Leonard Gerald Labine
Encyclopedia
Leonard Gerald 'Leo The Lion' Labine (July 22, 1931 – February 25, 2005) was a Canadian
professional ice hockey
player. A native of Haileybury, Ontario, Labine played for teams in the NHL
, WHL
, EPHL, and the AHL
. At 5'10", and 178 lbs, Labine has had a long and varied career. He played with the following teams during his lifetime:
Leo Labine began his career as a featured member of the Memorial Cup
winning Barrie Flyers
, the Boston Bruins OHA
affiliate. After a brief spell with the Hershey Bears
of the American Hockey League
Leo Labine would join the Bruins near the conclusion of the 1951-52 season and with his rugged, spectacular style, he quickly established Himself as a regular.
In 1955 Labine won the Elizabeth C Dufresne Trophy, given to the Boston Bruins player voted most outstanding during home games. Labine also led the Bruins in scoring for the 1954-55 season. His best campaigns in Boston were spent on Boston's top power unit with His longtime partner Real Chevrefils
and smooth, crafty Centre Don McKenney
. His fiery, aggressive style fit in
well with the Boston Bruins of the 1950s. Labine was traded to the Detroit Red Wings
in 1961.
Labine, who retired from hockey in 1967, was also a member of the WHL All-Star Team in 1964, and participated in the NHL All-Star Games of 1955 and 1956. Labine played in a total of 643 NHL games, had 128 goals, and 321 points.
Labine died at the North Bay General Hospital in North Bay, Ontario
, on February 25, 2005, at the age of seventy-three, after a battle with cancer. He is buried in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in North Bay.
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...
player. A native of Haileybury, Ontario, Labine played for teams in the 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...
, WHL
Western Hockey League (minor pro)
The Western Hockey League was a minor pro ice hockey league that operated from 1952 to 1974. Managed for most of its history by Hockey Hall of Fame member Al Leader, it was created out of the merger of the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Canada Senior Hockey League...
, EPHL, and 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...
. At 5'10", and 178 lbs, Labine has had a long and varied career. He played with the following teams during his lifetime:
- St. Michael's MajorsToronto St. Michael's MajorsThe Toronto St. Michael's Majors, was a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The hockey program was founded and operated by St. Michael's College School in 1906, and adopted the name "Majors" in 1934, and was commonly referred to as St. Mike's...
from 1949 to 1950; - Barrie FlyersBarrie FlyersThe Barrie Flyers were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1945 to 1960, from Barrie, Ontario.-History:The Barrie Flyers junior team was founded in 1945 by Leighton "Hap" Emms. The franchise was soon affiliated with the Boston Bruins of the NHL. Barrie quickly became a...
, with whom he won the Memorial CupMemorial CupThe Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
, from 1950 to 1951; - Hershey BearsHershey BearsThe 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...
from 1951 to 1953; - Boston BruinsBoston BruinsThe 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...
from 1951 to 1961; - Detroit Red WingsDetroit Red WingsThe 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...
1961-62; - Sudbury WolvesSudbury Wolves (disambiguation)Sudbury Wolves could mean:* Sudbury Wolves, a team in the Ontario Hockey League.* Sudbury Jr. Wolves, a team in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.* Sudbury Wolves , a defunct team in the Eastern Professional Hockey League....
from 1961 to 1962; - Los Angeles BladesLos Angeles BladesThe Los Angeles Blades were a professional inline hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. The Blades played in Roller Hockey International from 1993-1997 and played their home games at the Great Western Forum....
from 1962 to 1967.
Leo Labine began his career as a featured member of the Memorial Cup
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
winning Barrie Flyers
Barrie Flyers
The Barrie Flyers were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1945 to 1960, from Barrie, Ontario.-History:The Barrie Flyers junior team was founded in 1945 by Leighton "Hap" Emms. The franchise was soon affiliated with the Boston Bruins of the NHL. Barrie quickly became a...
, the Boston Bruins OHA
OHA
The acronym OHA may refer to:*Ontario Horticultural Association*Ontario Hockey Association that governs most junior and senior hockey in Ontario*Office of Hawaiian Affairs...
affiliate. After a brief spell 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...
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...
Leo Labine would join the Bruins near the conclusion of the 1951-52 season and with his rugged, spectacular style, he quickly established Himself as a regular.
In 1955 Labine won the Elizabeth C Dufresne Trophy, given to the Boston Bruins player voted most outstanding during home games. Labine also led the Bruins in scoring for the 1954-55 season. His best campaigns in Boston were spent on Boston's top power unit with His longtime partner Real Chevrefils
Real Chevrefils
Réal Chevrefils is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward.Chevrefils was a member of the 1951 Memorial Cup champion Barrie Flyers. His stats for the OHA regular season in 1950-51 were 54 games played, 52 goals, 51 assists, for 103 total points...
and smooth, crafty Centre Don McKenney
Don McKenney
Donald Hamilton McKenney is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward...
. His fiery, aggressive style fit in
well with the Boston Bruins of the 1950s. Labine was traded to the 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 1961.
Labine, who retired from hockey in 1967, was also a member of the WHL All-Star Team in 1964, and participated in the NHL All-Star Games of 1955 and 1956. Labine played in a total of 643 NHL games, had 128 goals, and 321 points.
Labine died at the North Bay General Hospital in North Bay, Ontario
North Bay, Ontario
North Bay is a city in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is the seat of Nipissing District, and takes its name from its position on the shore of Lake Nipissing.-History:...
, on February 25, 2005, at the age of seventy-three, after a battle with cancer. He is buried in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in North Bay.