Lester Patrick

Hockey executive

• Born: December 30, 1883
• Birthplace: Drummondville, Quebec
• Died: June 1, 1960
• Place of death: Victoria, British Columbia

Contribution: Lester Patrick was a legendary Canadian ice hockey player and coach best known for coaching and managing the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Patrick is also known for his many contributions to the way the game is now played, including the use of artificial ice, penalty shots, numbered uniforms, blue lines, and a farm team system.

Early Life and Education

Curtis Lester Patrick was born on December 30, 1883, to Joseph and Grace Patrick in Drummondville, Quebec. He began playing hockey as a child in Drummondville and later Montreal. Patrick attended McGill University but eventually left school to pursue a career in the sport.

Hockey Career

Patrick, who eventually became known as the Silver Fox, began his professional hockey career as an offensive defenseman for the Brandon Wheat Cities (of the Manitoba and Northwestern Hockey Association) during the 1903–4 season. He then played for the Montreal Wanderers (of the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association), a club with which he had much success, as they won the Stanley Cup in 1906 and 1907. In 1910 and 1911, Patrick and his brother, Frank, played in Renfrew, Ontario, as part of the newly formed National Hockey Association. At the same time, Patrick coached the Nelson Ladies Hockey Club of British Columbia, for which his sister served as captain.

In 1911, Patrick and his brother moved west, where they formed the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA). During this period, Patrick played for the Victoria Aristocrats and later the Seattle Metropolitans. From 1918 until his retirement in 1922, Patrick played for the Victoria Cougars in the Western Canada Hockey League.

The PCHA was sold to the NHL in 1926. Patrick became an instrumental force behind the development of the New York Rangers, serving as head coach of the team until 1939 and as general manager until 1946. During those years, the Rangers won two Stanley Cup championships, and Patrick was named best coach six times.

Patrick is perhaps best remembered for his role in the 1928 Stanley Cup playoffs. After an injury to starting goalie Lorne Chabot, Patrick, then forty-four years old and serving as coach and general manager of the team, entered the game against the Montreal Maroons as a substitute goalie, setting the record for the oldest goalie to play in the Stanley Cup finals. Allowing just one goal, Patrick secured an overtime victory for the Rangers, who went on to win the Stanley Cup.

In 1947, Patrick was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. A one-time division of the NHL, the Patrick Division, was named for him. In addition, since 1966, the Lester Patrick Trophy has been given annually by the NHL to honor an outstanding contribution to the sport by a player, coach, or official.

Personal Life

In 1911, Patrick married Grace Linn. The couple had two sons, Lynn and Murray (or Muzz), both of whom went on to play professional hockey. Two of Patrick’s grandsons, Craig and Glenn Patrick, played professional hockey as well, and another grandson, Dick Patrick, is part owner of the Washington Capitals.

Patrick died on June 1, 1960.

Bibliography

Halligan, John, and John Kreiser. Game of My Life: New York Rangers; Memorable Stories of Rangers Hockey. New York: Skyhorse, 2012. Print.

Maguire, Liam. Next Goal Wins! New York: Random, 2012. Print.

McKinley, Michael. Hockey: A People’s History. New York: Random, 2009. Print.

Stott, Jon C. Ice Warriors: The Pacific Coast/Western Hockey League 1948–1974. Surrey: Heritage, 2011. Print.

Wright, Marshall D. The National Hockey League, 1917–1967. Jefferson: McFarland, 2010. Print.