Edgar Laprade

Edgar Laprade
Born	1919 Mine Centre, Ontario
Died	2014
Years in Thunder Bay	by 1938–at least 1940; from 1955

Edgar Louis "Beaver" Laprade (October 10, 1919 – April 28, 2014) was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played for the New York Rangers in the National Hockey League. The son of Thomas and Edith Laprade, he was born in the New Ontario community of Mine Centre. By age 4, he and his family moved to Port Arthur, Ontario. He also spent time with the Port Arthur Bearcats of the Thunder Bay Senior Hockey League.

Thunder Bay connections

Edgar Louis "Beaver" Laprade (October 10, 1919 – April 28, 2014) was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre, the son of Thomas Laprade and Edith Laprade, who was born in Mine Centre, Ontario and moved with his family to Port Arthur by age 4. He played junior hockey with the Port Arthur Juniors, the Port Arthur Bruins of the Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League, and the Port Arthur Bearcats of the Thunder Bay Senior Hockey League, where he was named league MVP in 1938–39 and 1940–41 and won the Allan Cup in 1939–40. In 1939 he married Arline Whear, his coach's niece, and the couple had three daughters. After his playing career, he operated Perciante & Laprade Sporting Goods Limited in Thunder Bay with Guy Perciante for 30 years, co-owned and managed an arena in Port Arthur, served on Port Arthur and then Thunder Bay city council from 1959 to 1970 and 1972 to 1973, and sat on the boards of governors for Confederation College and Lakehead University. He was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1982 and died at home in Thunder Bay on April 28, 2014.

This is a stub article adapted from the intro of the corresponding Wikipedia article, whose full text covers the subject in greater detail. Content is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Newspaper record

• Photo notice in Port Arthur News-Chronicle, 1945-03-12.
  • Military rank: Cpl.
  • Index note: Family of five in services.
• Biographical notice in Port Arthur News-Chronicle, 1946-09-10.
  • Index note: Honored by city.
• Biographical notice in Port Arthur News-Chronicle, 1947-03-29.
  • Index note: Back home for rest/Calder Trophy.
• Biographical notice in Port Arthur News-Chronicle, 1948-10-08.
  • Index note: In accident.
• Biographical notice in Port Arthur News-Chronicle, 1950-04-28.
  • Index note: Back home with family.
• Biographical notice in Port Arthur News-Chronicle, 1951-02-05.
  • Index note: At home, unsure of hockey future.
• Biographical notice in Fort William Daily Times-Journal, 1957-03-14.
  • Recorded as occurring 15 March 1957.
  • Index note: Opens Perciante & Laprade sports.
• Photo notice in Fort William Daily Times-Journal, 1966-11-18.
  • Index note: Head new college.
• Biographical notice in Fort William Daily Times-Journal, 1969-06-24.
  • Index note: Thunder Bay municipal election.
• Biographical notice in Fort William Daily Times-Journal, 1969-12-18.
  • Index note: Store proprietor battles customer.
• Photo notice in Fort William Daily Times-Journal, 1971-11-08.
  • Index note: Presents awards.
• Biographical notice in Fort William Daily Times-Journal, 1972-05-30.
  • Index note: Elected to city council in byelection.
• Biographical notice in The Chronicle-Journal, 1982-02-20.
  • Index note: Story of heart condition and surgery.
• Biographical notice in The Chronicle-Journal, 1993-06-26.
  • Index note: Local man into Hockey Hall of Fame.
• Biographical notice in The Chronicle-Journal, 1994-01-18.
  • Index note: Sought hockey card of himself.
• News notice in The Chronicle-Journal, 2005-05-04.
  • Index note: Recalls Bro. KIA WW2.

Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame

Edgar Laprade was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1982 as an athlete (ceremony date given as 25 September 1982), for hockey.

Born in Mine Centre, Ontario, between Atikokan and Fort Frances, Edgar Laprade developed his Hockey skills within the minor systems of Port Arthur. He progressed to play for the local junior and senior teams. Known for his skating ability, stick handling, and defensive play on the penalty kill, he was a key member of the Port Arthur Bearcats squad that captured the Allan Cup in the 1938-39 season. During the 1940s, he put his athletic career on hold to serve in the army.

In 1945, Laprade joined the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League. He made an immediate impact during the 1945-46 season, earning the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's top rookie. Throughout a decade-long career exclusively with the Rangers, he was selected to four straight All-Star teams. His streak of selections ended only when a fractured ankle sidelined him. He was recognized as the most valuable player on his team twice, winning the West Side Trophy in 1949 and 1950, and frequently received the Schaefer Award for his performance in home games at Madison Square Garden.

Laprade was noted for a disciplined style of play that prioritized skill over physical confrontation. In both his debut and final professional seasons, he completed the entire schedule without serving a single penalty minute, the only full-time NHL player to do so in those years. His career total for penalties was only 42 minutes over ten years, with his only physical altercation occurring in 1952 against Gus Kyle of the Boston Bruins. This reputation for clean play earned him the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for the 1949-50 season.

He assisted the New York Rangers in reaching the playoffs in 1946 and 1950, though the team was eliminated by the Detroit Red Wings on both occasions. After a broken ankle caused him to miss significant time in 1951, he initially retired but was persuaded to return to fill a roster vacancy left by an injured Don Raleigh. He returned again in 1954 to play on a line with Max Bentley and Doug Bentley. He concluded his NHL career in 1955 with 500 regular season games played, recording 108 goals and 172 assists.

Following his professional career, Laprade moved back to Port Arthur. He became a local businessman, operating a sporting goods store, and entered municipal politics as a member of the Port Arthur City Council. His legacy in the sport was further cemented in 1993 when he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame under the Veterans' Category.

Residence in the Thunder Bay area (by 1938–at least 1940; from 1955) rests on the following dated evidence. He played for Port Arthur clubs from 1938 until joining the army in the 1940s, and returned to Port Arthur to live and work after his 1955 NHL retirement.

Residence in the Thunder Bay area (by 1938–at least 1940; from 1955) rests on the following dated evidence. He played for Port Arthur clubs from 1938 until joining the army in the 1940s, and returned to Port Arthur to live and work after his 1955 NHL retirement.

Achievements listed in the profile:

• Won the Allan Cup with the Port Arthur Bearcats in 1938-39
• Received the Calder Trophy as the NHL's Outstanding Rookie of the Year in 1945-46
• Selected to four consecutive NHL All-Star teams
• Won the West Side Trophy as the New York Rangers' Most Valuable Player in 1949 and 1950
• Awarded the Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct in 1949-50
• Completed two full NHL seasons without recording a single penalty minute
• Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993
• Served as a member of the Port Arthur City Council

Associates

• Max Bentley, teammate
• Doug Bentley, teammate