Edgar Laprade

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 then moved up to the Port Arthur Bruins in the Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League. In 1938–39, Laprade joined the Port Arthur Bearcats in the Thunder Bay Senior Hockey League (TBSHL). Laprade scored many times, and he was selected as the MVP of the TBSHL in 1938-39 and 1940–41. He also helped the team win the Allan Cup in 1939–40.

After the 1942–43 season, Laprade joined the army. While in the army, he still played hockey regularly with the Winnipeg Army. In 1944–45, he played one season with the Barriefield Bears before moving on to the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers. In his first season of NHL hockey, Laprade recorded 34 points in 49 games. His effort impressed the league and he was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy. Laprade finished the 1946-47 NHL season with 40 points, and earned a spot in the first NHL All-Star Game. He also played in the 1948, 1949, and 1950 NHL All-Star Games.

During his career, Laprade played three full seasons without recording a penalty, and was awarded the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 1949-50. In the same season, the Rangers made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final against the Detroit Red Wings, the closest Laprade ever came to winning a Stanley Cup. The series went all the way to a game seven before Pete Babando of the Detroit Red Wings scored the game-winning goal in overtime. After that, Laprade played five more seasons with the Rangers before retiring. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993.

Life after hockey In 1939, he married Arline Whear, his coach's niece. The couple had three daughters. Perciante and Laprade also owned and managed an arena in Port Arthur. He also served on the board of governors for Confederation College and Lakehead University.

Awards and achievements Selected as TBSHL MVP in 1939, and 1941. Allan Cup champion in 1939. Calder Memorial Trophy winner in 1946. Played in 1947, 1948, 1949, and 1950 NHL All-Star Games. Lady Byng Memorial Trophy winner in 1950. Inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1982. Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993. In the 2009 book 100 Ranger Greats, was ranked No. 24 all-time of the 901 New York Rangers who had played during the team's first 82 seasons

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1935–36 Port Arthur Bruins TBJHL 14 13 10 23 6 4 4 2 6 2 1936–37 Port Arthur Bruins TBJHL 18 19 14 33 2 3 6 3 9 5 1937–38 Port Arthur Bruins TBJHL 18 23 11 34 9 5 6 0 6 0 1938–39 Port Arthur Bruins TBJHL 10 7 4 11 — — — — — — 1938–39 Port Arthur Bearcats TBSHL 25 31 9 40 7 6 3 3 6 4 1938–39 Port Arthur Bearcats Al-Cup — — — — — 13 22 4 26 6 1939–40 Port Arthur Bearcats TBSHL 22 20 15 35 8 3 5 1 6 2 1939–40 Port Arthur Bearcats Al-Cup — — — — — 12 13 10 23 6 1940–41 Port Arthur Bearcats TBSHL 20 26 21 47 7 4 2 1 3 0 1941–42 Port Arthur Bearcats TBSHL 15 18 23 41 4 — — — — — 1941–42 Port Arthur Bearcats Al-Cup — — — — — 17 12 21 33 6 1942–43 Port Arthur Bearcats TBSHL 8 7 10 17 0 3 7 4 11 4 1942–43 Port Arthur Bearcats Al-Cup — — — — — 8 6 10 16 2 1943–44 Winnipeg Army WNDHL 6 10 3 13 0 — — — — — 1944–45 Barriefield Bears KCHL — 19 28 47 2 4 5 8 13 0 1945–46 New York Rangers NHL 49 15 19 34 0 — — — — — 1946–47 New York Rangers NHL 58 15 25 40 9 — — — — — 1947–48 New York Rangers NHL 59 13 34 47 7 6 1 4 5 0 1948–49 New York Rangers NHL 56 18 12 30 12 — — — — — 1949–50 New York Rangers NHL 60 22 22 44 2 12 3 5 8 4 1950–51 New York Rangers NHL 42 10 13 23 0 — — — — — 1951–52 New York Rangers NHL 70 9 29 38 8 — — — — — 1952–53 New York Rangers NHL 11 2 1 3 2 — — — — — 1953–54 New York Rangers NHL 35 1 6 7 2 — — — — — 1954–55 New York Rangers NHL 60 3 11 14 0 — — — — — TBSHL totals 90 102 78 180 26 16 17 9 26 10 Al-Cup totals — — — — — 50 53 45 98 20 NHL totals 500 108 172 280 42 18 4 9 13 4