Pit Lepine
Encyclopedia
Alfred Pierre "Pit" Lépine (July 30, 1901 – August 2, 1955) was a Canadian
ice hockey
forward
and coach. He was born in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec
.
Lepine played in the National Hockey League
from 1925 to 1939, spending his entire career with the Montreal Canadiens
, winning two Stanley Cup
s, in 1930 and 1931. Lepine, a center, played over 500 games with Montreal and was an excellent goal scorer who could also check and battle for the puck in the corners. In his rookie NHL season (1925–26), he scored nine goals and played on the same line as a his older brother, Hec. He had played senior hockey in Montreal with the Royals, Hochelega and Nationale squads.
Overall, Lepine reached double figures in goals six times. In 1929–30 he scored a personal best 24 goals in 44 games while forming a dangerous line with Wildor Larochelle
and Georges Mantha
. In 1937 he was on hand for the Howie Morenz Memorial Game
in the aftermath of the former Habs star's death. After 13 years in the NHL, Lepine finally played a year in the minors with the New Haven Eagles
of the AHL
in 1938–39.
When Babe Siebert
drowned in 1939 after being named the coach of the Canadiens, Lepine was named coach for the 1939–40 season. The erosion of talent from older players and failure to bring in adequate youngsters doomed the team to a last place finish that season and he was fired and replaced by Dick Irvin
who would rebuild the team.
Pit suffered a paralytic stroke in 1951, and had two more strokes in 1954. He died August 2, 1955 in a convalescent home in Ste-Rose, Quebec from effects of these strokes, only three days after he turned 54.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
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...
forward
Forward (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, a forward is a player position on the ice whose primary responsibility is to score goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes, also known as thirds, of the ice going from goal to goal. It is not mandatory however, to stay in a lane. Staying in a lane aids in...
and coach. He was born in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec
Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec
Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue is a town located at the western tip of the Island of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, Canada. It is the second oldest community in Montreal's West Island, having been founded as a parish in 1703...
.
Lepine played 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...
from 1925 to 1939, spending his entire career with 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 ...
, winning two 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...
s, in 1930 and 1931. Lepine, a center, played over 500 games with Montreal and was an excellent goal scorer who could also check and battle for the puck in the corners. In his rookie NHL season (1925–26), he scored nine goals and played on the same line as a his older brother, Hec. He had played senior hockey in Montreal with the Royals, Hochelega and Nationale squads.
Overall, Lepine reached double figures in goals six times. In 1929–30 he scored a personal best 24 goals in 44 games while forming a dangerous line with Wildor Larochelle
Wildor Larochelle
Wildor Larochelle was a Canadian ice hockey forward.Larochelle started his National Hockey League career with the Montreal Canadiens in 1925. He also played with the Chicago Black Hawks. He went on to win two Stanley Cups with Montreal in 1930 and 1931. He retired after the 1937...
and Georges Mantha
Georges Mantha
Georges Leon Mantha was a Canadian ice hockey forward born in Lachine, Quebec, Canada.Mantha played his National Hockey League career with the Montreal Canadiens. His career lasted from 1928 to 1941. His brother Sylvio Mantha also played in the NHL...
. In 1937 he was on hand for the Howie Morenz Memorial Game
Howie Morenz Memorial Game
The Howie Morenz Memorial Game was a benefit held by the National Hockey League to raise money to support the family of Montreal Canadiens player Howie Morenz, who died shortly after suffering a broken leg during a regular league game...
in the aftermath of the former Habs star's death. After 13 years in the NHL, Lepine finally played a year in the minors with 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:...
of 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...
in 1938–39.
When Babe Siebert
Babe Siebert
Albert Charles "Babe" Siebert was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger and defenceman who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Maroons, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens...
drowned in 1939 after being named the coach of the Canadiens, Lepine was named coach for the 1939–40 season. The erosion of talent from older players and failure to bring in adequate youngsters doomed the team to a last place finish that season and he was fired and replaced by Dick Irvin
Dick Irvin
James Dickinson Irvin, Sr. was a Canadian ice hockey player and coach in the National Hockey League.Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Irvin was one of the greatest players of his day, balancing a torrid slapshot and tough style with gentlemanly play...
who would rebuild the team.
Pit suffered a paralytic stroke in 1951, and had two more strokes in 1954. He died August 2, 1955 in a convalescent home in Ste-Rose, Quebec from effects of these strokes, only three days after he turned 54.