Aurèle Joliat

Aurèle Émile Joliat (August 29, 1901 – June 2, 1986) was known as the "Mighty Atom" and "Little Giant" during his 16-season NHL career, all spent as a left winger for the Montreal Canadiens. Born and raised in Ottawa, he started playing organized hockey in 1916 with amateur teams in Ottawa and Iroquois Falls, Ontario. He originally signed with the Saskatoon Crescents of the Western Canada Hockey League for 1922–23, but his contract rights were traded to Montreal when Crescents' manager Frederick E. Betts wanted to bring in aging star Newsy Lalonde as a player-coach. Habs fans were initially furious at swapping an unknown for the game's greatest player, but Joliat quickly won them over. He helped Montreal win the Stanley Cup in 1924, then again in 1930 and 1931.

Standing 5′7″ and weighing 136 pounds, Joliat was one of the smallest players in the league, yet he never backed down from confrontations. His strength as a two-way forward came from his ability to counterattack after breaking up plays. His breakout season came in 1925, when he lined up with Howie Morenz and Billy Boucher, scoring 29 goals to lead the NHL and posting a career-high 41 points. He remained a key scorer for the Canadiens through 1938 and retired the following year, reportedly devastated by Morenz's recent death.

Joliat finished with 270 goals and 460 points in 655 games. At retirement, he held the NHL record for most games played, a mark that stood until Hooley Smith passed it in 1940. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1947. In a 1985 Canadiens Old-Timers game, he skated around the Montreal Forum to a huge ovation, holding his trademark black cap. He fell twice over TV cables but quickly got up and finished his lap. He continued skating on Ottawa's Rideau Canal into his 80s and died at age 84 in 1986, shortly after seeing the Canadiens win their 23rd Stanley Cup. He was buried in Ottawa's Notre Dame Cemetery.

Among his honours: the Hart Memorial Trophy in 1934; first-team NHL All-Star in 1931; second-team All-Star in 1932, 1934, and 1935; ranked 65th on *The Hockey News* list of the 100 greatest NHL players; named to the Canadiens' 75th anniversary all-time team in 1984; and his number 4 jersey was retired alongside Jean Béliveau's on October 9, 1971. At retirement, he ranked third in NHL history for goals, behind Nels Stewart and Howie Morenz.