On March 8th 1937, Habs legend Howie Morenz died at the age of 34

[SB164]

On March 8th, 1937, Montreal Canadiens legend Howie Morenz died of a coronary embolism after having had his leg broken at the Montreal Forum six weeks earlier. He was 34 years old.

A true legend of the game, Morenz was widely considered the best hockey player of the first half of the 20th century. When the Hockey Hall of Fame opened in 1945, he was one of the original nine inductees.

Morenz in the hospital:

His teammate Aurèle Joliat sits beside his teammate's empty locker room stall after Morenz's death:

Click to read more...

 

[Chili]

Interesting story here on his life.

The Stratford Streak, one of the Habs legends.

 

[Habs]

My beer league team could beat the 37 Habs.

 

[Born in 1909]

The 1st big NHL scoring star.

His is one of the 4 Hab statues.

Damn that's young to die.

 

[Stjonnypopo]

My beer league team could beat the 37 Habs.

Maybe, but in 1937 your beer league would be as bad as a team of 6 year olds today.

 

[RealityBytes]

Maybe, but in 1937 your beer league would be as bad as a team of 6 year olds today.

As a point to add to this, I was reading a comment from one of the first Canadian Olympic hockey players. He said they won, but it was kind of unfair since they were using risers ... in other words, shots that weren't flat on the ice.

The game was a lot different back then.

 

[TRG]

My beer league team could beat the 37 Habs.

Cool. You still won't be in the HOF.

 

[Toene]

My beer league team could beat the 37 Habs.

With skates like they had back then and wooden sticks? Without helmet, even for goalies? Yeah, right...

 

[Kimota]

It's strange seeing Joliat looking at the locker cause I always thought Morenz had been traded when he died. Hence the Legend saying "He died of a Broke heart".

 

[Stjonnypopo]

As a point to add to this, I was reading a comment from one of the first Canadian Olympic hockey players. He said they won, but it was kind of unfair since they were using risers ... in other words, shots that weren't flat on the ice.

The game was a lot different back then.

That's crazy! So most of the guys couldn't even lift the puck. All the Canadian goalie had to do was cover the ground and hope they didn't accidentally lift the puck.

 

[Chili]

That's crazy! So most of the guys couldn't even lift the puck. All the Canadian goalie had to do was cover the ground and hope they didn't accidentally lift the puck.

There was a time when goaltenders were actually penalized for going down to the ice to stop a shot.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

There was a time when goaltenders were actually penalized for going down to the ice to stop a shot.

Scrivens wouldn't have made it out of midget

 

[dzd ncnfzd]

It's strange seeing Joliat looking at the locker cause I always thought Morenz had been traded when he died. Hence the Legend saying "He died of a Broke heart".

He died of an embolism, complications from his broken leg.
He died of "a broken heart" is the legend because he knew he would no longer play...

And its not wholly due to the medical care at the time, I had a class mate that died in hospital after breaking his femur in a motor bike accident in the '60's, it can still happen.

Apart from the link above, there is a good synopsis of the Morenz story in D'Arcy Jenish's book on the Canadiens ("100 Years of Glory") a must read for any serious Hab's fan to get the feel for the team's and the NHL's history. (To not forget "The Game" by Ken Dryden also, an also must read....I must read that at least once a year, nostalgia!!)