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The Flying Frenchmen
Photo by contributor Pierre Charron - Posted August, 2016
Photo by contributor Pierre Charron - Posted August, 2016
Photo Source - Wikipedia
Plaque Location
The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry
The City of Cornwall
At the Cornwall Civic Complex at 100 Water Street
Coordinates: N 45 00.895 W 74 43.449 |
Plaque Text
Professional hockey was in its infancy in the autumn of 1909 when the promoters behind the National Hockey Association, forerunner of the National Hockey League, created the Montreal Canadiens team to attract French-Canadian spectators. Belleville-born Jean-Baptiste "Jack" Laviolette was hired as the playing-manager and captain. Laviolette signed Cornwall's Édouard "Newsy" Lalonde to play forward and recruited his friend Didier "Cannonball" Pitre from the Renfrew Creamery Kings ('Renfrew Millionaires') as a defenceman. This trio of francophone players formed the nucleus of the roster for several seasons and led the Canadiens to their first Stanley Cup championship in 1916. They played with such speed and finesse that sportswriters began calling them "The Flying Frenchmen," establishing the Canadiens' trademark playing style for generations. Laviolette retired in 1918, the Canadiens traded Lalonde to the Saskatoon Crescents in 1922 and Pitre retired in 1923. All three were later inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame for their part in establishing a legendary hockey franchise.
Related Ontario plaque
The Renfrew Millionaires
Related Toronto plaque
Hockey Hall of Fame
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