Position Left Wing Role Ice hockey player Career end 1943 Name Hec Kilrea Career start 1925 | Playing career Weight 79 kg Shot Left Height 1.73 m Siblings Wally Kilrea | |
Born June 11, 1907Blackburn, ON, CAN ( 1907-06-11 ) Played for Ottawa SenatorsDetroit FalconsToronto Maple LeafsDetroit Red Wings Died September 8, 1969, Detroit, Michigan, United States | ||
Hector Joseph "Hurricane" Kilrea (June 11, 1907 – September 8, 1969) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward. He played for the Ottawa Senators, Detroit Falcons, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League. Hec Kilrea won Stanley Cup three times, with the Senators in 1927 and Red Wings in 1936 and 1937.
His brothers Ken and Wally than his nephew, Brian Kilrea also played in the NHL.
Kilrea was also a champion speed skater, and once won a race at the Montreal Forum in 1928, circuiting the ice in 16 2/5 seconds. After his retirement from professional hockey he became an U.S. citizen, and like many other players, he enlisted for duty in World War II, eventually receiving the Distinguished Service Cross (the second highest military decoration of the United States Army), Purple Heart and French Croix de guerre.
He died after a long illness on September 8, 1969.