Frederick Hugh "Old Eagle Eyes" Lehman(October 27, 1885 – April 12, 1961) was a Canadianprofessionalice hockeygoaltender. He started his ice hockey career playing for the Pembroke Lumber Kings and theBerlin Dutchmen.In 1911, Lehman joined theNew Westminster Royals,playing for the Royals for three seasons, before joining theVancouver Millionairesin 1914. Lehman played half of his 22-year professional career with Vancouver, winning his onlyStanley Cup;he would be unsuccessful in seven other attempts. In 1926, he joined theChicago Black Hawksof theNational Hockey League(NHL), playing a full season and splitting the second one as player and head coach. Although some ice hockey historians creditJacques Plantefor originating the practice, Lehman was the first goaltender to regularly pass the puck to his fellow forwards and defensemen; he even scored a goal by shooting the puck in the opponent's net while playing for the Professionals. He was inducted into theHockey Hall of Famein 1958.
| Hughie Lehman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hockey Hall of Fame,1958 | |||
 Lehman with theNew Westminster Royalsin 1912 | |||
| Born |
October 27, 1885 Pembroke, Ontario,Canada | ||
| Died |
April 12, 1961(aged 75) Toronto,Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | ||
| Weight | 168 lb (76 kg; 12 st 0 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Caught | Left | ||
| Played for |
Sault Ste. Marie Marlboros Berlin Dutchmen Galt Professionals New Westminster Royals Vancouver Millionaires Chicago Black Hawks | ||
| Playing career | 1908–1928 | ||
Playing career
edit
Lehman began his playing career in 1903–04, playing for the Pembroke Lumber Kings of the Ottawa Valley Hockey League (OVHL) for the first three seasons of his career. In the 1906–07 season, Lehman was signed as a free agent by theCanadian Sooof theInternational Professional Hockey League(IPHL); the IPHL was the first fully professional ice hockey league. Lehman returned to Pembroke for the 1907–08 season, appearing in four games. For the 1908–09 season, Lehman joined theBerlin Dutchmenof theOntario Professional Hockey League(OPHL). In the 1909–10 season, Lehman was in two different Stanley Cup playoff series, with two different teams, the Berlin Dutchmen and theGalt Professionals,but he lost both times. During those playoff series, he appeared in three games, giving up 22 goals. Lehman played with the Berlin Dutchmen until 1911.[1]
In 1911–12, Lehman played for theNew Westminster Royalsof the newly foundedPacific Coast Hockey Association(PCHA). He played three seasons for New Westminster, winning the league championship in his first season. In 1914–15, Lehman joined theVancouver Millionairesof the PCHA. In his first season with the Millionaires, Lehman posted a 14–3 record, with a 4.08 goals-against average, which was a very good average in an era when goaltenders were not allowed to drop on their knees to make a save. In the Stanley Cup playoffs, Lehman helped the Millionaires become the first PCHA team to win theStanley Cup,with a 3–0 record and 2.67 goals against average. This would be the only Stanley Cup victory of Lehman's career, as he was on the losing side in seven other attempts. The Millionaires squad consisted of seven future members of theHockey Hall of Famewhen they won the Cup: Lehman,Frank Nighbor,Cyclone Taylor,Si Griffis,Barney Stanley,Frank Patrick,andMickey MacKay.[1][2]
Lehman played with the Millionaires until the 1925–26 season. During that time, Lehman and some of his teammates were involved in a humorous incident when going back to Canada after an exhibition game against theMontreal WanderersinNew York City.In New York, Lehman's wife bought numerous women's designer outfits, after being treated to a shopping spree by him. When going back to Canada, Lehman, on the advice of Cyclone Taylor, who was both a professional ice hockey player and a Canadian immigration officer, split up all outfits among his teammates to avoid paying additional taxes he would have had to pay if he had brought all the clothing by himself at once; this puzzled the Customs officers.[2]In 1922–23, the Millionaires were renamed the Maroons, and joined theWestern Canada Hockey League(WCHL). The WCHL was renamed to the Western Hockey League in 1925–26; however, the league disbanded at the conclusion of that season. While playing for the Millionaires, Lehman appeared in six Stanley Cup finals, losing every time, except in his first season, in 1914–15.[1]
Following the collapse of the WHL, Lehman joined theChicago Black Hawksfor the1926–27 season.While in Chicago, Lehman mentored future Chicago goaltender and captainCharlie Gardiner.[3]Lehman played one full season, and another four games the next one.[1]During the 1926 season, Lehman became the oldest goaltender to win his first NHL game at 41 years 21 days.[4]This record was broken on February 22, 2020 by David Ayres who at 42 years, 194 days came into a game as an emergency backup goaltender for theCarolina Hurricanesagainst theToronto Maple LeafsatScotiabank Arenain the 2nd period and won the game 6-3.
Coaching career
editDuring the1927–28 season,Black Hawks owner and managerFrederic McLaughlinwas sketching some plays for his team; after Lehman was shown the plays by McLaughlin, Lehman responded by calling it "the craziest bunch of junk [he's] ever seen".[2]Expecting to be fired after that outburst, Lehman was later told to go to McLaughlin's office. It was how Lehman's playing career ended: McLaughlin appointed Lehman to be Chicago's new head coach.[2]Lehman coached Chicago for part of one season, finishing with a 3–17–1 record over 21 games.[5]He was replaced byHerb Gardinerthe following season.
Playing style
editAs a goaltender, Lehman was a strong skater and good puckhandler. He chased down loose pucks, and was able to pass the puck to his forwards, surprising the other team's defenders. Playing in the OPHL, Lehman scored a goal by shooting the puck in the opponent's net.[6]The first NHL goaltender to duplicate such a feat wasRon Hextall,who did it in 1987.[7]
Legacy
editAfter retiring from ice hockey, Lehman worked in the road construction business, eventually becoming the president of a paving company.[3]Lehman was inducted into theHockey Hall of Famein 1958.[8]
Career statistics
editRegular season and playoffs
edit| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | Min | GA | SO | GAA | GP | W | L | T | Min | GA | SO | GAA | ||
| 1903–04 | Pembroke Lumber Kings | OVHL | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 300 | 22 | 0 | 4.40 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1904–05 | Pembroke Lumber Kings | OVHL | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1905–06 | Pembroke Lumber Kings | OVHL | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 480 | 13 | 1 | 1.63 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | ||
| 1906–07 | Canadian Soo | IPHL | 24 | 13 | 11 | 0 | 1440 | 123 | 0 | 5.13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1907–08 | Pembroke Lumber Kings | OVHL | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 240 | 22 | 0 | 5.50 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1908–09 | Berlin Dutchmen | OPHL | 15 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 890 | 72 | 0 | 4.85 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1909–10 | Berlin Dutchmen | OPHL | 17 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 995 | 75 | 3 | 4.53 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1909–10 | Galt Professionals | St-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 120 | 15 | 0 | 7.50 | ||
| 1909–10 | Berlin Dutchmen | St-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 60 | 7 | 0 | 7.00 | ||
| 1910–11 | Berlin Dutchmen | OPHL | 15 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 900 | 87 | 0 | 5.80 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1911–12 | New Westminster Royals | PCHA | 15 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 911 | 77 | 0 | 5.07 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1912–13 | New Westminster Royals | PCHA | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 739 | 51 | 0 | 4.14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1913–14 | New Westminster Royals | PCHA | 16 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 997 | 81 | 0 | 4.87 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1914–15 | Vancouver Millionaires | PCHA | 17 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 1043 | 71 | 1 | 4.08 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1914–15 | Vancouver Millionaires | St-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 180 | 8 | 0 | 2.67 | ||
| 1915–16 | Vancouver Millionaires | PCHA | 18 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 1091 | 69 | 0 | 3.79 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1916–17 | Vancouver Millionaires | PCHA | 23 | 14 | 9 | 0 | 1404 | 124 | 0 | 5.30 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1917–18 | Vancouver Millionaires | PCHA | 18 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 1179 | 60 | 1 | 3.05 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 120 | 2 | 1 | 1.00 | ||
| 1917–18 | Vancouver Millionaires | St-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 300 | 18 | 0 | 3.60 | ||
| 1918–19 | Vancouver Millionaires | PCHA | 20 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 1277 | 55 | 1 | 2.58 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 120 | 7 | 0 | 3.50 | ||
| 1919–20 | Vancouver Millionaires | PCHA | 22 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 1334 | 65 | 1 | 2.92 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 120 | 7 | 0 | 3.50 | ||
| 1920–21 | Vancouver Millionaires | PCHA | 24 | 13 | 11 | 0 | 1449 | 78 | 3 | 3.23 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 120 | 2 | 1 | 2.00 | ||
| 1920–21 | Vancouver Millionaires | St-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 300 | 12 | 0 | 2.40 | ||
| 1921–22 | Vancouver Millionaires | PCHA | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 1318 | 62 | 4 | 2.82 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 120 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | ||
| 1921–22 | Vancouver Millionaires | West-P | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 120 | 2 | 1 | 1.00 | ||
| 1921–22 | Vancouver Millionaires | St-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 305 | 16 | 1 | 3.15 | ||
| 1922–23 | Vancouver Maroons | PCHA | 25 | 16 | 8 | 1 | 1571 | 61 | 5 | 2.33 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 120 | 3 | 1 | 1.50 | ||
| 1922–23 | Vancouver Maroons | St-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 240 | 10 | 0 | 2.50 | ||
| 1923–24 | Vancouver Maroons | PCHA | 30 | 13 | 16 | 1 | 1846 | 80 | 1 | 2.60 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 134 | 3 | 0 | 1.34 | ||
| 1923–24 | Vancouver Maroons | West-P | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 10 | 0 | 3.33 | ||
| 1923–24 | Vancouver Maroons | St-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 120 | 5 | 0 | 2.50 | ||
| 1924–25 | Vancouver Maroons | WCHL | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 663 | 29 | 0 | 2.62 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1925–26 | Vancouver Maroons | WHL | 30 | 10 | 18 | 2 | 1839 | 90 | 3 | 2.94 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1926–27 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 44 | 19 | 22 | 3 | 2797 | 116 | 5 | 2.49 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 120 | 10 | 0 | 5.00 | ||
| 1927–28 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 250 | 20 | 1 | 4.80 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| PCHA totals | 262 | 142 | 118 | 2 | 16,159 | 934 | 17 | 3.47 | 14 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 854 | 24 | 5 | 1.69 | ||||
| WCHL/WHL totals | 41 | 17 | 22 | 2 | 2502 | 119 | 3 | 2.85 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| St-Cup totals | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 27 | 10 | 17 | 0 | 1625 | 91 | 1 | 3.36 | ||||
| NHL totals | 48 | 20 | 24 | 4 | 3407 | 136 | 6 | 2.68 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 120 | 10 | 0 | 5.00 | ||||
Coaching record
edit| Team | Year | Regular season | Post season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | T | Pts | Division rank | Result | ||
| Chicago Black Hawks | 1927–28 | 21 | 3 | 17 | 1 | 7 | 5th inAmerican | Did not qualify |
| NHL totals | 21 | 3 | 17 | 1 | 7 | |||
References
edit- Allen, Kevin; Duff, Bob;Bower, Johnny(2002).Without Fear: Hockey's 50 greatest goaltenders.Chicago:Triumph Books.ISBN978-1-57243-484-4.OCLC49936232.
- ^abcd"Hughie Lehman — Career statistics".Hockey Hall of Fame.Retrieved2008-07-05.
- ^abcdAllen, Duff, Bower; p. 59.
- ^abJoe Pelletier."Hugh Lehman".Joe Pelletier.Retrieved2008-10-07.
- ^Philadelphia Flyers at Winnipeg Jets - December 21st, 2014 | NHL.com
- ^"Hugh Lehman—Coaching record".hockeyreference.com.Retrieved2008-10-07.
- ^Allen, Duff, Bower; p. 58.
- ^Allen, Duff, Bower; p. 66.
- ^"Hughie Lehman — Biography".Hockey Hall of Fame.Retrieved2008-07-05.
External links
edit
- Biographical information and career statistics fromNHL.com,orHockey-Reference.com,orLegends of Hockey,orThe Internet Hockey Database