Hec Kilrea
Encyclopedia
Hector Joseph "Hurricane" Kilrea (b. June 11, 1907 in Blackburn, Ontario
- d. September 8, 1969) was a Canadian
professional ice hockey
forward
. He played for the Ottawa Senators
, Detroit Falcons, Toronto Maple Leafs
and Detroit Red Wings
in the National Hockey League
. Hec Kilrea won Stanley Cup
three times, with the Senators in 1927 and Red Wings in 1936 and 1937.
His brothers Ken
and Wally
also played in the NHL.
Kilrea was also a champion speed skater, and once won a race at the Montreal Forum
in 1928, circuiting the ice in 16 2/5 seconds.
After his retirement from professional hockey he became an U.S. citizen, and like many other players, he enlisted for duty in World War II
, eventually receiving the Distinguished Service Cross
(the second highest military decoration of the United States Army), Purple Heart
and French Croix de guerre
.
He died after a long illness October 8, 1969.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
- d. September 8, 1969) was a Canadian
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...
professional 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...
. He played for the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators (original)
The Ottawa Senators were an amateur, and later, professional, ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Canada which existed from 1883 to 1954. The club was the first hockey club in Ontario, a founding member of the National Hockey League and played in the NHL from 1917 until 1934...
, Detroit Falcons, Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
and Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
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...
. Hec Kilrea won 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...
three times, with the Senators in 1927 and Red Wings in 1936 and 1937.
His brothers Ken
Ken Kilrea
Kenneth Armstrong Kilrea was professional ice hockey player who played 88 games in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings. He was born in Ottawa, Ontario.-References:...
and Wally
Wally Kilrea
Walter Charles Kilrea was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played 9 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Quakers, New York Americans, Ottawa Senators, Montreal Maroons and Detroit Red Wings. He was born in Ottawa, Ontario...
also played in the NHL.
Kilrea was also a champion speed skater, and once won a race at the Montreal Forum
Montreal Forum
The Montreal Forum was an indoor arena located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Called "the most storied building in hockey history" by Sporting News, it was home of the National Hockey League's Montreal Maroons from 1924 to 1938 and the Montreal Canadiens from 1926 to 1996...
in 1928, circuiting the ice in 16 2/5 seconds.
After his retirement from professional hockey he became an U.S. citizen, and like many other players, he enlisted for duty in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, eventually receiving the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
(the second highest military decoration of the United States Army), Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
and French Croix de guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
.
He died after a long illness October 8, 1969.
Career statistics
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1925–26 | Ottawa Senators Ottawa Senators (original) The Ottawa Senators were an amateur, and later, professional, ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Canada which existed from 1883 to 1954. The club was the first hockey club in Ontario, a founding member of the National Hockey League and played in the NHL from 1917 until 1934... |
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... |
35 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1926–27 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 42 | 11 | 7 | 18 | 48 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 1927–28 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 43 | 19 | 4 | 23 | 66 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1928–29 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 38 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 36 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1929–30 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 44 | 36 | 22 | 58 | 72 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 1930–31 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 44 | 14 | 8 | 22 | 44 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1931–32 | Detroit Falcons | NHL | 47 | 13 | 3 | 16 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1932–33 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 47 | 14 | 8 | 22 | 26 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1933–34 | Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 43 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 1934–35 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 46 | 11 | 13 | 24 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 1935–36 | Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York... |
NHL | 48 | 6 | 17 | 23 | 37 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 1936–37 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 48 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 20 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 1937–38 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 48 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 10 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1938–39 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 48 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 1939–40 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| NHL Totals | 633 | 167 | 129 | 296 | 438 | 48 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 18 | ||||