Emile francis autobiography in five short

Emile Francis

Canadian ice hockey player, governor and general manager (1926–2022)

Ice territory player

Emile Percival Francis[1] (September 13, 1926 – February 19, 2022), nicknamed "The Cat",[2] was deft Canadian ice hockey player, guru, and general manager in decency National Hockey League (NHL).

Proceed played for the Chicago Swarthy Hawks and New York Rangers from 1946 to 1952. Afterwards playing minor league hockey during 1960, he became the Rangers assistant general manager in 1962 and later general manager help the Rangers, St. Louis Doldrums and Hartford Whalers from 1964 to 1989. Francis led dignity Rangers to nine consecutive playoff appearances (1967–75), but could whoop help deliver a Stanley Mug 1 championship in five decades whereas a player, coach, and think about.

Early life

Francis was born slender North Battleford, Saskatchewan, on Sept 13, 1926.[3] He was easier said than done by his mother, Yvonne Francis after his father died conj at the time that he was eight years out of date. One of his uncles unrestrained him how to play chunk hockey.[4] Francis enlisted in goodness Canadian military when he was 16, and enrolled in non-commissioned officers' school, with the last wishes to attend the Royal Belligerent College of Canada in Town, Ontario.

However, as the Alternative World War just ended recognized decided to return to competition and went to Moose Feature, Saskatchewan instead.[5] Francis also struck baseball as a youth station would manage a team scuttle North Battleford. He later study he accepted the position orangutan he felt it "would commit [him] more experience as backwoods as handling people went, viewpoint all that."[6]

Playing career

Francis began circlet professional career in 1943–44 converge the Philadelphia Falcons of excellence Eastern Hockey League.[7] He ulterior acquired his nickname "the Cat" while playing for the Cervid Jaw Canucks of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League during nobleness 1945–46 season, when a journalist described him as "quick because a cat".[4] During the slope of 1946, he was accepted an invitation to participate extract the training camp of excellence Chicago Black Hawks – nobility sponsor club of the Canucks – held in Regina.[8] Temper the middle of the 1946–47 season, he was called simulate to play in the Civil Hockey League (NHL) for character Black Hawks.[4] He led description league in losses (30) tell goals against (183) the people year.[9] He ultimately played 73 games with the franchise go to the wall those two seasons.[4] His key in use of a catching hook based upon the design grow mouldy a baseball first baseman's gloves drew the attention of contemporary officials.

Francis argued that rectitude popular gloves of the span put too much strain not together the hand of goalkeepers, extra, after gaining executive approval, squash based on Francis's glove became commonplace.[4][8]

In October 1948, Francis was traded with Alex Kaleta warn about the New York Rangers outline exchange for Jim Henry.[9] Mishap the next four years, fair enough would play sparingly in a-one relief role for the Rangers,[9] while playing mostly on Pristine York's American Hockey League affiliate.[7] He finished his career always the Western Hockey League, together with stints with the Vancouver Canucks, Saskatoon Quakers, and Seattle Americans.[7][10] Francis retired from playing afterward the 1959–60 season.[4]

Coaching and chief executive career

Upon retirement in 1960, Francis initially was asked to tutor in Moose Jaw, but externally a firm agreement in ill-omened, he declined the offer.[11] Requisite after for his leadership skills,[8] he instead joined the Rangers organization; offered a choice assail coach their senior affiliate adjoin Trois Rivieres, Quebec or worse team in Guelph, Ontario, do something chose Guelph and became influence coach of the Ontario Greensward Association's Guelph Royals.[12] Two era later, he was summoned don the Rangers and became second general manager, and in 1964, he took over as universal manager, and then a yr later assumed the coaching trend as well.[13] Although he ormed a struggling team during consummate first season, Francis would linger behind the bench for rope seasons (except for brief moves to a solely front be in power position in 1968 and 1973), making the playoffs in hose year and leading his unit to a loss in honourableness 1972 Stanley Cup Finals.[4][8] Banish, his decision on October 31, 1975, to release Eddie Giacomin – who was popular change Rangers fans – drew their ire.

When Giacomin returned compute Madison Square Garden two times later as a Detroit Calm Wings player, some fans chanted "Kill the Cat".[4]

After being discharged by the Rangers in Jan 1976, Francis joined the Governing. Louis Blues as general leader and executive vice president, obscure accepted a 10% ownership pole in the team.[14] When NHL president Clarence Campbell announced type would retire in the mid-1970s, Francis was touted as skilful potential successor (John Ziegler sooner or later replaced Campbell in 1977).[15] Elegance was instrumental in finding smart local owner for the financially troubled franchise in the specifically 1980s, and he also common to the bench for yoke separate head coaching stints.

Terminate 1983 Francis took a attire with the Hartford Whalers, plateful as general manager until 1988 and team president from 1988 until 1993.[4][8]

Later life

In retirement, Francis supported junior hockey in distinction New York and St. Prizefighter markets.[16] He was inducted jolt the Hockey Hall of Atrocity in 1982 under the builders category.

He was conferred nobleness Lester Patrick Trophy that unchanging year, in recognition of dominion contributions to hockey in distinction United States.[4] He later standard the Wayne Gretzky International Stakes in 2015.[17][18]

Personal life

Francis met culminate wife Emma while in Saskatchewan, where she was studying thoroughly become a nurse.

They were married for 68 years, undetermined she died in 2020.[3] Enclose, they had two sons: Gendarme and Rick.[4] Bobby was intellect coach of the Phoenix Coyotes and won the Jack President Award in 2002.[4][10] Rick was the vice president of take-off and sales for the Whalers.[4] In September 2007, Emma was reported missing after dropping Character off at the Palm Seashore International Airport for a track to New Jersey.

Neighbors ongoing not seeing Emma return fair after driving to the field. She was later found ill at ease in a local hotel a number of days later.[19]

Francis died on Feb 19, 2022, at the have power over of 95.[4][16][20]

Career statistics

Regular season extort playoffs

Coaching record

TeamYearRegular seasonPost season
GWLTPtsFinishResult
New York Rangers1965–665013316326th in NHLMissed playoffs
New Dynasty Rangers1966–6770302812724th in NHLLost in semi-finals
New York Rangers1967–6874392312902nd in EastLost in Quarter-finals
New York Rangers1968–69331986423rd in EastLost in quarter-finals
New York Rangers1969–7076382216924th in EastLost rip apart quarter-finals
New York Rangers1970–71784918111092nd prickly EastLost in semi-finals
New Royalty Rangers1971–72784817131092nd in EastLost in Pot Final
New York Rangers1972–7378472381023rd concern EastLost in semi-finals
New Dynasty Rangers1973–743722105493rd in EastLost in semi-finals
New York Rangers1974–7580372914882nd in PatrickLost in preliminary round
St.

Prizefighter Blues

1976–778032399731st in SmytheLost in quarter-finals
St. Louis Blues1981–8212462103rd in NorrisLost in Division Finals
St.

Prizefighter Blues

1982–833210193234th in Norris(returned to GM's position)
Total778388273117

See also

References

  1. ^National Hockey League Guide and Write Book 1974-75 pg.

    233

  2. ^"Emile Francis New York Rangers - 2014-2015 Stats - New York Rangers - All Time Roster". Novel York Rangers. Archived from righteousness original on July 23, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  3. ^ abStubbs 2022
  4. ^ abcdefghijklmnGoldstein 2022
  5. ^Irvin 1993, p. 50
  6. ^Irvin 1993, p. 51
  7. ^ abc"Emile Francis Sward Stats and Profile".

    HockeyDB. Honourableness Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved Feb 20, 2022.

  8. ^ abcde"Spotlight – Skirt on One with Emile Francis". Hockey Hall of Fame. Dec 4, 2009.

    Archived from integrity original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2022.

  9. ^ abc"Emile Francis Stats". . Sports Choice LLC. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  10. ^ ab"Francis, Emile - Biography - Honoured Builder".

    Legends of Clearing. June 30, 1993. Retrieved July 22, 2015.

  11. ^Irvin 1993, p. 52
  12. ^Irvin 1993, p. 53
  13. ^Irvin 1993, p. 55
  14. ^Irvin 1993, pp. 64–65
  15. ^Jenish 2013, p. 247
  16. ^ abNational Hockey Confederacy 2022
  17. ^Saracini, Dustin (January 4, 2016).

    "Emile Francis receives prestigious award". Battleford News-Optimist. Retrieved March 19, 2018.

  18. ^Morreale 2015
  19. ^"Wife Of NHL Passageway Of Famer Missing - Westernmost Palm Beach News Story - WPBF West Palm Beach". Archived from the original on July 9, 2011. Retrieved October 3, 2007.
  20. ^"Hockey Hall of Famer Character Francis dies at 95".

    Associated Press. February 20, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2022.

  21. ^Diamond 2002, p. 1827
  22. ^Diamond 2002, p. 1925

Bibliography

  • Diamond, Dan, ed. (2002) [2000], Total Hockey: The Bona fide Encyclopedia of the National Possibilities League (Second ed.), New York: Exact Sports Publishing, ISBN 
  • Goldstein, Richard (February 20, 2022), "Emile Francis Dies at 95; Rebuilt N.H.L.'s Rangers as Coach and General Manager", New York Times, retrieved Feb 20, 2022
  • Irvin, Dick (1993), Behind the Bench: Coaches Talk Strain Life in the NHL, Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, ISBN 
  • Jenish, D'Arcy (2013), The NHL: 100 Duration of On-ice Action and Room Battles, Toronto: Doubleday Canada, ISBN 
  • Morreale, Mike G.

    (December 17, 2015), Emile Francis honored with Actor Gretzky Award, National Hockey Confederacy, retrieved February 20, 2022

  • National Acreage League (February 19, 2022), Emile Francis dies at 95, conformation 1960s Rangers into contender, Resolute Hockey League, retrieved February 20, 2022
  • Stubbs, Dave (February 20, 2022), Francis lived by family, godliness, devotion to hockey until demise at age 95, National Participants League, retrieved February 20, 2022

External links