Elmer Lach
15 Interesting Facts
A legendary centre for the Montreal Canadiens, Elmer Lach was a three-time Stanley Cup champion and the inaugural winner of the Art Ross Trophy.
He won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's most valuable player in 1945.
He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1966.
He was a member of the famous 'Punch line' alongside Maurice Richard and Toe Blake.
He became the first recipient of the Art Ross Trophy in 1948.
He was once rejected by the Toronto Maple Leafs for being too small.
He set a franchise record with six assists in a single game on February 6, 1943.
He suffered a broken nose seven times during his professional career.
He scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal in overtime during the 1953 finals.
He had his jersey number 16 retired by the Montreal Canadiens in 2009.
He once received an offer of $17,000 from his insurance company to retire due to the frequency of his injuries.
He worked as a meter reader for a power company in Moose Jaw before his NHL career.
He was known to sneak away to play hockey on a pond instead of attending church as a child.
He suffered two severed veins in his foot from a skate blade during a game but continued to play until a teammate noticed the blood.
He was once described by a writer as 'the nastiest so-and-so in the league' due to his intense competitiveness.
He passed away at the age of 97 after suffering a stroke.
About Elmer Lach
Elmer Lach was a legendary centre for the Montreal Canadiens and a vital member of the famed 'Punch line' alongside Maurice Richard and Toe Blake. A three-time Stanley Cup champion, he was the league's leading scorer upon his retirement and was later recognized as one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players.
Career Achievements & Milestones
Stanley Cup Champion
1944, 1946, 1953
Hart Memorial Trophy
1945
Art Ross Trophy
1948
Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee
1966
Player Information & Stats
Detailed career statistics and background information about Elmer Lach.
Player Info
Physical Stats
Career Stats
Season Scoring
Teams & Career
Elmer Lach played for 4 different teams during his 14 seasons career.