Hap Emms
Owner and coach of four Memorial Cup-winning junior teams.
Leighton Alfred Emms, known as "Hap Emms," was born on January 12, 1905, and died on October 23, 1988. He spent nearly six decades in hockey as a player, coach, owner, and general manager. On the ice, he played left wing and defence for 17 professional seasons, including 320 games over 10 years in the National Hockey League. After his playing days, he owned and operated the Barrie Flyers, Niagara Falls Flyers, and St. Catharines Black Hawks in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1945 to 1978. Teams under his guidance appeared in eight Memorial Cup tournaments and won four times. His nickname "Happy Emms" came from his perpetually sour expression, later shortened to "Hap."
Emms began his playing career as a junior left winger from 1921 to 1925. He signed as a free agent with the Montreal Maroons on November 10, 1926, and split the next two seasons between the Maroons and the Stratford Nationals of the Canadian Professional Hockey League. He then played two seasons with the Windsor Bulldogs of the International Hockey League, scoring 21 goals each year. On May 14, 1930, he was traded to the New York Americans, playing his first full NHL season in 1930–31 at age 25, appearing in 44 games. He started the 1931–32 season with the Americans, was traded to the Detroit Falcons on December 29, 1931, spent time with the New Haven Eagles of the Canadian–American Hockey League, and returned to the NHL. After three seasons in Detroit, he asked Jack Adams for his release because he was unhappy. He signed as a free agent with the Boston Bruins on October 28, 1934, switched to defence, but played only 11 games before being traded back to the New York Americans on December 14, 1934. He played three more seasons in New York, then was traded to Detroit on February 13, 1938, ending his NHL career. He finished his playing days on Detroit's farm team, the Pittsburgh Hornets of the IAHL, for two seasons.
Emms became a player-coach with the Omaha Knights of the American Hockey Association. He scored 19 goals in 1939–40 and led the team to the AHA finals. A broken leg during the 1941–42 season ended his playing time, but he stayed on as coach and guided the Knights to the AHA championship. After a few years away from hockey, he returned to coach the St. Louis Flyers of the American Hockey League in 1944–45, playing the final two games of his career.
Quick Facts
- Played For
- Montreal Maroons / New York Americans / Detroit Falcons / Detroit Red Wings / Boston Bruins
- Position
- Left wing/Defence
- Shoots
- Left
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 0
- Weight Lb
- 190
- Birth Date
- 1905-01-12
- Birth Place
- Barrie, Ontario, Canada
- Death Date
- 1988-10-23
- Death Place
- Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
- Career Start
- 1926
- Career End
- 1938
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Emms began his playing career as a left winger in junior hockey from 1921 to 1925. He signed with the Montreal Maroons in 1926 and later played for the New York Americans, Detroit Falcons, and Boston Bruins, switching to defence during his brief stint with the Bruins. After his playing days, he became a player-coach for the Omaha Knights, leading them to the AHA finals and later an AHA championship. He broke his leg during the 1941–42 season but remained as coach.
Emms founded the Barrie Flyers in his hometown in 1945, serving as head coach and owner. The Flyers, sponsored by the Boston Bruins, won four J. Ross Robertson Cups and two Memorial Cups under his leadership. He moved the franchise to Niagara Falls in 1960, where the Flyers won three more OHA titles and two more Memorial Cups. Emms also served as general manager of the Boston Bruins during the 1965–66 and 1966–67 seasons, bringing in players such as Bernie Parent, Gerry Cheevers, and John McKenzie, and promoting Harry Sinden as coach. The Bruins failed to make the playoffs during his tenure.
After selling the Niagara Falls Flyers in 1972, Emms purchased the St. Catharines Black Hawks. In his first season, he was suspended for one year and fined $1,000 after ordering his players to wear their jerseys backwards and play with sticks upside down in protest of an opponent's professional contract. The Black Hawks won the J. Ross Robertson Cup in 1973–74, Emms' eighth and final OHA title.
Reader's Guide
Hap Emms' significance lies in his long and varied career in hockey, particularly his impact on junior hockey in Ontario. Over 33 years as an owner and general manager in the Ontario Hockey Association, his teams won eight league championships and four Memorial Cups, making him one of the most successful junior hockey operators of his era. His Barrie Flyers and Niagara Falls Flyers were directly sponsored by the Boston Bruins, serving as a pipeline for NHL talent. Notable players he coached or developed include Don Cherry, Bernie Parent, Doug Favell, and Rick Ley.
Emms' brief tenure as general manager of the Boston Bruins came during a difficult period for the franchise, but he was responsible for key acquisitions and the promotion of Harry Sinden as coach. His legacy is also marked by controversy, including his refusal to play a Sunday playoff game for religious reasons and the incident with the St. Catharines Black Hawks where he protested a player's professional contract. Despite these incidents, his teams consistently competed for championships, and his influence on the development of young players was substantial. He was nicknamed "Happy Emms" due to the sour look on his face, later shortened to "Hap Emms."
Did You Know?
- Emms was nicknamed 'Happy Emms' because of his sour facial expression, later shortened to 'Hap Emms'.
- Emms broke his leg during the 1941–42 season but remained with the Omaha Knights as coach and led them to an AHA championship.
- He was general manager of the Boston Bruins during Bobby Orr's first NHL season.
More in Boston Bruins Players 1-24
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