Tony Demers

Joseph Antonio Demers (July 22, 1917 – September 3, 1997) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played 83 games in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers from 1938 to 1944. He was born in Chambly-Basin, Quebec. He started with the Canadiens in 1937–38 but had to wait until the 1940–41 season before playing a full season with the Montreal club. He only played 16 games in the two seasons that followed. In his last season with the Canadiens, he assisted on Maurice Richard's very first career goal.

In November 1949 he was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He had beaten a woman to death two months earlier at Coaticook, Quebec. He served his sentence and started his life again. He died in 1997 at the age of 80.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1935–36 Montreal LaFontaine Bleus MCJHL 1 1 0 1 2 — — — — — 1936–37 Southampton Vikings ENL — 21 7 28 16 — — — — — 1937–38 Montreal Canadiens NHL 6 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1937–38 New Haven Eagles IAHL 5 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1937–38 Lachine Rapides QPHL — — — — — — — — — — 1938–39 Lachine Rapides QPHL 29 24 12 36 39 6 2 2 4 7 1939–40 Montreal Canadiens NHL 14 2 4 6 2 — — — — — 1939–40 Valleyfield Braves QSHL 35 30 23 53 37 — — — — — 1940–41 Montreal Canadiens NHL 46 13 10 23 17 2 0 0 0 ) 1941–42 Montreal Canadiens NHL 7 3 4 7 4 — — — — — 1941–42 Valleyfield V's MDHL 14 2 3 5 16 9 1 2 3 21 1942–43 Montreal Canadiens NHL 9 2 5 7 0 — — — — — 1942–43 Montreal Army MCHL 13 3 1 4 0 4 0 2 2 0 1943–44 New York Rangers NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1943–44 Providence Reds AHL 25 11 10 21 10 — — — — — 1944–45 Lachine Rapides QPHL 11 2 3 5 12 — — — — — 1945–46 St-Hyacinthe Saints QPHL 34 50 29 79 26 — — — — — 1946–47 Sherbrooke Saints QPHL 43 32 36 68 8 10 8 15 23 2 1946–47 Sherbrooke Saints Al-Cup — — — — — 4 2 2 4 2 1947–48 Sherbrooke Saints QPHL 52 62 46 108 24 10 6 6 12 9 1948–49 Sherbrooke Saint-François QPHL 60 53 58 111 29 10 10 2 12 8 NHL totals 83 20 23 43 23 2 0 0 0 0