Howie Morenz

Lore & Background

Morenz learned hockey by playing shinny on the Thames River. At age eight, he played his first organized game as a goaltender, allowing 21 goals, after which a coach switched him to rover. He later became a forward when his speed proved more suitable for an offensive role. He helped the Mitchell ice hockey team win the Western Ontario junior championship. After his family moved to Stratford in May 1917, he tried enlisting in the Canadian military but was refused because he was only 15. At age 18, he became an apprentice with the Canadian National Railways (CNR) factory in Stratford. He bet avidly on horse races and played the ukulele. In 1926 he married Mary McKay; they had three children: Howie Jr., Donald, and Marlene. Marlene later married Bernie Geoffrion, who played for the Canadiens and Rangers. Their son Dan played for the Canadiens in 1979–80. Dan's son Blake won the Hobey Baker Award in 2010 and became the first fourth-generation NHL player, playing for the Predators and later Montreal.

Reader's Guide

Morenz was one of the most dominant players in the NHL, setting several league scoring records. He was a strong skater, referred to as the 'Stratford Streak' and 'Mitchell Meteor' for his speed. He placed in the top 10 leading scorers ten times and led the Canadiens in both goals and points for seven straight seasons. He led the league once in goals and twice in points. After his death from complications of a broken leg suffered in a game, the Canadiens retired his jersey number, the first time the team had done so. In 1950, the Canadian Press named him the best ice hockey player of the first half of the 20th century, and in 2017 the NHL included him on their list of the 100 greatest players in league history.

Did You Know?

• Morenz scored a hat trick in the second game of the 1921 Memorial Cup against the Winnipeg Falcons.
• He signed his first NHL contract with the Canadiens on July 7, 1923, for three years at $3,500 per year plus a $1,000 signing bonus.
• Morenz became the first player to reach 50 points in an NHL season, finishing with 51 in 1927–28.
• His grandson Dan Geoffrion played for the Canadiens, and his great-grandson Blake Geoffrion became the first fourth-generation NHL player.