Yvan Cournoyer

Verified Timeline

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).

In Their Own Story

The air inside the Forum shifted dramatically in Game 8 of the 1972 Canada-USSR series with just seven minutes remaining. Cournoyer scored the tying goal, keeping Canada's hopes alive before Paul Henderson sealed the victory with a dramatic goal 34 seconds later. That moment defined his legacy on the international stage, captured in the famous image where Henderson jumps into his arms after scoring the winner. In the NHL, his speed was legendary, credited to longer blades on his skates. Even as age and back pain slowed him down, he returned for the 1977–78 season, contributing 24 goals and 29 assists in 68 games to help secure Montreal's third consecutive Cup. He added seven goals and four assists in 15 playoff games that year. Although he missed the entire 1978–79 playoffs due to his back, he still qualified for a fourth straight Cup as captain. His final regular season saw him play just 15 games before retirement, leaving him third on the all-time scoring list behind Maurice Richard and Jean Beliveau.

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.

Did You Know?

• Cournoyer was nicknamed 'The Roadrunner' due to his small size and blazing speed, which he credited to longer blades on his skates.
• He scored the tying goal in game eight of the 1972 Summit Series with seven minutes remaining, setting up Paul Henderson's winning goal.
• Cournoyer won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1973 after scoring 15 goals and 10 assists in 17 playoff games.
• He was named captain of the Canadiens in 1975 following the retirement of Henri Richard.
• Cournoyer's #12 jersey was retired by the Montreal Canadiens on November 12, 2005.