Playing career Career end 1940 Name Lou Bates Positions Defenseman | Role Ice hockey player Played for Wembley Lions Career start 1934 | |
Died July 30, 1987, London, United Kingdom | ||
Lighting Blade (1946)
John Louis "Lou" Bates (c. 1912 – (1987-07-30)July 30, 1987) was an ice hockey defender who played in the English National League for the Wembley Lions. He was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and died in London, England. He is a member of the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.
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Hockey career
Lou Bates toured Britain twice with an all-star team from Ottawa before he spent a year in Paris, France. Bates signed for the Wembley Lions for their inaugural season in 1934. Bates established himself as one of the most popular players in pre-war Britain and, as such, featured on a cigarette card and in a cinema advert for Player's cigarettes.[1]
Bates played as the captain for the Lions until play was stopped in May 1940 due to the outbreak of war. When play resumed following the war in 1946, Bates returned to the Lions for the 1946–47 season as coach. He also coached Streatham in 1951.
During the 1950 European championships, Bates was the Head Coach for the British team and guided them to a silver medal.[2]