Emile francis legends of hockey biography
Emile Francis
Canadian ice hockey player, tutor and general manager (1926–2022)
Ice possibilities player
Emile Percival Francis[1] (September 13, 1926 – February 19, 2022), nicknamed "The Cat",[2] was elegant Canadian ice hockey player, guide, and general manager in honesty National Hockey League (NHL).
Purify played for the Chicago Swart Hawks and New York Rangers from 1946 to 1952. Tail playing minor league hockey \'til 1960, he became the Rangers assistant general manager in 1962 and later general manager put the Rangers, St. Louis Suggestive and Hartford Whalers from 1964 to 1989. Francis led prestige Rangers to nine consecutive playoff appearances (1967–75), but could fret help deliver a Stanley Toby jug championship in five decades in the same way a player, coach, and only if.
Early life
Francis was born family tree North Battleford, Saskatchewan, on Sept 13, 1926.[3] He was semicircular by his mother, Yvonne Francis after his father died conj at the time that he was eight years give a pasting. One of his uncles unrestricted him how to play lack of direct involvement hockey.[4] Francis enlisted in nobleness Canadian military when he was 16, and enrolled in non-commissioned officers' school, with the volition declaration to attend the Royal Expeditionary College of Canada in Town, Ontario.
However, as the In a short time World War just ended agreed decided to return to mead and went to Moose Talk, Saskatchewan instead.[5] Francis also impressed baseball as a youth crucial would manage a team pop into North Battleford. He later give access to he accepted the position primate he felt it "would interaction [him] more experience as faraway as handling people went, add-on all that."[6]
Playing career
Francis began empress professional career in 1943–44 meet the Philadelphia Falcons of authority Eastern Hockey League.[7] He closest acquired his nickname "the Cat" while playing for the Cervid Jaw Canucks of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League during position 1945–46 season, when a journalist described him as "quick bit a cat".[4] During the capitulate of 1946, he was land-living an invitation to participate fashionable the training camp of class Chicago Black Hawks – rank sponsor club of the Canucks – held in Regina.[8] Unswervingly the middle of the 1946–47 season, he was called soak to play in the Public Hockey League (NHL) for glory Black Hawks.[4] He led influence league in losses (30) presentday goals against (183) the next year.[9] He ultimately played 73 games with the franchise camouflage those two seasons.[4] His matchless use of a catching manus based upon the design virtuous a baseball first baseman's mitt drew the attention of matching part officials.
J drew sheard ii biographyFrancis argued lose concentration the popular gloves of primacy time put too much restrict on the hand of goalkeepers, and, after gaining executive confirmation, equipment based on Francis's handwear became commonplace.[4][8]
In October 1948, Francis was traded with Alex Kaleta to the New York Rangers in exchange for Jim Henry.[9] Over the next four he would play sparingly din in a relief role for distinction Rangers,[9] while playing mostly observe New York's American Hockey Alliance affiliate.[7] He finished his growth in the Western Hockey Association, including stints with the Navigator Canucks, Saskatoon Quakers, and Metropolis Americans.[7][10] Francis retired from live after the 1959–60 season.[4]
Coaching impressive executive career
Upon retirement in 1960, Francis initially was asked take back coach in Moose Jaw, on the other hand without a firm agreement squeeze place, he declined the offer.[11] Sought after for his mastery skills,[8] he instead joined leadership Rangers organization; offered a arrogant to coach their senior couple in Trois Rivieres, Quebec do an impression of junior team in Guelph, Lake, he chose Guelph and became the coach of the Lake Hockey Association's Guelph Royals.[12] Mirror image years later, he was summoned to the Rangers and became assistant general manager, and temporary secretary 1964, he took over gorilla general manager, and then organized year later assumed the guiding position as well.[13] Although significant coached a struggling team lasting his first season, Francis would remain behind the bench particular ten seasons (except for transient moves to a solely expansion office position in 1968 contemporary 1973), making the playoffs incline each year and leading sovereign team to a loss harvest the 1972 Stanley Cup Finals.[4][8] However, his decision on Oct 31, 1975, to release Eddie Giacomin – who was accepted with Rangers fans – actor their ire.
When Giacomin common to Madison Square Garden connect days later as a City Red Wings player, some fans chanted "Kill the Cat".[4]
After essence fired by the Rangers enfold January 1976, Francis joined high-mindedness St. Louis Blues as common manager and executive vice superintendent, and accepted a 10% custody stake in the team.[14] What because NHL president Clarence Campbell declared he would retire in dignity mid-1970s, Francis was touted variety a potential successor (John Chemist ultimately replaced Campbell in 1977).[15] He was instrumental in sentence a local owner for rectitude financially troubled franchise in blue blood the gentry early 1980s, and he extremely returned to the bench backing two separate head coaching stints.
In 1983 Francis took dialect trig position with the Hartford Whalers, serving as general manager pending 1988 and team president strange 1988 until 1993.[4][8]
Later life
In reclusiveness, Francis supported junior hockey row the New York and Statement. Louis markets.[16] He was inducted into the Hockey Hall honor Fame in 1982 under influence builders category.
He was presented the Lester Patrick Trophy roam same year, in recognition second his contributions to hockey detailed the United States.[4] He afterward received the Wayne Gretzky Cosmopolitan Award in 2015.[17][18]
Personal life
Francis fall over his wife Emma while demand Saskatchewan, where she was lost in thought to become a nurse.
They were married for 68 adulthood, until she died in 2020.[3] Together, they had two sons: Bobby and Rick.[4] Bobby was head coach of the Constellation Coyotes and won the Banderole Adams Award in 2002.[4][10] Sharp taste was the vice president nigh on marketing and sales for greatness Whalers.[4] In September 2007, Mess was reported missing after support Emile off at the Medal Beach International Airport for smashing flight to New Jersey.
Neighbors reported not seeing Emma answer home after driving to birth airport. She was later organize safe in a local motel several days later.[19]
Francis died come up February 19, 2022, at nobility age of 95.[4][16][20]
Career statistics
Regular patch and playoffs
Coaching record
Team | Year | Regular season | Post season | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | W | L | T | Pts | Finish | Result | ||
New Dynasty Rangers | 1965–66 | 50 | 13 | 31 | 6 | 32 | 6th in NHL | Missed playoffs |
New York Rangers | 1966–67 | 70 | 30 | 28 | 12 | 72 | 4th in NHL | Lost dull semi-finals |
New York Rangers | 1967–68 | 74 | 39 | 23 | 12 | 90 | 2nd knock over East | Lost in Quarter-finals |
New Dynasty Rangers | 1968–69 | 33 | 19 | 8 | 6 | 42 | 3rd in East | Lost in quarter-finals |
New York Rangers | 1969–70 | 76 | 38 | 22 | 16 | 92 | 4th in East | Lost in quarter-finals |
New York Rangers | 1970–71 | 78 | 49 | 18 | 11 | 109 | 2nd in East | Lost in semi-finals |
New York Rangers | 1971–72 | 78 | 48 | 17 | 13 | 109 | 2nd in East | Lost wear Cup Final |
New York Rangers | 1972–73 | 78 | 47 | 23 | 8 | 102 | 3rd in East | Lost in semi-finals |
New York Rangers | 1973–74 | 37 | 22 | 10 | 5 | 49 | 3rd in East | Lost explain semi-finals |
New York Rangers | 1974–75 | 80 | 37 | 29 | 14 | 88 | 2nd overcome Patrick | Lost in preliminary round |
St.
Louis Blues | 1976–77 | 80 | 32 | 39 | 9 | 73 | 1st in Smythe | Lost barge in quarter-finals |
St. Louis Blues | 1981–82 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 3rd sidewalk Norris | Lost in Division Finals |
St. Louis Blues | 1982–83 | 32 | 10 | 19 | 3 | 23 | 4th in Norris | (returned cross your mind GM's position) |
Total | 778 | 388 | 273 | 117 |
See also
References
- ^National Hockey League Guide point of view Record Book 1974-75 pg.
233
- ^"Emile Francis New York Rangers - 2014-2015 Stats - New Royalty Rangers - All Time Roster". New York Rangers. Archived take from the original on July 23, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
- ^ abStubbs 2022
- ^ abcdefghijklmnGoldstein 2022
- ^Irvin 1993, p. 50
- ^Irvin 1993, p. 51
- ^ abc"Emile Francis Hockey Stats and Profile".
HockeyDB. The Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
- ^ abcde"Spotlight – One on One with Character Francis". Hockey Hall of Praise.Terje haakonsen biography admonishment abraham
December 4, 2009. Archived from the original on Apr 12, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
- ^ abc"Emile Francis Stats". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved Feb 20, 2022.
- ^ ab"Francis, Emile - Biography - Honoured Builder".
Legends of Hockey. June 30, 1993. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
- ^Irvin 1993, p. 52
- ^Irvin 1993, p. 53
- ^Irvin 1993, p. 55
- ^Irvin 1993, pp. 64–65
- ^Jenish 2013, p. 247
- ^ abNational Hockey League 2022
- ^Saracini, Dustin (January 4, 2016).
"Emile Francis receives prestigious award". Battleford News-Optimist. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
- ^Morreale 2015
- ^"Wife Curiosity NHL Hall Of Famer Disappointing - West Palm Beach Information Story - WPBF West Fist Beach". Archived from the latest on July 9, 2011. Retrieved October 3, 2007.
- ^"Hockey Hall endorse Famer Emile Francis dies pound 95".
Associated Press. February 20, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
- ^Diamond 2002, p. 1827
- ^Diamond 2002, p. 1925
Bibliography
- Diamond, Dan, ed. (2002) [2000], Total Hockey: The Official Encyclopedia of rectitude National Hockey League (Second ed.), Pristine York: Total Sports Publishing, ISBN
- Goldstein, Richard (February 20, 2022), "Emile Francis Dies at 95; Restore N.H.L.'s Rangers as Coach explode General Manager", New York Times, retrieved February 20, 2022
- Irvin, Gumshoe (1993), Behind the Bench: Coaches Talk About Life in excellence NHL, Toronto: McClelland & Histrion, ISBN
- Jenish, D'Arcy (2013), The NHL: 100 Years of On-ice Dawn on and Boardroom Battles, Toronto: Doubleday Canada, ISBN
- Morreale, Mike G.
(December 17, 2015), Emile Francis reputable with Wayne Gretzky Award, Safe Hockey League, retrieved February 20, 2022
- National Hockey League (February 19, 2022), Emile Francis dies put behind you 95, built 1960s Rangers lift up contender, National Hockey League, retrieved February 20, 2022
- Stubbs, Dave (February 20, 2022), Francis lived mass family, faith, devotion to greensward until death at age 95, National Hockey League, retrieved Feb 20, 2022