Hughie Lehman
Encyclopedia
Frederick Hugh "Old Eagle Eyes" Lehman (October 27, 1885 – April 12, 1961) was a Canadian professional
ice hockey
goaltender. He started his ice hockey career playing for the Pembroke Lumber Kings and the Berlin
Professionals. In 1911, Lehman joined the New Westminster Royals
, playing for the Royals for three seasons, before joining the Vancouver Millionaires
in 1914. Lehman played half of his 22-year professional career with Vancouver, winning his only Stanley Cup
; he would be unsuccessful in seven other attempts. In 1926, he joined the Chicago Black Hawks
of the National Hockey League
(NHL), playing a full season and splitting the second one as player and head coach. Although some ice hockey historians credit Jacques Plante
for originating the practice, Lehman was the first goaltender to regularly pass the puck to his fellow forwards and defensemen; he even scored a goal by shooting the puck in the opponent's net while playing for the Professionals. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
in 1958.
Lehman began his playing career in 1903–04, playing for the Pembroke Lumber Kings of the Ottawa Valley Hockey League (OVHL) for the first three seasons of his career. In the 1906–07 season, Lehman was signed as free agent by the Canadian Soo of the International Professional Hockey League
(IPHL); the IPHL was the first fully professional ice hockey league. Lehman returned to Pembroke for the 1907–08 season, appearing in four games. For the 1908–09 season, Lehman joined the Berlin
Professionals of the Ontario Professional Hockey League
(OPHL). In the 1909–10 season, Lehman was in two different Stanley Cup playoff series, with two different teams, the Berlin Professionals, and the Galt Professionals, but he lost both times. During those playoff series, he appeared in three games, giving 22 goals. Lehman played with the Berlin Professionals until 1911.
In 1911–12, Lehman played for the New Westminster Royals
of the newly-founded Pacific Coast Hockey Association
(PCHA). He played three seasons for New Westminster, winning the league championship in his first season. In 1914–15, Lehman joined the Vancouver Millionaires
of the PCHA. In his first season with the Millionaires, Lehman posted a 14–3 record, with a 4.08 goals-against average, which was a very good average in an era when goaltenders were not allowed to drop on their knees to make a save. In the Stanley Cup playoffs, Lehman helped the Millionaires become the first PCHA team to win the Stanley Cup
, with a 3–0 record and 2.67 goals against average. This would be the only Stanley Cup victory of Lehman's career, as he was on the losing side in seven other attempts. The Millionaires squad consisted of seven future members of the Hockey Hall of Fame
when they won the Cup: Lehman, Frank Nighbor
, Cyclone Taylor
, Si Griffis
, Barney Stanley
, Frank Patrick, and Mickey MacKay
.
Lehman played with the Millionaires until the 1925–26 season. During that time, Lehman and some of his fellow teammates were involved in a humorous incident when going back to Canada after an exhibition game against the Montreal Wanderers
in New York City
. In New York, Lehman's wife bought numerous women's designer outfits, after being treated to a shopping spree by him. When going back to Canada, Lehman, on the advice of Cyclone Taylor, who was both a professional ice hockey player and a Canadian immigration officer, split up all outfits among his teammates to avoid paying additional taxes he would have had to pay if he had brought all the clothing by himself at once; this puzzled the Customs officers. In 1922–23, the Millionaires were renamed the Maroons, and joined the Western Canada Hockey League
(WCHL). The WCHL was renamed to the Western Hockey League in 1925–26; however, the league disbanded at the conclusion of that season. While playing for the Millionaires, Lehman appeared in six Stanley Cup finals, losing every time, except in his first season, in 1914–15.
Following the collapse of the WHL, Lehman joined the Chicago Black Hawks
for the 1926–27 season. While in Chicago, Lehman mentored future Chicago goaltender and captain Charlie Gardiner. Lehman played one full season, and another four games the next one.
was sketching some plays for his team; after Lehman was shown the plays by McLaughlin, Lehman responded by calling it "the craziest bunch of junk [he's] ever seen". Expecting to be fired after that outburst, Lehman was later told to go to McLaughlin's office. It was how Lehman's playing career ended: McLaughlin appointed Lehman to be Chicago's new head coach. Lehman coached Chicago for part of one season, finishing with a 3–17–1 record over 21 games. He was replaced by Herb Gardiner
the following season.
, who did it in 1987.
in 1958.
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...
goaltender. He started his ice hockey career playing for the Pembroke Lumber Kings and the Berlin
Kitchener, Ontario
The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
Professionals. In 1911, Lehman joined the New Westminster Royals
New Westminster Royals
The New Westminster Royals was the name of several professional and junior ice hockey teams based in New Westminster, British Columbia.The first team played from 1912-1914 in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association which was established in 1911....
, playing for the Royals for three seasons, before joining the Vancouver Millionaires
Vancouver Millionaires
The Vancouver Millionaires were a professional ice hockey team that competed in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association and the Western Canada Hockey League between 1911 and 1926...
in 1914. Lehman played half of his 22-year professional career with Vancouver, winning his only 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...
; he would be unsuccessful in seven other attempts. In 1926, he joined 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...
of 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...
(NHL), playing a full season and splitting the second one as player and head coach. Although some ice hockey historians credit Jacques Plante
Jacques Plante
Joseph Jacques Omer Plante was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. During a career lasting from 1947–1975, he was considered to be one of the most important innovators in hockey...
for originating the practice, Lehman was the first goaltender to regularly pass the puck to his fellow forwards and defensemen; he even scored a goal by shooting the puck in the opponent's net while playing for the Professionals. He was 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...
in 1958.
Playing career
International Professional Hockey League
The International Professional Hockey League was the first fully professional ice hockey league, operating from 1904 to 1907. It was formed by Jack 'Doc' Gibson, a dentist who played hockey throughout Ontario before settling in Houghton, Michigan. The IPHL was a five team circuit which included...
(IPHL); the IPHL was the first fully professional ice hockey league. Lehman returned to Pembroke for the 1907–08 season, appearing in four games. For the 1908–09 season, Lehman joined the Berlin
Kitchener, Ontario
The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
Professionals of the Ontario Professional Hockey League
Ontario Professional Hockey League
-External links:*...
(OPHL). In the 1909–10 season, Lehman was in two different Stanley Cup playoff series, with two different teams, the Berlin Professionals, and the Galt Professionals, but he lost both times. During those playoff series, he appeared in three games, giving 22 goals. Lehman played with the Berlin Professionals until 1911.
In 1911–12, Lehman played for the New Westminster Royals
New Westminster Royals
The New Westminster Royals was the name of several professional and junior ice hockey teams based in New Westminster, British Columbia.The first team played from 1912-1914 in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association which was established in 1911....
of the newly-founded Pacific Coast Hockey Association
Pacific Coast Hockey Association
The Pacific Coast Hockey Association was a professional men's ice hockey league in western Canada and the western United States, which operated from 1911 to 1924 when it then merged with the Western Canada Hockey League...
(PCHA). He played three seasons for New Westminster, winning the league championship in his first season. In 1914–15, Lehman joined the Vancouver Millionaires
Vancouver Millionaires
The Vancouver Millionaires were a professional ice hockey team that competed in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association and the Western Canada Hockey League between 1911 and 1926...
of the PCHA. In his first season with the Millionaires, Lehman posted a 14–3 record, with a 4.08 goals-against average, which was a very good average in an era when goaltenders were not allowed to drop on their knees to make a save. In the Stanley Cup playoffs, Lehman helped the Millionaires become the first PCHA team to 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...
, with a 3–0 record and 2.67 goals against average. This would be the only Stanley Cup victory of Lehman's career, as he was on the losing side in seven other attempts. The Millionaires squad consisted of seven future members of 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...
when they won the Cup: Lehman, Frank Nighbor
Frank Nighbor
Julius Francis "Pembroke Peach" Nighbor was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League and National Hockey Association and Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL, Toronto Blueshirts of the NHA and Vancouver Millionaires of the Pacific...
, Cyclone Taylor
Cyclone Taylor
Frederick Wellington "Cyclone" Taylor, OBE, was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and civil servant. Taylor was one of the earliest professional players. He played professionally for the Portage Lakes Hockey Club, the Ottawa Hockey Club and the Vancouver Millionaires from 1905 to 1923...
, Si Griffis
Si Griffis
Silas Seth "Sox" Griffis was a Canadian athlete of the early 20th century. In ice hockey, Griffis was a two-time Stanley Cup winner, with the 1907 Kenora Thistles and the 1915 Vancouver Millionaires...
, Barney Stanley
Barney Stanley
Russell "Barney" Stanley was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Vancouver Millionaires of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association and the Calgary Tigers, Regina Capitals and Edmonton Eskimos of the Western Canada Hockey League...
, Frank Patrick, and Mickey MacKay
Mickey MacKay
Duncan McMillan "Mickey" MacKay was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played for the Chicago Black Hawks, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League...
.
Lehman played with the Millionaires until the 1925–26 season. During that time, Lehman and some of his fellow teammates were involved in a humorous incident when going back to Canada after an exhibition game against the Montreal Wanderers
Montreal Wanderers
The Montreal Wanderers were a Canadian amateur, and later becoming a professional men's ice hockey team. The team played in the Federal Amateur Hockey League , the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association , the National Hockey Association and briefly the National Hockey League . The Wanderers are...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. In New York, Lehman's wife bought numerous women's designer outfits, after being treated to a shopping spree by him. When going back to Canada, Lehman, on the advice of Cyclone Taylor, who was both a professional ice hockey player and a Canadian immigration officer, split up all outfits among his teammates to avoid paying additional taxes he would have had to pay if he had brought all the clothing by himself at once; this puzzled the Customs officers. In 1922–23, the Millionaires were renamed the Maroons, and joined the Western Canada Hockey League
Western Canada Hockey League
The Western Canada Hockey League , founded in 1921, was a major professional ice hockey league originally based in the prairies of Canada. It was renamed the Western Hockey League in 1925 and disbanded in 1926.-History:...
(WCHL). The WCHL was renamed to the Western Hockey League in 1925–26; however, the league disbanded at the conclusion of that season. While playing for the Millionaires, Lehman appeared in six Stanley Cup finals, losing every time, except in his first season, in 1914–15.
Following the collapse of the WHL, Lehman joined 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 1926–27 season. While in Chicago, Lehman mentored future Chicago goaltender and captain Charlie Gardiner. Lehman played one full season, and another four games the next one.
Coaching career
During the 1927–28 season, Black Hawks owner and manager Frederic McLaughlinFrederic McLaughlin
Frederic McLaughlin was the first owner of the Chicago Black Hawks.Born in Chicago, Illinois, McLaughlin inherited a successful coffee business from his father, who died in 1905. McLaughlin was a graduate of Harvard University and served in the United States Army during World War I...
was sketching some plays for his team; after Lehman was shown the plays by McLaughlin, Lehman responded by calling it "the craziest bunch of junk [he's] ever seen". Expecting to be fired after that outburst, Lehman was later told to go to McLaughlin's office. It was how Lehman's playing career ended: McLaughlin appointed Lehman to be Chicago's new head coach. Lehman coached Chicago for part of one season, finishing with a 3–17–1 record over 21 games. He was replaced by Herb Gardiner
Herb Gardiner
Herbert Martin Gardiner was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played for the Calgary Tigers of the Western Canada Hockey League and the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Black Hawks of the National Hockey League . Additionally, he was the head coach of the Black Hawks for part of...
the following season.
Playing style
As a goaltender, Lehman was a strong skater and good puckhandler. He chased down loose pucks, and was able to pass the puck to his forwards, surprising the other team's defenders. Playing in the OPHL, Lehman scored a goal by shooting the puck in the opponent's net. The first NHL goaltender to duplicate such a feat was Ron HextallRon Hextall
Ronald Jeffrey Hextall is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played 13 National Hockey League seasons for the Philadelphia Flyers, Quebec Nordiques, and New York Islanders...
, who did it in 1987.
Legacy
After retiring from ice hockey, Lehman worked in the road construction business, eventually becoming the president of a paving company. Lehman was inducted into the Hockey Hall of FameHockey 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...
in 1958.
Regular season
| 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 | W | L | T | SO | GAA Goals against average Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender.... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1903–04 | Pembroke Lumber Kings Pembroke Lumber Kings The Pembroke Lumber Kings are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Pembroke, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Central Canada Hockey League and are the longest running and winningest team in CJHL history as well as 2011 Royal Bank Cup National Junior A Champions... |
OVHL | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1904–05 | Pembroke Lumber Kings | OVHL | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1905–06 | Pembroke Lumber Kings | OVHL | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.67 |
| 1906–07 | Canadian Soo | IPHL | 24 | 13 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 5.14 |
| 1907–08 | Pembroke Lumber Kings | OVHL | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5.50 |
| 1908–09 | Berlin Professionals | OPHL | 15 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4.85 |
| 1909–10 | Berlin Professionals | OPHL | 17 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 4.53 |
| 1910–11 | Berlin Professionals | OPHL | 15 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 5.80 |
| 1911–12 | New Westminster Royals | PCHA | 15 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 5.07 |
| 1912–13 1912–13 PCHA season The 1912–13 PCHA season was the second season of the professional men's ice hockey Pacific Coast Hockey Association league. Season play ran from December 10, 1912 until March 18, 1913. Like the previous season, teams were to play a 16 game schedule, but one game was cancelled. The Victoria... |
New Westminster Royals New Westminster Royals The New Westminster Royals was the name of several professional and junior ice hockey teams based in New Westminster, British Columbia.The first team played from 1912-1914 in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association which was established in 1911.... |
PCHA | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 4.14 |
| 1913–14 1913–14 PCHA season The 1913–14 PCHA season was the third season of the professional men's ice hockey Pacific Coast Hockey Association league. Season play ran from December 5, 1913 until February 24, 1914. Like the previous two seasons, teams were to play a 16 game schedule, but one game was cancelled. The Victoria... |
New Westminster Royals | PCHA | 16 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 4.87 |
| 1914–15 1914–15 PCHA season The 1914–15 PCHA season was the fourth season of the professional men's ice hockey Pacific Coast Hockey Association league. Season play ran from December 8, 1914 until March 9, 1915. The schedule was made for each team to play 18 games, but like the previous three seasons, one game was cancelled.... |
Vancouver Millionaires Vancouver Millionaires The Vancouver Millionaires were a professional ice hockey team that competed in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association and the Western Canada Hockey League between 1911 and 1926... |
PCHA | 17 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4.08 |
| 1915–16 1915–16 PCHA season The 1915–16 PCHA season was the fifth season of the professional men's ice hockey Pacific Coast Hockey Association league. Season play ran from December 7, 1915 until February 25, 1916. Each team would play 18 games. The Portland Rosebuds club would be PCHA champions. After the season the club... |
Vancouver Millionaires | PCHA | 18 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 3.97 |
| 1916–17 1916–17 PCHA season The 1916–17 PCHA season was the sixth season of the professional men's ice hockey Pacific Coast Hockey Association league. Season play ran from December 1, 1916 until March 2, 1917. The season was expanded to 24 games per team, except that the final game was cancelled. The Seattle Metropolitans... |
Vancouver Millionaires | PCHA | 23 | 14 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 5.30 |
| 1917–18 1917–18 PCHA season The 1917–18 PCHA season was the seventh season of the professional men's ice hockey Pacific Coast Hockey Association league. Season play ran from December 28, 1917 until March 8, 1918. The season was reduced to 18 games per team. The Seattle Metropolitans club would be regular-season PCHA... |
Vancouver Millionaires | PCHA | 18 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 3.05 |
| 1918–19 | Vancouver Millionaires | PCHA | 20 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2.58 |
| 1919–20 1919–20 PCHA season The 1919–20 PCHA season was the ninth season of the professional men's ice hockey Pacific Coast Hockey Association league. Season play ran from December 26, 1919 until March 10, 1920. The season was enlarged to 22 games per team... |
Vancouver Millionaires | PCHA | 22 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 2.92 |
| 1920–21 | Vancouver Millionaires | PCHA | 24 | 13 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 3.23 |
| 1921–22 1921–22 PCHA season The 1921–22 PCHA season was the 11th season of the professional men's ice hockey Pacific Coast Hockey Association league. Season play ran from December 26, 1919 until March 10, 1920. The season was enlarged to 24 games per team... |
Vancouver Millionaires | PCHA | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 2.82 |
| 1922–23 1922–23 PCHA season The 1922–23 PCHA season was the twelfth season of the professional men's ice hockey Pacific Coast Hockey Association league. Season play ran from November 13, 1922 until March 2, 1923... |
Vancouver Maroons | PCHA | 25 | 16 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 2.33 |
| 1923–24 1923–24 PCHA season The 1923–24 PCHA season was the thirteenth and last season of the professional men's ice hockey Pacific Coast Hockey Association league. Season play ran from November 26, 1923 until February 25, 1924. Each team played 30 games, including eight games against Western Canada Hockey League teams... |
Vancouver Maroons | PCHA | 30 | 13 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 2.60 |
| 1924–25 | Vancouver Maroons | WCHL Western Canada Hockey League The Western Canada Hockey League , founded in 1921, was a major professional ice hockey league originally based in the prairies of Canada. It was renamed the Western Hockey League in 1925 and disbanded in 1926.-History:... |
11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2.62 |
| 1925–26 | Vancouver Maroons | WHL | 30 | 10 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 2.94 |
| 1926–27 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 44 | 19 | 22 | 3 | 5 | 2.49 |
| 1927–28 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4.80 |
Playoffs
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | SO | GAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1905–06 | Pembroke Lumber Kings | NHA | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 |
| 1909–10 | Galt Professionals | OPHL | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7.50 |
| 1909–10 | Berlin Professionals | OPHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7.00 |
| 1914–15 | Vancouver Millionaires | PCHA | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.67 |
| 1917–18 | Vancouver Millionaires | PCHA | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2.86 |
| 1918–19 | Vancouver Millionaires | PCHA | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.50 |
| 1919–20 | Vancouver Millionaires | PCHA | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.50 |
| 1920–21 | Vancouver Millionaires | PCHA | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2.00 |
| 1921–22 | Vancouver Millionaires | PCHA | 9 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1.97 |
| 1922–23 | Vancouver Millionaires | PCHA | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2.17 |
| 1923–24 | Vancouver Millionaires | PCHA | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2.53 |
| 1926–27 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5.00 |