Cournoyer's retirement

[Beastdog75]

I've been looking around the internet and found conflicting sources as to when Yvan Cournoyer actually retired and was wondering if someone could set the record straight. I know he was riddled with injuries towards the end of his career and in his final season only played 15 games. That final season he is listed as the captain of Habs 1979 championship.

What I want to know is, did he retire after playing his 15 games or did he wait and announce his retirement after the '79 win?

[jumptheshark]

I think he did not announce his retirement during the season because he was hoping to be able to play. As I recall--I was young when he retired but Dick Irvan and the other cbc guys talked about it all the time in the 80's. He was in fact told to retire after the 78 season. He got his name on the cup in 79 and a ring to make it an even 10

fun fact Richard Sévigny got his name on the cup because he dressed as a back up--so he is the answer to the question Which nhl player got his name on the cup before playing an actual pro game at the NHL level

[Big Phil]

He had eventual career ending back surgery in December 1978. His back was shot. Technically I believe Savard had the captaincy for the 1979 Cup as well as the 1977 one where Cournoyer sat out as well. No doubt without the injuries he was still effective when healthy. In 1976 he had 9 postseason points and in 1978 he scored 7 goals including a 53 point regular season campaign. So he still was a big part of it when healthy

[BubbaBoot]

Loved Cournoyer.....I'm a Bruins fan, he was the only Canadien I liked.

[tommygunn]

Cournoyer announced his retirement on October 10, 1979. He attended training camp and played in two exhibition games, but still had back problems.

UPI article here: http://news.google.com/newspapers?ni...g=6799,4665537

[Ohashi_Jouzu]

Originally Posted by jumptheshark

fun fact Richard Sévigny got his name on the cup because he dressed as a back up--so he is the answer to the question Which nhl player got his name on the cup before playing an actual pro game at the NHL level

That's pretty good trivia right there. Any idea if he's the only one?

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Originally Posted by jumptheshark

fun fact Richard Sévigny got his name on the cup because he dressed as a back up--so he is the answer to the question Which nhl player got his name on the cup before playing an actual pro game at the NHL level

He can't be the only one, can he?

[tommygunn]

Originally Posted by jumptheshark

fun fact Richard Sévigny got his name on the cup because he dressed as a back up--so he is the answer to the question Which nhl player got his name on the cup before playing an actual pro game at the NHL level

Originally Posted by Ohashi_Jouzu

That's pretty good trivia right there. Any idea if he's the only one?

Originally Posted by TheDevilMadeMe

He can't be the only one, can he?

Spare goalies whose name is on Cup before playing first NHL game
Chicago 1933-34: Joe Starke (never did play in NHL)
Detroit 1949-50: Harry McQuestion (never did play in NHL)
Detroit 1951-52: Glenn Hall
Detroit 1951-52: Bill Tibbs (never did play in NHL)
Chicago 1960-61: Denis DeJordy
Boston 1969-70: John M. Adams

Only non-goalie whose name is on Cup before playing first NHL game
Boston 1969-70: Ivan Boldirev

Some info I gathered.. although it should be considered incomplete as when the Cup was redesigned a few times some corrections, some omissions, and some errors were made..

Stanley Cup winning players:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley...inning_players

Chronology of Stanley Cup engravings:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronol...Cup_engravings

[Ohashi_Jouzu]

Excellent. Cheers for compiling that.

[eastcoaster]

Spare goalie Roy Edwards had his name engraved on the Cup as a member of the 1960/61 Blackhawks and he never played in an NHL game until 1966.

[Beastdog75]

Originally Posted by tommygunn

Cournoyer announced his retirement on October 10, 1979. He attended training camp and played in two exhibition games, but still had back problems.

UPI article here: http://news.google.com/newspapers?ni...g=6799,4665537

Thanks for the article link. BTW, it mentions Boom Boom Geoffrion as head coach. I completely forgot about his stint behind the Canadiens bench.

[Big Phil]

Originally Posted by Beastdog75

Thanks for the article link. BTW, it mentions Boom Boom Geoffrion as head coach. I completely forgot about his stint behind the Canadiens bench.

How could you remember it? He lasted all of about 30 games or so right?

[Killion]

Originally Posted by BubbaBoot

Loved Cournoyer.....I'm a Bruins fan, he was the only Canadien I liked.

Ya, I liked Yvon as well. Hell of a player. Loved the way
"Cournoyer" rolled off of Danny Gallivans tongue...

especially when he got excited.

[cursednumber6]

Originally Posted by Killion

Ya, I liked Yvon as well. Hell of a player. Loved the way
"Cournoyer" rolled off of Danny Gallivans tongue...

especially when he got excited.

Bruins fan here too but the roadrunner was the roadrunner.....mostly before my time but not altogether.