Simon Nolet

Simon Laurent Nolet (born November 23, 1941) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played ten seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL), most notably for the Philadelphia Flyers, with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 1973-74.

Playing career

Nolet started his junior career with the Quebec Citadelles of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and appeared in the Memorial Cup playoffs with them. In 1963-64 he scored 68 goals in 68 games with the Windsor, Nova Scotia Maple Leafs and helped them reach the Allan Cup Eastern semi-finals; he also scored ten goals in the playoffs. After sitting out most of the following season, he joined the Sherbrooke Castors, for whom he scored 21 goals in 15 games to lead them to the Allan Cup.

Immediately after that, Nolet signed with the Quebec Aces of the American Hockey League, and scored two goals and an assist in his professional debut. He starred with the Aces for most of the next five seasons; in 1967-68 he led the league in scoring with 44 goals and 52 assists for 96 points, and scored 15 points in ten playoff games, and he helped the Aces reach the Calder Cup finals that season and the following season as well.

The Philadelphia Flyers, who joined the NHL in 1967-68, purchased the Aces and the rights to its players, and Nolet made his NHL debut that season. He was a firm fixture by 1969–70, when he scored 22 goals in 56 games after his permanent promotion from Quebec. He showed strength in two-way play and penalty killing, and was known for his blazing speed and heavy slapshot. He earned a place in the All-Star Game in 1971–72.

Left exposed in the 1974 NHL Expansion Draft, Nolet was selected fifth overall by the Kansas City Scouts, and was named the team's first captain. He led a weak squad in scoring that first season and was Kansas City's sole representative in the All-Star Game. Halfway through the next year, he was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins, but was reacquired by the team in the 1976 offseason after it had moved to Denver and become the Colorado Rockies. He was named team captain again, and retired after the 1976–77 NHL season.

Post-playing career

After his playing days, Nolet worked as a scout for the Quebec Nordiques of the World Hockey Association, and later served as an assistant coach for the club from 1982 to 1987. He later became and remains a scout in the Flyers' organization.

Achievements and facts Won the John B. Sollenberger Trophy as the AHL's leading scorer in 1968. Named to the AHL Second All-Star Team in 1968. Played in the NHL All-Star Game in 1972 and 1975. Scored the first goal in Kansas City Scouts' history. Won the Stanley Cup with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1974.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1960–61 Quebec Citadelles QJHL 11 2 1 3 0 — — — — — 1961–62 Quebec Citadelles QJHL 39 25 27 52 22 10 4 4 8 12 1961–62 Quebec Aces AHL 1 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 1961–62 Quebec Citadelles MC — — — — — 9 2 4 6 2 1962–63 Windsor Maple Leafs NSSHL 55 53 55 108 30 7 5 6 11 14 1962–63 Moncton Hawks NSSHL — — — — — 12 4 5 9 2 1963–64 Windsor Maple Leafs NSSHL 68 68 65 133 19 8 2 6 8 4 1963–64 Windsor Maple Leafs AC — — — — — 11 10 8 18 8 1964–65 Quebec Aces AHL 2 2 1 3 2 — — — — — 1964–65 Sherbrooke Castors AC — — — — — 15 21 14 35 4 1965–66 Quebec Aces AHL 61 16 17 33 12 6 0 0 0 2 1966–67 Quebec Aces AHL 66 32 24 56 28 5 1 4 5 4 1967–68 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 4 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 1967–68 Quebec Aces AHL 70 44 52 96 45 10 5 10 15 10 1968–69 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 35 4 10 14 8 — — — — — 1968–69 Quebec Aces AHL 33 11 21 32 28 15 5 3 8 28 1969–70 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 56 22 22 44 36 — — — — — 1969–70 Quebec Aces AHL 22 13 18 31 14 — — — — — 1970–71 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 74 9 19 28 42 4 2 1 3 0 1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 67 23 20 43 22 — — — — — 1972–73 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 70 16 20 36 6 11 3 1 4 4 1973–74 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 52 19 17 36 13 15 1 1 2 4 1974–75 Kansas City Scouts NHL 72 26 32 58 30 — — — — — 1975–76 Kansas City Scouts NHL 41 10 15 25 16 — — — — — 1975–76 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 39 9 8 17 2 3 0 0 0 0 1976–77 Colorado Rockies NHL 52 12 19 31 10 — — — — — AHL totals 255 118 133 251 131 36 11 17 28 44 NHL totals 562 150 182 332 187 34 6 3 9 8