Leo Labine Explained

Position:Right wing
Played For:Boston Bruins
Detroit Red Wings
Shoots:Right
Height Ft:5
Height In:10
Weight Lb:180
Birth Date:July 22, 1931
Birth Place:Haileybury, Ontario, Canada
Death Place:North Bay, Ontario, Canada
Career Start:1950
Career End:1967

Leonard Gerald "Leo The Lion"[1] Labine (July 22, 1931 – February 25, 2005) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. A native of Haileybury, Ontario, Labine played for teams in the NHL, WHL, EPHL, and the AHL. At 5'10", and 178 lbs, Labine had a long and varied career.

Biography

Leo Labine began his career as a featured member of the Memorial Cup winning Barrie Flyers, the Boston Bruins OHA affiliate. After a brief spell with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, Labine joined the Bruins near the conclusion of the 1951–52 season and with his rugged, spectacular style, he quickly established himself as a regular.

In 1955 Labine won the Elizabeth C. Dufresne Trophy, given to the Boston Bruins player voted most outstanding during home games. Labine also led the Bruins in scoring for the 1954–55 season. His best campaigns in Boston were spent on Boston's top power unit with his long-time partner Real Chevrefils and smooth, crafty centre Don McKenney. His fiery, aggressive style fit in well with the Boston Bruins of the 1950s. Labine was traded to the Detroit Red Wings in 1961.

Labine, who retired from hockey in 1967, was also a member of the WHL All-Star Team in 1964, and participated in the NHL All-Star Games of 1955 and 1956. Labine played in a total of 643 NHL games, had 128 goals, and 321 points.[1]

Labine died of cancer at the North Bay General Hospital in North Bay, Ontario, on February 25, 2005, at the age of seventy-three.[1] He is buried in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in North Bay.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
1949–50St. Michael's MajorsOHA47 20 22 42 775 1 2 3 13
1950–51Barrie FlyersOHA52 32 46 78 14312 13 13 26 36
1950–51Barrie FlyersM-Cup11 12 13 25 36
1951–52Boston BruinsNHL15 2 4 6 95 0 1 1 4
1951–52Hershey BearsAHL53 23 23 46 885 0 1 1 20
1952–53Boston BruinsNHL51 8 15 23 697 2 1 3 19
1952–53Hershey BearsAHL16 7 3 10 333 1 2 3 8
1953–54Boston BruinsNHL68 16 19 35 574 0 1 1 8
1954–55Boston BruinsNHL67 24 18 42 755 2 1 3 11
1955–56Boston BruinsNHL68 16 18 34 104
1956–57Boston BruinsNHL67 18 29 47 12810 3 2 5 14
1957–58Boston BruinsNHL62 7 14 21 6011 0 2 2 10
1958–59Boston BruinsNHL70 9 23 32 747 2 1 3 12
1959–60Boston BruinsNHL63 16 28 44 58
1960–61Boston BruinsNHL40 7 12 19 34
1960–61Detroit Red WingsNHL24 2 9 11 3211 3 2 5 4
1961–62Detroit Red WingsNHL48 3 4 7 30
1961–62Sudbury WolvesEPHL9 10 10 20 185 0 4 4 4
1962–63Los Angeles BladesWHL68 30 47 77 903 1 0 1 2
1963–64Los Angeles Blades WHL70 31 46 77 5612 10 12 22 10
1964–65Los Angeles Blades WHL58 16 37 53 42
1965–66Los Angeles Blades WHL71 33 30 63 33
1966–67Los Angeles Blades WHL70 18 29 47 24
WHL totals337 128 189 317 24515 11 12 23 12
NHL totals643 128 193 321 73060 12 11 23 82

Notes and References

  1. News: Leo Labine, former Bruin and Red Wing, dead at 73. February 26, 2005. USA Today. August 16, 2010.