Image courtesy of SBNation
Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre
Commemoration
Professional hockey was in its infancy in the autumn of 1909 when the promoters behind the National Hockey Association, forerunner of the National Hockey League, created the Montreal Canadiens team to attract French- Canadian spectators. Belleville-born Jean-Baptiste "Jack" Laviolette was hired as the playing-manager and captain. Laviolette signed Cornwall's Édouard "Newsy" Lalonde to play forward and recruited his friend Didier "Cannonball" Pitre from the Renfrew Creamery Kings ("Renfrew Millionaires") as a defenceman. This trio of francophone players formed the nucleus of the roster for several seasons and led the Canadiens to their first Stanley Cup championship in 1916. They played with such speed and finesse that sportswriters began calling them "The Flying Frenchmen," establishing the Canadiens' trademark playing style for generations. Laviolette retired in 1918, the Canadiens traded Lalonde to the Saskatoon Crescents in 1922 and Pitre retired in 1923. All three were later inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame for their part in establishing a legendary hockey franchise.
Background
While he was born here in Belleville, Laviolette grew up in Valleyfield, Quebec. He was the first player coach and manager for the Montreal Canadiens. As well as Lalonde and Pitre, Laviolette brought in goaltender Georges Vezina, after whom the award for best NHL goalie is named.
Laviolette first played for the Montreal Nationals and later the Montreal Shamrocks. In the 1960s he was inducted into both the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and the Hockey Hall of Fame.
People's pride in their community history is not limited to their ancestors who came to the area. We're all proud of our hockey heroes!