Newsy Lalonde
Hockey and lacrosse star, original Flying Frenchman, 1916 Stanley Cup champion.
Édouard Cyrille "Newsy" Lalonde (October 31, 1887 – November 21, 1970) was a Canadian professional athlete who played forward in ice hockey's National Hockey League (NHL) and also played professional lacrosse. He is remembered as one of the top players in both sports during the first half of the 20th century and as a famously colorful figure in Canadian sports. Lalonde suited up for the Montreal Canadiens—often called the original "Flying Frenchman"—in both the National Hockey Association and the NHL. While serving as player-coach, he guided the Canadiens to their first Stanley Cup championship in 1916. His goal-scoring during the 1919 Stanley Cup playoffs set three NHL records that still stand more than a century later. He also played for the Saskatoon Sheiks of the Western Canada Hockey League.
Lalonde was born to Pierre Lalonde (1847–1926) and Rose Lalonde (1849–1939). As a teenager, he worked first as a reporter and then as a printer for the *Cornwall Freeholder* and the *Woodstock, Ontario Express*, which earned him the nickname "Newsy." He married Iona Elizabeth Letters (1899–1966) on May 7, 1913; they had two children.
Lalonde began his hockey career in 1904 with the Cornwall Victorias of the Federal Amateur Hockey League. The next season he played for Woodstock in the Ontario Hockey Association Senior A League. In 1906, he moved to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, to join the International Professional Hockey League, hockey's first known professional league, and was named to the IHL Second All-Star Team. In 1907, he signed with the Toronto Professionals of the Ontario Professional Hockey League, and alongside linemates Bruce Ridpath and Wally Mercer, he helped the team win the league championship. They lost the Stanley Cup in a close series against the Montreal Wanderers, with Lalonde scoring twice.
When the National Hockey Association formed in 1910, Lalonde joined the Montreal Canadiens for their inaugural season and scored the franchise's first goal. Midway through that season, the Canadiens traded him to the Renfrew Creamery Kings, where he led the league in scoring. He returned to Montreal for the 1911 season—just as professional hockey was beginning to enforce player rights—and engaged in several stick fights, angering opposing fans.
Quick Facts
- Halloffame
- 1950
- Birth Date
- 1887-10-31
- Birth Place
- Cornwall, Ontario, Canada
- Death Date
- 1970-11-21
- Death Place
- Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Height Ft
- 5
- Height In
- 9
- Weight Lb
- 168
- Position
- Centre / Defence
- Shoots
- Right
- Played For
- Montreal Canadiens / Renfrew Creamery Kings / Vancouver Millionaires / Saskatoon Sheiks / New York Americans
- Career Start
- 1904
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Lalonde began his ice hockey career in 1904 with the Cornwall Victorias of the Federal Amateur Hockey League. He played in the International Professional Hockey League, hockey's first known professional league, in 1906, and was named to the IHL Second All-Star Team. In 1910, he joined the Montreal Canadiens for their first season in the National Hockey Association, scoring the first goal for the franchise. He was traded to the Renfrew Creamery Kings that season and led the league in scoring, then rejoined the Canadiens in 1911. In 1912, he jumped to the Vancouver Millionaires of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association and led that league in scoring in its inaugural year. He returned to Montreal the following season and remained with the Canadiens for ten years, winning the NHA scoring title in 1916 and captaining the team to his only Stanley Cup victory. Lalonde played and scored in the first NHL game on December 19, 1917, and scored in each of the first six NHL games, a mark that stood unchallenged for the rest of the century. During the 1919 Stanley Cup playoffs, he scored seventeen goals in ten games, setting three NHL records that remain unbroken over a century later. The finals against the Seattle Metropolitans were abandoned after several players, including Lalonde, were hospitalized with influenza during the 1918 flu pandemic; teammate Joe Hall died. Lalonde later played for the Saskatoon Sheiks of the Western Canada Hockey League, achieving his final scoring title as playing coach, and finished his playing career in 1926. He also served as head coach of the New York Americans, Ottawa Senators, and Montreal Canadiens.
Reader's Guide
Lalonde's significance lies in his dual excellence in hockey and lacrosse during an era when both sports were highly popular in Canada. In hockey, he was a prolific goal-scorer who set NHL records in the 1919 playoffs that remain unbroken over a century later. He was the first player to score in each of the first six NHL games, a mark that stood unchallenged for the rest of the century. As player-coach, he led the Montreal Canadiens to their first Stanley Cup in 1916. In lacrosse, he was equally prominent, earning more money than in hockey and leading his Vancouver teams to three Minto Cup pro championships. He led his respective lacrosse league in goals in all but one season over a ten-year period from 1910 through 1918. His career included playing for multiple teams across leagues, reflecting the fluid nature of early professional hockey. Lalonde's competitive nature and physical style were noted, including a crosscheck to Aurèle Joliat. After retiring as a player, he coached in the NHL for several teams, extending his influence on the game.
Did You Know?
- Lalonde scored the first goal for the Montreal Canadiens in 1910.
- Lalonde earned more money playing lacrosse than hockey; his lacrosse salary in 1912 was $5,000 for one season, while his hockey salary in 1910–11 was $1,300.
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