Lou Jankowski

Louis Casimer Jankowski (June 27, 1931 – March 21, 2010) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward and scout who played 131 games in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Black Hawks between 1951 and 1955. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1951 to 1969, was mainly spent in the minor Western Hockey League.

Early life Louis Casimer Jankowski was born on June 27, 1931, in Regina, Saskatchewan, the fourth of six sons to a Polish Catholic mother, Anna Jankowska. Anna, her husband, and three sons had immigrated to Canada in 1927 from Świdnik, Poland. The family later moved to Hamilton, Ontario.

Playing career Jankowski spent three seasons playing for the Oshawa Generals of the OHA. He played alongside Alex Delvecchio, where the duo became known for their offensive scoring punch.

A versatile forward who could play both the right wing and center positions, along with an ability to score profusely, Jankowski won the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy as a member of the Generals, recording 65 goals, 59 assists and 124 points during the 1950-51 season.

Jankowski's NHL career ended with 19 goals, 18 assists and 15 penalty minutes in 127 career games played.

After other NHL clubs showed no interest in offering a contract, Jankowski signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the Western Hockey League, where he would reestablish his offensive game. Jankowski led the league in goals during his first three seasons, scoring a career high 57 goals in the 1960-61 season.

Jankowski was named to the WHL All-Star Team four times between 1959 and 1963, earning the Leader Cup award as the WHL's Most Valuable Player in 1961.

Jankowski would play for various minor league clubs, before announcing his retirement after 18 professional seasons.

His grandson, Mark Jankowski is a forward for the Carolina Hurricanes.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1947–48 Hamilton Aerovox OHA-B — — — — — 9 5 4 9 2 1948–49 Oshawa Generals OHA 34 7 5 12 27 2 0 0 0 0 1949–50 Oshawa Generals OHA 45 20 32 52 31 — — — — — 1950–51 Oshawa Generals OHA 54 65 59 124 14 5 6 4 10 2 1950–51 Detroit Red Wings NHL 1 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 1951–52 Indianapolis Capitals AHL 51 18 18 36 49 — — — — — 1952–53 Detroit Red Wings NHL 22 1 2 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 1952–53 Edmonton Flyers WHL 10 3 1 4 0 — — — — — 1953–54 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 68 15 13 28 7 — — — — — 1954–55 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 40 3 2 5 8 — — — — — 1954–55 Buffalo Bisons AHL 11 8 8 16 2 10 0 7 7 0 1955–56 Buffalo Bisons AHL 62 14 20 34 8 4 1 2 3 0 1956–57 Buffalo Bisons AHL 64 13 24 37 17 — — — — — 1957–58 Buffalo Bisons AHL 59 21 25 46 0 — — — — — 1958–59 Calgary Stampeders WHL 54 45 47 92 13 4 1 1 2 0 1959–60 Calgary Stampeders WHL 70 42 42 84 9 — — — — — 1960–61 Calgary Stampeders WHL 69 57 42 99 7 5 3 2 5 2 1961–62 Calgary Stampeders WHL 64 44 40 84 13 7 2 4 6 0 1962–63 Calgary Stampeders WHL 67 24 26 50 4 — — — — — 1963–64 Denver Invaders WHL 69 41 44 85 10 6 5 2 7 2 1964–65 Victoria Maple Leafs WHL 69 30 27 57 16 12 3 2 5 2 1965–66 Victoria Maple Leafs WHL 68 32 32 64 10 14 4 2 6 8 1966–67 Victoria Maple Leafs WHL 67 22 37 59 4 — — — — — 1967–68 Phoenix Roadrunners WHL 72 25 23 48 6 4 0 0 0 0 1968–69 Denver Spurs WHL 19 2 3 5 0 — — — — — 1968–69 Amarillo Wranglers CHL 46 14 11 25 2 — — — — — NHL totals 127 19 18 37 15 1 0 0 0 0 WHL totals 698 367 364 731 92 52 18 13 31 14

Awards and achievements

Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy (OHA/OHL Leading Scorer) (1950–51) WHL Prairie Division First All-Star Team (1959) WHL First All-Star Team (1960, 1961, 1964) Leader Cup (MVP - WHL) (1961) WHL Second All-Star Team (1962) Fred J. Hume Cup (Most Gentlemanly Player - WHL) (1964)

Records WHL - Most goals in one season (57G in 69 games)