Yvan Cournoyer

The Roadrunner who blazed to 10 Stanley Cups and a legendary Summit Series goal.

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Yvan Serge Cournoyer (born November 22, 1943) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens for 16 seasons, between 1963 to 1978, winning the Stanley Cup 10 times. In 1972, Cournoyer scored the tying goal in the deciding eighth game of the Canada-USSR series with seven minutes remaining. Canada went on to win the game and the series on Paul Henderson's dramatic goal with 34 seconds left in the game. Born in Drummondville, Quebec, he was nicknamed "The Roadrunner" due to his small size and blazing speed, which he credited to longer blades on his skates. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1982 and named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in 2017.

Quick Facts

Position: Right Wing
Shoots: Left
Played for: Montreal Canadiens
Born: 22 November 1943
Birthplace: Drummondville, Quebec, Canada
Hall of Fame: 1982

Lore & Background

Cournoyer started his junior ice hockey with the Montreal Junior Canadiens of the Ontario Hockey Association in 1961. By the time he was 18 years old, his legs had become so muscular that he required specially tailored pants. He made his NHL debut in 1963 with the Montreal Canadiens and earned a full-time spot in 1964 after just seven games with the American Hockey League's Quebec Aces. Mark Mulvoy of Sports Illustrated was credited with giving Cournoyer the nickname Roadrunner.

Cournoyer was initially regarded by Canadiens head coach Toe Blake as a defensive liability, but after Blake's departure following the Canadiens' Stanley Cup Championship, incoming coach Claude Ruel granted Cournoyer a full-time shift. Cournoyer went on to have his first 40-goal season and was named to the NHL's Second All-Star Team. He scored a career-high 47 goals in the 1971–72 season. In the 1973 Stanley Cup playoffs, he had his best playoffs ever, scoring 15 goals and tallying 10 assists in 17 games, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy following the Canadiens' defeat of the Chicago Black Hawks in the Finals.

Cournoyer was named captain of the Canadiens in 1975 following the retirement of Henri Richard. He missed the entire 1977 playoffs due to back surgery. He returned for the 1977–78 season and played in 68 games, scoring 24 goals and collecting 29 assists. He played in just fifteen regular season games and missed the entire playoffs during the 1978–79 season, although the Habs did win their fourth straight Cup.

When he retired, he only trailed Maurice Richard and Jean Beliveau on the Canadiens' all-time scoring list. Cournoyer won the Stanley Cup ten times as a player (tied with Beliveau), second to Henri Richard's 11. He is seventh in total games played (968), fourth in goals scored (428), seventh in assists (435) and sixth in total points scored (863).

Reader's Guide

Cournoyer played for Canada in the 1972 Summit Series and is part of the famous picture wherein Paul Henderson jumps into his arms after scoring the game (and series) winner. Cournoyer scored three goals during the series. Late in the third period of game eight, his goal tied the score, making a win by Canada possible. After his playing career, Cournoyer coached the Montreal Roadrunners, an inline hockey team, during the 1994–95 Roller Hockey International season and was later an assistant coach to the Montreal Canadiens during the 1995–96 season. He serves as an official ambassador for the Montreal Canadiens. On November 12, 2005, Cournoyer and Dickie Moore had their #12 jersey retired by Montreal prior to a home game at the Bell Centre. In 2026, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada.