Herb Cain
Encyclopedia
Herbert James Cain was a Canadian professional
ice hockey
left winger
who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League
for the Montreal Maroons
, Montreal Canadiens
, and Boston Bruins
.
. His NHL
career started when he joined the Montreal Maroons
of the NHL in the 1933–34 season. He split that season between the Maroons and the Hamilton Tigers of the OHA. In 1934–35 Cain briefly played for the Windsor Bulldogs
of the IHL. With the exception of a one game stint with the Hershey Bears
in 1940–41, he would remain in the NHL for the next 11 seasons.
As a member of the Montreal Maroons
, Cain played on a line with Gus Marker
and Bob Gracie
. They were dubbed the "Green Line" and their combined offensive prowess led Montreal to their second Stanley Cup
Championship in 1934–35. Cain was dealt to the Montreal Canadiens
in the fall of 1938. After one season in Montreal, he was traded to the Boston Bruins for Charlie Sands
and Ray Getliffe
.
Cain had his most productive years years in Boston. Playing on a line with future Hall of Fame inductee Bill Cowley
, he helped the Bruins win the Stanley Cup
in 1940–41. Cain went on to win the NHL scoring title in 1943–44 with 82 points. His total set a record for points in a season which stood until Gordie Howe
scored 86 in 1950–51. Despite criticism that the war-depleted league had led to a freak season - his mark was more than double his previous season high - Cain was selected as a Second Team All-Star at left wing and was runner up to Clint Smith
of the Chicago Black Hawks
for the Lady Byng Trophy.
The following season, he scored 32 goals for Boston, but fell well short of his previous point mark, and in the season thereafter (in which players serving in the military returned to the NHL) his totals plummeted further. In 1946–47 Cain was sent to the Hershey Bears
of the American Hockey League
and he went on to help the Bears win the first Calder Cup
, the first in franchise history. Cain ended his professional career in 1949–50 as a member of the Hershey Bears
.
Cain remains the only eligible former NHL scoring champion not inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
. He was the last active player in the NHL to have ever played for the Montreal Maroons
.
In total, Cain played 571 NHL
regular season games.
Cain's older brother Jack Cain played professional hockey in the AHL
for the New Haven Eagles
and the Hershey Bears
. His cousin Jim "Dutch" Cain also played in the NHL.
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
left winger
Winger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
for the Montreal Maroons
Montreal Maroons
The Montreal Maroons was a professional men's ice hockey team in the National Hockey League . They played in the NHL from 1924 to 1938, winning the Stanley Cup in 1926 and 1935...
, Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
, and Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
.
Playing career
Herbert Cain grew up in Newmarket and played junior hockey for the Newmarket Redmen and the Hamilton Tigers of the OHAOntario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
. His NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
career started when he joined the Montreal Maroons
Montreal Maroons
The Montreal Maroons was a professional men's ice hockey team in the National Hockey League . They played in the NHL from 1924 to 1938, winning the Stanley Cup in 1926 and 1935...
of the NHL in the 1933–34 season. He split that season between the Maroons and the Hamilton Tigers of the OHA. In 1934–35 Cain briefly played for the Windsor Bulldogs
Windsor Bulldogs
The Windsor Bulldogs are a defunct Canadian semi-professional and amateur senior ice hockey team. The team played in the City of Windsor, Ontario, Canada and participated in the International Hockey League and the OHA Senior A Hockey League prior to the IHL....
of the IHL. With the exception of a one game stint with the Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
in 1940–41, he would remain in the NHL for the next 11 seasons.
As a member of the Montreal Maroons
Montreal Maroons
The Montreal Maroons was a professional men's ice hockey team in the National Hockey League . They played in the NHL from 1924 to 1938, winning the Stanley Cup in 1926 and 1935...
, Cain played on a line with Gus Marker
Gus Marker
Augustus Solberg Marker was a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played ten seasons in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Maroons, Toronto Maple Leafs and Brooklyn Americans....
and Bob Gracie
Bob Gracie
Robert Joseph Gracie was a Canadian professional ice hockey centreman who played ten seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, New York Americans, Montreal Maroons, Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks.-Toronto Maple Leafs:The North Bay, Ontario native...
. They were dubbed the "Green Line" and their combined offensive prowess led Montreal to their second Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
Championship in 1934–35. Cain was dealt to the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
in the fall of 1938. After one season in Montreal, he was traded to the Boston Bruins for Charlie Sands
Charlie Sands (hockey)
Charles Henry Sands was a professional hockey right winger who played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers. Sands was engraved on the Stanley Cup with Boston in 1939.-External links:...
and Ray Getliffe
Ray Getliffe
Ray Getliffe was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens. Born in Galt, Ontario , he played with the Saint John St. Peters.It is a miscopnception that Getliffe nicknamed Rocket...
.
Cain had his most productive years years in Boston. Playing on a line with future Hall of Fame inductee Bill Cowley
Bill Cowley
William Mailes "Cowboy" Cowley was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League for the St. Louis Eagles and Boston Bruins.-Playing career:...
, he helped the Bruins win the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
in 1940–41. Cain went on to win the NHL scoring title in 1943–44 with 82 points. His total set a record for points in a season which stood until Gordie Howe
Gordie Howe
Gordon "Gordie" Howe, OC is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League , and the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association . Howe is often referred to as Mr...
scored 86 in 1950–51. Despite criticism that the war-depleted league had led to a freak season - his mark was more than double his previous season high - Cain was selected as a Second Team All-Star at left wing and was runner up to Clint Smith
Clint Smith
Clinton James "Snuffy" Smith was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and head coach best known for his time spent in the National Hockey League as a player with the New York Rangers and the Chicago Black Hawks...
of the Chicago Black Hawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
for the Lady Byng Trophy.
The following season, he scored 32 goals for Boston, but fell well short of his previous point mark, and in the season thereafter (in which players serving in the military returned to the NHL) his totals plummeted further. In 1946–47 Cain was sent to the Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
and he went on to help the Bears win the first Calder Cup
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
, the first in franchise history. Cain ended his professional career in 1949–50 as a member of the Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
.
Cain remains the only eligible former NHL scoring champion not inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
. He was the last active player in the NHL to have ever played for the Montreal Maroons
Montreal Maroons
The Montreal Maroons was a professional men's ice hockey team in the National Hockey League . They played in the NHL from 1924 to 1938, winning the Stanley Cup in 1926 and 1935...
.
In total, Cain played 571 NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
regular season games.
Cain's older brother Jack Cain played professional hockey in the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
for the New Haven Eagles
New Haven Eagles
The New Haven Eagles were a professional ice hockey team that played in New Haven, Connecticut. The Eagles were one of five inaugural franchises in the Canadian American Hockey League, and a founding member of the American Hockey League.-History:...
and the Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
. His cousin Jim "Dutch" Cain also played in the NHL.
Awards & achievements
- 1943–44 NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
Scoring Leader - 1943–44 NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
Second Team All-Star - Left Wing
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1932–33 | Hamilton Tigers | OHASr Ontario Hockey Association The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the... |
0 | 14 | 5 | 19 | 0 | |||||||
| 1933–34 | Montreal Maroons Montreal Maroons The Montreal Maroons was a professional men's ice hockey team in the National Hockey League . They played in the NHL from 1924 to 1938, winning the Stanley Cup in 1926 and 1935... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
31 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1933–34 | Hamilton Tigers | OHASr | ||||||||||||
| 1935–36 | Montreal Maroons | NHL | 44 | 20 | 7 | 27 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 1935–36 | Montreal Maroons | NHL | 47 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1936–37 | Montreal Maroons | NHL | 43 | 13 | 17 | 30 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 1937–38 1937–38 NHL season -European tour:After the Stanley Cup final finished, the Detroit Red Wings and the Montreal Canadiens played a nine-game exhibition series in Europe, becoming the first NHL teams to play outside North America. Six games were played in England, three in France... |
Montreal Maroons | NHL | 47 | 11 | 19 | 30 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1938–39 | Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ... |
NHL | 45 | 13 | 14 | 27 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 1939–40 | Boston Bruins Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the... |
NHL | 48 | 21 | 10 | 31 | 30 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 1940–41 | Hershey Bears Hershey Bears The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||
| 1940–41 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 40 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | ||
| 1941–42 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 35 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1942–43 1942–43 NHL season -NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes-Leading goaltenders:... |
Boston Bruins | NHL | 45 | 18 | 18 | 36 | 19 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 1943–44 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 48 | 36 | 46 | 82 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1944–45 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 50 | 32 | 13 | 45 | 16 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 0 | ||
| 1945–46 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 48 | 17 | 12 | 29 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 1946–47 1946–47 AHL season The 1946–47 AHL season was the 11th season of the American Hockey League. Ten teams played 64 games each in the schedule. The Cleveland Barons won their fifth F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy as West Division champions... |
Hershey Bears | AHL | 59 | 36 | 30 | 66 | 19 | |||||||
| 1947–48 1947–48 AHL season The 1947–48 AHL season was the 12th season of the American Hockey League. Eleven teams played 68 games each in the schedule. The Cleveland Barons won their sixth F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy as West Division champions, and won their fourth Calder Cup as league champions.It was the first season, the AHL... |
Hershey Bears | AHL | 49 | 19 | 19 | 38 | 25 | |||||||
| 1948–49 1948–49 AHL season The 1948–49 AHL season was the 13th season of the American Hockey League. Eleven teams played 68 games each in the schedule. The Wally Kilrea Trophy for the league's "top point scorer," is renamed the Carl Liscombe Trophy. The St. Louis Flyers won their first F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy as West... |
Hershey Bears | AHL | 49 | 25 | 35 | 60 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 6 | ||
| 1949–50 1949–50 AHL season The 1949–50 AHL season was the 14th season of the American Hockey League. Ten teams played 70 games each in the schedule. The Cleveland Barons won their seventh F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy as West Division champions... |
Hershey Bears | AHL | 41 | 12 | 14 | 26 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL Totals | 571 | 206 | 194 | 400 | 178 | 67 | 16 | 13 | 29 | 13 | ||||
See also
- List of Boston Bruins players
- List of Montreal Canadiens players
- List of Montreal Maroons players
- Notable families in the NHL