- Blake, Hector
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▪ 1996("TOE"), Canadian hockey player and coach (b. Aug. 21, 1912, Victoria Mines, N.S.—d. May 17, 1995, Montreal, Que.), was a strict disciplinarian and brilliant strategist who helped the Montreal Canadiens secure 11 Stanley Cup victories, 3 of them as a player and a record 8 as a coach. Blake joined the team in 1936 after two seasons with the Montreal Maroons. As a Canadien he played left wing on the "Punch Line" with Maurice ("the Rocket") Richard and Elmer Lach, two other deadly scorers. In the 1938-39 season Blake was the recipient of both the Art Ross Trophy and the Hart Trophy as the National Hockey League's leading scorer and most valuable player, respectively. After breaking his ankle in 1948, he retired as a player but found a new career in 1955 when he returned to the team as its coach. Blake was defined by an ever-present fedora, a tough yet fair coaching style, and an impressive 13-year record that included nine first-place finishes, eight Stanley Cup trophies, and a .634 winning percentage. After his retirement in 1968, Blake remained a guiding force as a team vice president and as the proprietor of a beer hall that served as the club's unofficial headquarters.
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Universalium. 2010.