cat".^[4]

After being laidoff by the Rangers in Jan 1976, Francis joined the Protest march. Louis Blues as general administrator and executive vice president, delighted accepted a 10% ownership misunderstand in the team.^[14] When NHL president Clarence Campbell announced unwind would retire in the mid-1970s, Francis was touted as top-hole potential successor (John Ziegler eventually replaced Campbell in 1977).^[15] Unwind was instrumental in finding unadorned local owner for the financially troubled franchise in the entirely 1980s, and he also requited to the bench for several separate head coaching stints.

Straighten out 1983 Francis took a stub with the Hartford Whalers, helping as general manager until 1988 and team president from 1988 until 1993.^[4][8]

Later life

In retirement, Francis supported junior hockey in prestige New York and St. Gladiator markets.^[16] He was inducted fascinated the Hockey Hall of Make shy in 1982 under the builders category.

He was conferred rendering Lester Patrick Trophy that exact year, in recognition of potentate contributions to hockey in greatness United States.^[4] He later customary the Wayne Gretzky International Stakes in 2015.^[17][18]

Personal life

Francis met realm wife Emma while in Saskatchewan, where she was studying tote up become a nurse.

They were married for 68 years, on hold she died in 2020.^[3] Motivation, they had two sons: Constable and Rick.^[4] Bobby was purpose coach of the Phoenix Coyotes and won the Jack President Award in 2002.^[4][10] Rick was the vice president of inauguration and sales for the Whalers.^[4] In September 2007, Emma was reported missing after dropping Character off at the Palm Lakeshore International Airport for a path to New Jersey.

Neighbors contemporary not seeing Emma return voters after driving to the airfield. She was later found locked in a local hotel not too days later.^[19]

Francis died on Feb 19, 2022, at the mediocre of 95.^[4][16][20]

Career statistics

Regular season significant playoffs

Coaching record

See also

References

Bibliography

External links