Lude Check
Encyclopedia
Ludic Check was a professional hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings
and the Chicago Black Hawks
in the National Hockey League
. After several years of hockey in Manitoba
, Saskatchewan
and New York
, Check was signed by the Montreal Canadiens
after a season playing with the Quebec Senior Hockey League
in 1943. In his first NHL season, he played only one professional game, with the Red Wings in 1944.
Check was then loaned to the Blackhawks, where he played 26 games in his final NHL season. The Canadiens then renewed his contract and sent him to the Ottawa "Senior" Senators
of the Quebec Senior Hockey League
, where he spent the last six seasons of his career. Check was a part of two Allan Cup
-winning teams, in 1944 and 1949, and became a sales representative in later life. He died on May 11, 2009 in Ottawa, Ontario at the age of 91.
on May 22, 1917. Alongside Frank Stahan
, Check played two seasons from 1936 through 1938 with the Brandon Wheat Kings
of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League
. He played two seasons for the Regina Aces (later renamed the Regina Vic-Aces) of the Saskatchewan Senior Hockey League
from 1938 through 1940 before deciding to continue his career at the professional level. At the peak of his career, Check stood five feet, ten inches tall and weighed 165 pounds.
, spent a season with the New York Rovers
of the Eastern Amateur Hockey League
. Although the team finished last, he nevertheless was responsible for 21 goals and 20 assists
. This was followed by a year with the Sydney Millionaires of the Cape Breton Senior Hockey League, producing 29 goals and 22 assists.
During the 1942–1943 season, Check was signed by the National Hockey League
's Montreal Canadiens
, although he continued to play for the Quebec Aces
of the Quebec Senior Hockey League
through 1944, scoring for them a total of 60 goals and 40 assists. His only NHL game during this period was played with the Detroit Red Wings
on March 11, 1944, when the Canadiens provided him as an emergency injury replacement, and he did not score any points. Check did, however, win his first Allan Cup
while playing with the Aces, defeating the Port Arthur Shipbuilders in 1944
. For the 1944-1945 season, he was loaned to the Chicago Black Hawks
, playing 26 games and scoring six goals and two assists.
Check spent the rest of his career with the Ottawa "Senior" Senators
of the QSHL, after having his contract re-purchased by the Canadiens and being loaned out. He competed in the Allan Cup twice more. In 1948
his team lost to the Edmonton Eskimos, but captured the championship in 1949
after facing off against the Regina Pats
. In six seasons with the Senators, he scored a total of 81 goals and 84 assists, placing him among the top ten league scorers four times. He retired after the 1950–1951 season.
distillery for over 30 years. He kept many friends from his hockey days in his later years, including Leo Gravelle
, Emile Dagenais, Billy Robinson
, Eddie Emberg
and Larry Regan
. Check died on May 11, 2009 at the age of 91 in Ottawa
, Ontario
. At the time of his death, he was one of the last surviving players from Ottawa's last Allan Cup championship team, the Senior Senators of 1949.
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...
and 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...
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...
. After several years of hockey in Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Check was signed by 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 ...
after a season playing with the Quebec Senior Hockey League
Quebec Senior Hockey League
The Quebec Senior Hockey League was an ice hockey league that operated between 1941 and 1959 in Québec, Canada. From 1941, it operated on an amateur basis, before becoming the semi-professional Quebec Hockey League in 1953...
in 1943. In his first NHL season, he played only one professional game, with the Red Wings in 1944.
Check was then loaned to the Blackhawks, where he played 26 games in his final NHL season. The Canadiens then renewed his contract and sent him to the Ottawa "Senior" Senators
Ottawa Senators (senior hockey)
The Ottawa Senators, also known as the Ottawa Commandos and Senior Senators, was an amateur, later semi-professional, senior-level men's ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada...
of the Quebec Senior Hockey League
Quebec Senior Hockey League
The Quebec Senior Hockey League was an ice hockey league that operated between 1941 and 1959 in Québec, Canada. From 1941, it operated on an amateur basis, before becoming the semi-professional Quebec Hockey League in 1953...
, where he spent the last six seasons of his career. Check was a part of two Allan Cup
Allan Cup
The Allan Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the national senior amateur men’s ice hockey champions of Canada. It has been competed for since 1909. The current champion is the Clarenville Caribous hockey club of Newfoundland and Labrador.-History:...
-winning teams, in 1944 and 1949, and became a sales representative in later life. He died on May 11, 2009 in Ottawa, Ontario at the age of 91.
Early life
Check was born in Brandon, ManitobaBrandon, Manitoba
Brandon is the second largest city in Manitoba, Canada, and is located in the southwestern area of the province. Brandon is the largest city in the Westman region of Manitoba. The city is located along the Assiniboine River. Spruce Woods Provincial Park and CFB Shilo are a relatively short distance...
on May 22, 1917. Alongside Frank Stahan
Frank Stahan
Frank Ralph "Butch" Stahan is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played three games in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens. He was born in Minnedosa, Manitoba.-External links:*...
, Check played two seasons from 1936 through 1938 with the Brandon Wheat Kings
Brandon Wheat Kings
The Brandon Wheat Kings are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Brandon, Manitoba. They compete in the Western Hockey League, and joined the league in the 1967–68 season. Prior to that they played in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and were known as the Brandon Elks for a short time in the...
of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League
Manitoba Junior Hockey League
The Manitoba Junior Hockey League is a Junior 'A' ice hockey league operating in the Canadian province of Manitoba. The MJHL is one of eleven Junior 'A' Hockey Leagues in Canada and is a member of the Canadian Junior Hockey League ....
. He played two seasons for the Regina Aces (later renamed the Regina Vic-Aces) of the Saskatchewan Senior Hockey League
Saskatchewan Senior Hockey League
The Saskatchewan Senior Hockey League was a senior amateur ice hockey league operating in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan on-and-off from 1938-1971.-Champions:*1938-39: Saskatoon Quakers*1939-40: Moose Jaw Millers*1940-41: Regina Rangers...
from 1938 through 1940 before deciding to continue his career at the professional level. At the peak of his career, Check stood five feet, ten inches tall and weighed 165 pounds.
Hockey career
After these teams Check, a left wingerWinger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
, spent a season with the New York Rovers
New York Rovers
The New York Rovers were a senior ice hockey team that was established in 1935. They played in the Eastern Hockey League as a farm team of the New York Rangers. The Rovers played alongside the Rangers in Madison Square Garden. They played in the Eastern League through 1947-48...
of the Eastern Amateur Hockey League
Eastern Hockey League
-Eastern Amateur Hockey League :The league was founded in 1933 as the Eastern Amateur Hockey League . The league was founded by Thomas Lockhart, who served as its commissioner from 1933 to 1972...
. Although the team finished last, he nevertheless was responsible for 21 goals and 20 assists
Assist (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal...
. This was followed by a year with the Sydney Millionaires of the Cape Breton Senior Hockey League, producing 29 goals and 22 assists.
During the 1942–1943 season, Check was signed by 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...
's 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 ...
, although he continued to play for the Quebec Aces
Quebec Aces
The Quebec Aces, also known in French as Les As de Québec, were an amateur and later a professional men's ice hockey team from Quebec City, Quebec. The Aces were founded in 1928, and played until 1971. The team played home games at the Quebec Coliseum from 1930 to 1971.The Aces were Allan Cup...
of the Quebec Senior Hockey League
Quebec Senior Hockey League
The Quebec Senior Hockey League was an ice hockey league that operated between 1941 and 1959 in Québec, Canada. From 1941, it operated on an amateur basis, before becoming the semi-professional Quebec Hockey League in 1953...
through 1944, scoring for them a total of 60 goals and 40 assists. His only NHL game during this period was played with 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...
on March 11, 1944, when the Canadiens provided him as an emergency injury replacement, and he did not score any points. Check did, however, win his first Allan Cup
Allan Cup
The Allan Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the national senior amateur men’s ice hockey champions of Canada. It has been competed for since 1909. The current champion is the Clarenville Caribous hockey club of Newfoundland and Labrador.-History:...
while playing with the Aces, defeating the Port Arthur Shipbuilders in 1944
1944 Allan Cup
The 1944 Allan Cup was the Canadian national senior ice hockey championship for the 1943-44 Senior season.-Final:Best of 5*Quebec 6 Port Arthur 1*Quebec 15 Port Arthur 4*Quebec 9 Port Arthur 6Quebec Aces beat Port Arthur Shipbuilders 3-0 on series....
. For the 1944-1945 season, he was loaned to 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...
, playing 26 games and scoring six goals and two assists.
Check spent the rest of his career with the Ottawa "Senior" Senators
Ottawa Senators (senior hockey)
The Ottawa Senators, also known as the Ottawa Commandos and Senior Senators, was an amateur, later semi-professional, senior-level men's ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada...
of the QSHL, after having his contract re-purchased by the Canadiens and being loaned out. He competed in the Allan Cup twice more. In 1948
1948 Allan Cup
The 1948 Allan Cup was the Canadian national senior ice hockey championship for the 1947-48 Senior season.-Final:Best of 7*Edmonton 6 Ottawa 2*Ottawa 3 Edmonton 2*Edmonton 7 Ottawa 0*Edmonton 5 Ottawa 3*Edmonton 5 Ottawa 3...
his team lost to the Edmonton Eskimos, but captured the championship in 1949
1949 Allan Cup
The 1949 Allan Cup was the Canadian national senior ice hockey championship for the 1948-49 Senior season.-Final:Best of 7*Ottawa 6 Regina 4*Ottawa 3 Regina 1*Ottawa 7 Regina 0*Regina 6 Ottawa 3*Ottawa 5 Regina 3...
after facing off against the Regina Pats
Regina Pats
The Regina Pats are a junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League. The Pats are based out of Regina, Saskatchewan and the Brandt Centre is their home arena.-History:...
. In six seasons with the Senators, he scored a total of 81 goals and 84 assists, placing him among the top ten league scorers four times. He retired after the 1950–1951 season.
Later life
After his hockey career, Check worked as a sales representative for the Hiram WalkerHiram Walker
Hiram Walker was an American grocer and distiller, and the eponym of the famous distillery in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Walker was born in East Douglas, Massachusetts, and moved to Detroit in the mid-1830s...
distillery for over 30 years. He kept many friends from his hockey days in his later years, including Leo Gravelle
Leo Gravelle
Joseph Gerard Leo Gravelle is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 223 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens. Web site: www.leogravelle.com...
, Emile Dagenais, Billy Robinson
Bill Robinson (ice hockey)
Bill Robinson was a Canadian ice hockey centreman who played for the 1941 Memorial Cup champion Winnipeg Rangers. He was born in Cartwright, Manitoba.-Awards and achievements:*Turnbull Cup MJHL Championship...
, Eddie Emberg
Eddie Emberg
Edwin Angus Emberg was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played 2 playoff games in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens and scored 1 goal. He was born in Montreal, Quebec.-External links:*...
and Larry Regan
Larry Regan
Lawrence Emmett Regan , was a retired Canadian National Hockey League professional ice hockey player and hockey executive. He played for the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs after a long senior-hockey career, winning the Allan Cup in 1948...
. Check died on May 11, 2009 at the age of 91 in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
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....
. At the time of his death, he was one of the last surviving players from Ottawa's last Allan Cup championship team, the Senior Senators of 1949.