Plenty of 'Punch' left in Lach

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

Plenty of 'Punch' left in Lach
By John McGourty | NHL.com
March 1, 2005

Elmer Lach, Toe Blake and Rocket Richard comprised "The Punch Line", the Montreal Canadiens' feared top trio from 1942 until Blake's last season in 1948.

And what a trio it was!

During their time together, Lach first, then Richard became the highest-scoring players in NHL history. And in one of those curious happenstances, the three men remained together even after the line broke up. Since Blake was older than his linemates, he wound up coaching Richard.

Blake made his NHL debut in 1936, Lach in 1940 and Richard in 1942. Lach retired in 1954 and Richard in 1960.

They were not only good, they were friends and that was key to their coordination. Blake and Richard are gone now, but Lach is alive and well and cracking one-liners at age 86, still residing in Montreal.

- nhl.com/hockeyu/history/where/lach030105.html

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

I went to Monklands High with Elmers son. Lots of fun and a great family.

[jkr]

I knew he was a terrific player but I didn't realize he was the NHL's leading scorer at one point in his career.

Thanks for an entertaining read.

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

Here's another excellent article, this time from the Montreal Gazette:

The only living member of famous Punch Line
Elmer Lach teamed with Rocket Richard and Toe Blake to form one of NHL's great trios

DAVE STUBBS
The Gazette

Saturday, March 26, 2005

It seems right, somehow, that Elmer Lach is in a wheelchair when he greets you with a broad smile and a strong grip.

Lach the Unlucky, as he was known for much of his glorious 14-year Canadiens career, is nursing an ankle he broke 11 weeks ago while scraping ice on his back porch. But it will take more than this to keep him off the fairways of Summerlea come golf season; at 87, he expects to shoot his age, or better.

To his coach, Dick Irvin, Lach was Elegant Elmer. To others, the three-time Stanley Cup winner was the Nokomis Flash, named for the swift skates he brought from his Saskatchewan hometown.

Later, his longtime friend Red Storey would call him Scratch, "because I'd whip the ass off him on the golf course."

To Canadiens wingers Maurice (Rocket) Richard and Toe Blake, he was at least one-third of the magnificent wartime Punch Line, the 5-foot-9 bulldozer who cleared the lanes, traded elbows in the corners and passed the puck as though it had eyes for the Rocket's stick.

- tinyurl.com/4s8sj