Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) Role Ice hockey player Shot Right Weight 77 kg | Playing career Career start 1903 Name Jack Laviolette Career end 1918 | |
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Born July 17, 1879
Belleville, ON, CAN ( 1879-07-17 ) Died January 10, 1960, Montreal, Canada Position Forward, Winger, Defenseman Played for Montreal Le National, Michigan Soo Indians, Montreal Shamrocks, Montreal Canadiens | ||
John "Jack" Laviolette (July 17, 1879 – January 10, 1960) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. Laviolette played nine seasons for the Montreal Canadiens hockey club and was their first captain, coach, and general manager.
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Laviolette was one of the first francophone stars of ice hockey. He was born in Belleville, Ontario, but grew up in Valleyfield, Quebec. He was an outstanding scorer from the defenceman position. But Laviolette's true place in hockey history has less to do with his scoring prowess and more to do with his role as the true founding organizer of the Canadiens hockey club. He was their first player, coach and general manager in their inaugural 1910 season.
With the formation of the National Hockey Association (NHA) in December 1909, (replaced 7 years later by the NHL), team/league owner Ambrose O'Brien asked Laviolette to put together a team made up of French Canadian players to play as the "Les Canadiens" franchise in Montreal. Laviolette completed the task in time for the NHA's inaugural season. Among those that would sign on to that first team would be future hall of famers Newsy Lalonde, Didier Pitre and the "Chicoutimi Cucumber," Georges Vezina. The team he built would go on to be the most successful franchise in professional hockey.
Playing career
Laviolette would first play elite-level senior men's amateur hockey in 1904 for the Montreal Le National, famous for being one of the first men's teams composed of francophones. From 1905 onward, he would play as a professional, first with the Soo Indians of the International Professional Hockey League for three seasons, and then return to Montreal to play for Montreal Shamrocks in the 1908 and 1909 seasons.
He would then star for the new Canadiens franchise from 1910 until 1918 scoring 45 goals in 147 games, winning the Stanley Cup in 1916.
Laviolette lost his right foot in an automobile accident in 1918, ending his playing career. A benefit game for Laviolette was arranged at the Mount Royal Arena in 1921. He was the guest of honour, and also refereed.