Howie Morenz

Lore & Background

Considered one of the first stars of the NHL, Morenz played 14 seasons in the league. He was a member of a Stanley Cup–winning team three times, all with the Canadiens. During his NHL career he placed in the top 10 leading scorers ten times. For seven straight seasons, Morenz led the Canadiens in both goals scored and points.

He was named the winner of the Hart Trophy as the most valuable player of the league three times, and he led the league once in goals scored and twice in points scored. After the introduction of All-Star teams in 1931, he was named to the NHL first All-Star team twice and the NHL second All-Star team once. Morenz died from complications of a broken leg, an injury he suffered in a game. After his death, the Canadiens retired his jersey number, the first time the team had done so for any player.

When the Hockey Hall of Fame opened in 1945, Morenz was one of the original nine inductees. 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.

Reader's Guide

Morenz learned his hockey by playing shinny on the Thames River. At age eight, he played his first organized game as a goaltender, allowing 21 goals. After that game, a coach switched him to rover. Starting the 1916–17 junior season as a goaltender, he 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. When not playing hockey, he bet avidly on horse races and played the ukulele.

In 1926 he married Mary McKay; they had three children: Howie Jr. (1927–2015), Donald (1933–1939), and Marlene (1934–2018). Marlene later married Bernie Geoffrion. Their son, Morenz's grandson Dan, played for the Canadiens in 1979–80. Dan's son Blake won the Hobey Baker Award in 2010, was selected by the Nashville Predators in the 2006 NHL entry draft, made his NHL debut with the Predators in 2011, and was traded to Montreal in 2012, becoming the first fourth-generation NHL player.

Did You Know?

• Morenz led the NHL in points twice (1925–26 and 1927–28) and in goals once.
• Morenz scored a hat trick in the first game of the 1924 Stanley Cup Final against the Calgary Tigers.

The Stratford Streak's Meteoric Rise

Howard William Morenz was born in Mitchell, Ontario, to William Frederick Morenz and Rosena Pauli. He learned hockey playing shinny on the Thames River. At age eight, he played his first organized game as a goaltender, allowing 21 goals, before a coach moved him to rover. By the 1916–17 junior season, he had switched to forward, utilizing his speed for an offensive role. After moving to Stratford in May 1917, he tried enlisting in the military at age 15 but was refused. He later apprenticed at the Canadian National Railways factory. In 1920, he joined the Stratford Midgets, leading the Ontario Hockey Association in assists and points during the 1920–21 regular season and goals, assists, and points in the playoffs. The team reached the 1921 Memorial Cup against the Winnipeg Falcons; while Morenz scored a hat trick in the second game, they lost the total-goals series 11–9.

Dominance on Ice and Historic Accolades

Morenz's dominance was evident early. In 1921–22, playing for the senior Stratford Indians while still with juniors, he led both leagues in goals, assists, and points, as well as penalty minutes in the senior league. Playing exclusively senior in 1922–23, he led the league in regular season assists, playoff goals, points, and penalty minutes. His nine-goal game at a CNR tournament in Montreal in December 1922 secured his NHL future. In the 1927–28 season, he became the first player to score 50 points (finishing with 51) and led the league in goals (33), assists, and points, winning his first Hart Trophy. He repeated as a scoring leader in 1930–31 with 51 points and won his second Hart Trophy. Over seven straight seasons, he led the Canadiens in both goals and points. He was named to the First All-Star team twice and the Second All-Star team once after 1931.

Tragic End and Immediate Legacy

Morenz's career ended due to a broken leg suffered during a game while playing for the New York Rangers. He died from complications of this injury on March 8, 1937. His death prompted the Montreal Canadiens to retire his jersey number, marking the first time the team had done so for any player. In 1945, when the Hockey Hall of Fame opened, Morenz was one of the original nine inductees. The Canadian Press named him the best ice hockey player of the first half of the 20th century in 1950. Decades later, in 2017, the NHL included him on their list of the 100 greatest players in league history.

A Multigenerational Hockey Dynasty

Morenz married Mary McKay in 1926; they had three children: Howie Jr. (born 1927), Donald (born 1933, died 1939), and Marlene (born 1934). Marlene later married Bernie Geoffrion, who played for the Canadiens and Rangers from 1950 to 1968. Their son, Dan Morenz-Geoffrion, played for the Canadiens in 1979–80. Dan's son, Blake Geoffrion, won the Hobey Baker Award as the best collegiate player in 2010 and was drafted by the Nashville Predators in 2006, making his NHL debut in 2011 as the first fourth-generation NHL player. After being traded to Montreal in 2012, Blake ensured that all four generations of the Morenz-Geoffrion family had played within the Canadiens organization.