Eddie Gerard
Edward George Gerard ( born February 22, 1890 in Ottawa, Ontario; † August 7, 1937 ) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach. Between 1913 and 1923 he played in the National Hockey Association and since 1917 in the National Hockey League for the Ottawa Senators to the positions of the left winger as well as the defender. As a player, Gerard won the Stanley Cup four times, followed by a fifth trophy following his playing career in 1926 as head coach of the Montreal Maroons. Eddie Gerard died in 1937 at the age of 47 years from the effects of a tumor disease. He was among the first twelve hockey personalities who were included in the newly formed Hockey Hall of Fame in 1945.
Career as a player
In his youth, Eddie Gerard played for the Ottawa Seconds in a junior league of the Canadian province of Ontario. From 1910 to 1913 he was responsible for the Ottawa New Edinburgh in the Inter- Provincial Amateur Hockey Union, a minor league, active. In November 1913, used mainly as a winger Gerard contract offers several professional teams received. Among other things, his Montreal Canadiens submitted an offer, which he refused. A little later signed a contract with the Canadian team from his hometown, the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey Association ( NHA).
In his first season with the Senators Gerard came in eleven games for use, thereby pass him 13 points scorer. His personal best season was the shooter left in the NHA season 1916/17, which was the last season of the National Hockey Association at the same time; Gerard scored 17 goals in 19 games and a total of 26 points. After the dissolution of the NHA and the establishment of the National Hockey League ( NHL) 1917/18 won Eddie Gerard with the Ottawa Senators in the NHL season 1919/20, his first Stanley Cup after the team in the Stanley Cup finals, the Seattle Metropolitans beat from the Pacific Coast Hockey Association ( PCHA ). For the Senators, it was the eighth overall win this trophy. The senator repeated in the season on their Stanley Cup success by the team won the final against the PCHA challenger Vancouver Millionaires.
In the season 1921/22, the Ottawa Senators lost the NHL final against the Toronto St. Patricks, which in turn met at the Stanley Cup final to the Vancouver Millionaires. Before the fourth game of this discharged in the best-of -five series mode injured himself a defender of the St. Patrick's Day. Vancouver Millionaires Manager Lester Patrick allowed then the Toronto St. Patricks, set up any players from Eastern Canada for the rest of the final round as a replacement. The choice fell on Eddie Gerard, which proved to be so effective for the St. Patrick's that Lester Patrick forbade another player use before the fifth and decisive game. The Toronto St. Patricks finally defeated the Vancouver Millionaires in the fifth and final game 5-1 and won by their first and only Stanley Cup, Gerard, it was the third Cup win in a row. [Note 1]
The season 1922/23, should be Eddie Gerard's last as a player in the National Hockey League. The Ottawa Senators finished the regular season in first place in the table and met in the Stanley Cup Finals to the Edmonton Eskimos of the Western Canada Hockey League ( WCHL ). The Senators won the best-of -three series with 2-0 victories. After the fourth Stanley Cup victory in a row Eddie Gerard ended due to a tumor on her neck, which made it difficult for him to breathe, his active career. In his ten seasons plus career as a professional, he won four times with the Ottawa Senators to the Stanley Cup, in addition, he ran from 1919 until his retirement in late 1923 as captain of the senator.
The Canadian was considered efficient and very fair player, who had a good running technique and on both sides of the playing field a heavier opponent was. In addition, an outstanding puck control and leadership qualities he was certified.
After the career
Gerard was already active in the NHL season 1917/18 as player-coach of the Ottawa Senators. After end of his career as a player in 1923 he paused a year of hockey and was then from 1924 to 1929 worked as a coach and manager of the Montreal Maroons. He won in 1926 his first and only Stanley Cup as coach, after his team had beaten in the final of the Victoria Cougars of the PCHA. After that time with the Maroons, he paused one years back and then coached for two seasons from 1930, the New York Americans. In the fall of 1932, he again took over as coach for the Montreal Maroons.
After the Ottawa Senators in 1934 had set the game mode and had moved to St. Louis, Gerard took over in the first season of the now St. Louis Eagles franchise called as coach of Georges Boucher. After the new team had lost eleven of the first 13 games, the Canadians joined in December 1934, returned on the basis of his health condition, as coach of the Eagles. His successor was again Boucher.
Eddie Gerard died on 7 August 1937 at the age of 47 in his hometown of Ottawa to the consequences of the tumor, which had already led to end of his career. He was among the first twelve hockey personalities who were included in the newly formed Hockey Hall of Fame in 1945.
Awards and achievements
Career Stats
As a player
( Key to Career statistics: Sp or GP = Games Played, T or G = goals scored, V or A = achieved assists; Pts or Pts = scored points scorer, SM or PIM = received penalty minutes, / - = Plus / Minus balance sheet; PP = scored majority gates; SH = scored shorthanded goals, GW = achieved victory gates; Play-downs/Relegation 1 )
As a coach
(Legend to coach stats: GC = Matches, W = Won, L = Lost, T = Tie)