Mike McMahon, Sr.

Mike McMahon Sr. played just 57 games in his NHL career. The vast bulk of that came in his only full campaign, 1943-44, when he was essentially a war fill-in, as many NHLers enlisted for service in World War II.. Listed at 5'9" and 218lbs, McMahon played in 42 games that season, scoring 7 goals and 24 points. He added another goal and three points in 8 playoff games, helping the Canadiens win the Stanley Cup.

McMahon, a Quebec Senior League stalwart, was an adventurous sort. He made the opposition feel quite uncomfortable, as his career 132 penalty minutes suggested. But he also made his own goaltender uncomfortable. Bill Durnan shared this memory of McMahon in Stan and Shirley Fischler's book Heroes and History:

"Mike McMahon, a rolypoly who would scare the hell out of me whenever he played the point; I always expected the other team to jab the puck away from him and come in on me all alone."

Once the war was over and NHL rosters were at full power once again, McMahon found himself mostly playing in the American Hockey League until his retirement in 1949. He became a self-employed welder after leaving the ice.

Mike McMahon Sr. died on December 3rd, 1974. Mike's son Mike Jr. also played in the National Hockey League, playing in 224 games in the 1970s.

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Leo Lamoureux

Leo Lamoureux was a defenseman with the Montreal Canadiens from 1942 through 1947. Born in Espanala, Ontario but raised in Windsor, Leo was part of Montreal's Stanley Cup championship teams in 1944 and 1946.

In the book Heroes and History by Stan and Shirley Fischler, Habs goaltending great Bill Durnan reflected back on Leo, describing him as "a real character."

"Leo was a worry wart; if something was going to happen, it would be to him. He was also always in and out of mischief along with his pal Murph Chamberlain. They gave (coach Dick) Irvin so many headaches between them that Dick actually missed them once they were gone. Irvin used to say, 'Geez, if we could only get some guys on this team who could get in trouble like those two we'd be alright."

Lamoureux was certainly a well travelled hockey player, bouncing around various Ontario senior teams, down to Washington in the AHL and even in Great Britain for a season before joining the Habs full time in 1942. A converted center, Lamoureux was described as a crafty defenseman, adding some offensive spark. He was also played the game tough while defending his own zone, making life unpleasant for oncoming attackers.

Though his NHL days were over by 1947, Lamoureux enjoyed a lengthy minor league and senior league career through to 1957.

He turned to coaching after that, but he passed away mid-season while coaching the Indianapolis Chiefs of the International Hockey League. He had to leave the bench in November as a case of acute hepatitis hospitalized him. He died on January 11th, 1961. He was just 45 years old.

In memoriam, the IHL created the Leo Lamoureux Trophy to be handed out to that league's leading scorer.

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