Albert Pudas

Juho Albert Pudas (originally Putaansuu) (February 17, 1899 – October 28, 1976) was a Finnish-born Canadian ice hockey player and coach. He was the first Finnish-born hockey player in the National Hockey League, and played 4 games for the Toronto St. Patricks during the 1926–27 season. Following his hockey career Pudas was active in the capacity of referee.

Biography Pudas moved to Canada at the age of 18 months. He began his hockey career in Port Arthur, Ontario with the Pascoes, Ports, and later, the Port Arthur Bearcats. On October 28, 1926, Pudas accepted a contract offer from the Toronto St. Pats, along with fellow Bearcats Bill Brydge, Danny Cox and Lorne Chabot. Pudas was recalled December 29, 1926, by the Toronto St. Pats (renamed the Maple Leafs that same season on February 14, 1927) to play four games. These four games made Pudas the first Finnish-born player to play in the NHL.

In 1936, Pudas coached the Port Arthur Bearcats who represented Canada in the Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany. Canada won a silver medal with Pudas as coach (the only medal Canada won at these games).

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1921–22 Port Arthur Bruins TBSHL — — — — — — — — — — 1922–23 Port Arthur Bruins MHL 16 17 8 25 5 2 1 0 1 0 1923–24 Port Arthur Bruins MHL 16 11 2 13 2 2 1 0 1 2 1924–25 Port Arthur Bruins MHL 20 3 3 6 — 10 11 10 21 13 1925–26 Port Arthur Bruins MHL 20 11 2 13 20 9 7 6 13 18 1926–27 Toronto St. Patricks NHL 4 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1926–27 Windsor Bulldogs Can-Pro 18 10 2 12 18 — — — — — 1926–27 Hamilton Tigers Can-Pro 9 8 0 8 2 2 3 0 3 0 1927–28 London Panthers Can-Pro 10 2 2 4 4 — — — — — 1927–28 Stratford Nationals Can-Pro 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1927–28 Detroit Olympics Can-Pro 19 4 1 5 0 2 0 0 0 0 Can-Pro totals 57 24 5 29 24 4 3 0 3 0 NHL totals 4 0 0 0 0 — — — — —