Aurèle Joliat Explained

Played For:Montreal Canadiens
League:NHL
Position:Left wing
Shoots:Left
Height Ft:5
Height In:7
Weight Lb:136
Birth Date:29 August 1901
Birth Place:Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Death Place:Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Career Start:1922
Career End:1938
Halloffame:1947

Aurèle Émile "Mighty Atom, Little Giant" Joliat[1] (August 29, 1901 – June 2, 1986) was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens.

Playing career

Joliat began his organized hockey career in 1916, playing for several Canadian amateur teams in Ottawa and Iroquois Falls, Ontario.

Joliat had signed a contract to play for the Saskatoon Crescents of the Western Canada Hockey League for the 1922–23 season, but his contract rights were traded to the Montreal Canadiens when Crescents' manager Frederick E. Betts sought to sign aging superstar Newsy Lalonde as a player-coach.[2] [3]

At first, the deal of an unknown for the greatest player in the game was wildly unpopular with Habs fans, but the "Little Giant" proved an immediate success on the ice. The following season, Joliat helped the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup in 1924 over the WCHL's Calgary Tigers. He helped the Canadiens win two more cups in 1930 and 1931.

Joliat proved noteworthy as a two-way forward, particularly for the ability to counterattack after a breakup. Despite his lack of size—at 5′7″ and 136 lbs, Joliat was one of the smallest players in the game—he was also notable for a refusal to back off from on-ice confrontations.

His breakout season was 1925, when teamed with Howie Morenz and Billy Boucher, Joliat scored 29 goals to lead the NHL, and his 41 points would be a career high. He would remain an impact scorer for the Habs through the 1938 season, and retired the following year, reportedly devastated by Morenz's recent death.

Retirement

Joliat finished his career with 270 goals and 460 points in 655 games. At the time of his retirement, Joliat was the NHL career leader in games played, a mark he held until surpassed by Hooley Smith in 1940.

He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1947.

In a 1985 Montreal Canadiens Old-Timers game, Joliat skated around the Montreal Forum to a huge ovation as a "special treat" for the fans. Despite falling twice over TV cables on the ice, he quickly stood up and finished his skate, the trademark black cap he wore back in his playing days held in his hand.

Joliat continued to skate along Ottawa's Rideau Canal well into his 80s, and died at the age of 84 in 1986 after seeing his beloved Canadiens win their 23rd Stanley Cup earlier that year. He was buried in Notre Dame Cemetery in Ottawa, Ontario.

Achievements and facts

Career statistics

Source:[4]

  Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1916–17Ottawa New EdinburghsOCHL82022000
1917–18Ottawa AberdeensOCHL32023
1918–19Ottawa New EdinburghsOCHL85389
1919–20Ottawa New EdinburghsOCHL712012
1920–21Iroquois Falls PapermakersNOHA
1921–22Iroquois Falls FlyersNOHA
1922–23Montreal CanadiensNHL241292137210111
1923–24Montreal CanadiensNHL24155202764266
1923–24Montreal CanadiensSt-Cup43146
1924–25Montreal CanadiensNHL2530114185520221
1924–25Montreal CanadiensSt-Cup420216
1925–26Montreal CanadiensNHL351792652
1926–27Montreal CanadiensNHL431441879410110
1927–28Montreal CanadiensNHL4428113910520004
1928–29Montreal CanadiensNHL441251759311210
1929–30Montreal CanadiensNHL421912314060226
1930–31Montreal CanadiensNHL43132235731004412
1931–32Montreal CanadiensNHL481524394642024
1932–33Montreal CanadiensNHL481821395322132
1933–34Montreal CanadiensNHL482215372730110
1934–35Montreal CanadiensNHL481712291821010
1935–36Montreal CanadiensNHL481582316
1936–37Montreal CanadiensNHL471715323050332
1937–38Montreal CanadiensNHL44671324
NHL totals6552701904607715414142888
St-Cup totals851622

Notes and References

  1. spelling: Book: 235 . Guide de Presse Saison 2008-09 Season Media Guide . 2008 . Montreal Canadiens.
  2. News: Lalonde Safe In the Fold of Crescents. November 4, 1922. Calgary Herald. Calgary, Alberta. 29.
  3. News: Hockey Notes. November 2, 1922. Medicine Hat News. Medicine Hat, Alberta. 2.
  4. Web site: Legends of Hockey -- The Legends -- Honoured Player -- Joliat, Aurele -- Statistics, Awards & Career . Hockey Hall of Fame . 2009-05-26.