LABINE, Leo Gerald - Surrounded by loving family at North Bay General Hospital, Scollard Site, Friday, February 25, 2005 following a courageous battle with cancer. Leo Labine beloved husband of Rosemary Kelly and the late Betty Soucie in his 74th year. Dearly loved father of Cindy Sullivan (Edward) of North Bay, Mary Anne McParland (Mike) of Switzerland, Dan Labine (Glenda) of Caledon and Laura Anderson (Ian) of London. A hero never to be forgotten by seven grandchildren, Jordan Sullivan, Meghan and Adam McParland, Leo and Sarah Labine, and Nolan and
Emma Anderson. Dear brother of Nora Walsh (Ed) of Lively and Dennis Labine (Marie) of Pembroke. Predeceased by his parents Nora and Andrew Labine, a sister Theresa Truchon and brothers, Paul and John Labine. Leo arrived on the hockey scene with the Barrie Jr. Flyers where he won a
Memorial Cup in 1951. In 1952 he joined the professional ranks with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League. He joined the Boston Bruins for the play-offs in 1952 where he remained until 1961. He played for the Detroit Red Wings from 1961 to 1963 and then for the L.A. Blades of
the Western Hockey League from 1963 to 1967 when he concluded his career. Leo loved and lived for hockey. He enjoyed golf and pitching fastball for H.E. Brown Supply Co., winning several local and provincial championships in the 50's and 60's. Leo 'the Lion' will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by family and friends. Family receiving friends at the McGUINTY FUNERAL HOME, today, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Pro Cathedral of the Assumption, Tuesday at 10 a.m. Cremation Forest Lawn Crematorium with interment of cremated
remains at St. Mary's Cemetery. As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Canadian Diabetes Association, Ontario Wellness Pain Control Organization or charity of your choice would be gratefully appreciated by the family. signguestbook/condolences www.mcguintyfuneralhome.com
<http://www.mcguintyfuneralhome.com>; - 2/28/2005 - ID57461217554

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Betty Soucie

“ He played professional hockey for the Boston Bruins druing the 1950’s. “7629

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“ Leo played professional hockey from 1951 to 1962 with the Boston Bruins and his last two years with the Detroit Red Wings. “7612

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“ LAPASSE - James Labine has been stepping high all week and who can blame him. It’s not every day a man celebrates his 100th birthday but that’s just what he will be doing on Sunday. About 125 of his friends and relatives will gather in the community to celebrate along with him.

Mr. Labine was born on August 14, 1877 on the Gore Line near Westmeath. In an interview Wednesday afternoon, he said he can recall, as a boy, having to walk two miles to school. “A man by the name of Caesar Paul made my first pair of snowshoes which I used to walk to school with in the winter,” he said. Mr. Paul died a few years ago at the age of 107.

Mr. Labine said when he was seven years old he remembers being in Chalk River when a train load of volunteers from Kingston stopped at the station. “They were on the way to Manitoba to help put down the Louis Riel rebellion,” he said. When he was 29, Mr. Labine went to Northn Ontario to work on the railroad. “I was hired at New Liskeard to drive a team of horses to Turkin Lake. The company I worked for built culvery and bridges for the Timiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway.” He stayed only a short while.

“I went to Haileybury to do some prospecting,” he said. It was while he was in that community that he helped set the stage for a great moment in Candian mining history. “Ben Hollinger and Alex Gilles had been working in Toronto,” he stated, “but they came to Haileybury and John McMahon and I lent them some money and our prospecting licenses to do some prospecting.” Mr. Labine said he was to receive a share of whatever the two men found but later sold their interest. Mr. Hollinger went on to discover the famed Hollinger mines.

Mr. Labine also had a considerable amount of real estate and mortgages on houses in Haileybury but in 1927 he lost everything when a fire destroyed part of the community.

After prospecting he farmed at Uno Park near New Liskeard until 1939 when he returned to his old homestead. He operated a farm in LaPasse until 1955 when he retired, but he kept a huge garden up until three years ago. Even with the advancing years, Mr. Labine continued to amaze members of his family and the community.

During the winter months Mr. Labine used to knit to pass the time away. He made stockings for members of his family and the community. He has been knitting since he was seventeen years old. Despite his age, Mr. Labine is very alert with the only serious problem being a slight hearing impediment. He still follows the political scene though he never took any part in campaigning during his lifetime. “I have always voted liberal,” he said. “The first man I voted for was Sir Winfred Lourier. Mr. Trudeau (Prime Minister Trudeau) is as good as we can get to run the country,” he said, “but Joe Clark (Conservative Leader) doesn’t turn me on.”

Mr. Labine still rises early in the morning and rarely goes to bed before 11 p.m. after having a cup of coffee and a sandwich. He doesn’t smoke and drinks very little. “I smoked a pipe once when I was seven but I got so sick I never touched it after that,” he said. “As for drinking I drank three pints of beer once and got tipsy.” Mr. Labine said he can still recall hearing his first radio broadcast while working in New Liskeard. It was from Nashville, Tenn. and the singer was Anne Laurie. He went on to say the television is a great invention but added the greatest progress he has seen has been in agriculture. “When I first worked on a farm we had a team of horses and a single plow but the first binder came out and they were just great,” he said.

Mr. Labine is still a sports fan but not in the same degree that he used to be. He liked hockey and esepcially like to watch his nephew, Leo Labine, who starred with the Boston Bruins for several years. “He is one of the roughest there was in the game,” he said, adding that hockey today is too rough. He also like boxing and says James J. Corbert was one of the best he has ever seen. “I can recall when colored people were not allowed to hold the heavyweight championship,” he said.

Mr. Labine had six children, three boys and three girls and fourteen grandchildren who range in ages from 14 to 27. He has three sisters who are still living, and they range in ages from 94 to 77. What is he expecting in the future? “I have lived 100 years,” he said. “I don’t expect there will be another 100 for me but I will take each year as it comes.”7542,7535

“ He finally died in 1979 at the age of 102. “7486

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“ Leo Gerald LaBine

Number: 16
Born: July 22, 1931 Haileybury, Ontario
Position: Right Wing
Shoots: Right

When Leo LaBine made his first appearance late in the 51-52 season few knew the impact he would have on the history books that tell the tales of Bruin/Canadien battles down through the years. The 1952 Stanley Cup Semi-final series was one of the most exciting series ever played. Montreal won the first two contests, by lopsided scores of 5-1 and 4-0. The Bruins led by Milt Schmidt stormed back to take three straight games (4-1, 3-2, 1-0). The 6th game fell to the Canadiens 3-2 in overtime setting the stage for one of hockey’s most dramatic moments back in Montreal on April 8, 1952.

Early in the contest Leo LaBine made an impact on Rocket Richard. Richard lay unconscious on the ice after the hit and, upon reviving, retired to the trainer’s room for repairs. The teams exchanged goals in the early going and from the 12:25 mark of the first period until late in the third the game remained tied at one. Richard didn’t return to the ice until after the 15 minute mark of the third period. When he returned, Butch Bouchard hit Richard with a long clearing pass at the Canadien blue line, he decked Bill Quackenbush, and beat Sugar Jim Henry with the winning goal. The crowd at the forum exploded in jubilation, Richard’s teammate, Elmer Leach was so overcome with excitement on the Montreal bench that he fainted.

When discussing his hockey career years later, Leo was quoted as saying, “I was lucky to get out of the game alive. I was a little aggressive sometimes.” When remembering his playing days Rocket Richard was asked the players he hated to play against the most. The three players mentioned were Leo LaBine, Ted Lindsay and Tony Leswick, pretty select company for Leo to keep, an honor he richly deserved. Leo was the visiting player that was booed harder than any other player visiting the Montreal Forum.

After 9 1/2 seasons of patrolling the Bruins right wing, Leo was traded to Detroit in exchange for Murray Oliver. After a year and a half in Detroit, Leo played another 5 years in the Western Hockey League before turning to private business in North Bay, Ontario. Through private conversations with Leo, I can attest to the fact that you would be hardpressed to find a classier guy. As I write this, it has just been announced that former players that played in the NHL between 1947 and 1981 who had taken the NHL to court over pension misdealings have had their case settled and the NHL will soon be mailing checks to the players. While the contracts signed by NHL players in Leo’s era were only a fraction of what even fringe players today sign for, Leo bears no malice toward any players. When I asked him about money, etc., he told me, “I was happy with what I was paid. The ones who got cheated in those days were the superstars since they were only slightly better compensated that the average player and they were certainly worth a lot more.”

Leo was once quoted as saying “I’ve made a lot of Frenchmen famous by losing to them. Those Canadiens always had superior bench strength.” But he is still a Bruins fan and, when I first made contact with him, he had this to say about the 1995-96 Bruins, “I am still a Boston fan - but I think they will find it a bit rough to make the finals along with a few other big-named clubs this year. There is no doubt who Leo was referring to, old rivalries die hard, so do the fans’ memories of Leo LaBine, who embodied the best traits of the Greatest Bruins.

To give you a clearer picture of the game Leo LaBine played, perhaps my good friend John Larrabee’s memory of the first time he saw Terry O’Reilly play can say more than I can. John remembers saying the first time he saw Terry play that there was the next Leo LaBine.

Leo’s name still remains in the Bruins record books as well. On November 28, 1954 Leo recorded a hat trick and added 2 assists in the second period of a 6-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. The 5 points in one period remain the standard among Bruin players.


Career Stats

Season Team League GP G A Pts Pim
1951-52 Boston NHL 15 2 4 6 9
1952-53 Boston NHL 51 8 15 23 69
1953-54 Boston NHL 68 16 19 35 57
1954-55 Boston NHL 67 24 18 42 75
1955-56 Boston NHL 68 16 18 34 104
1956-57 Boston NHL 67 18 29 47 128
1957-58 Boston NHL 62 7 14 21 60
1958-59 Boston NHL 70 9 23 32 74
1959-60 Boston NHL 63 16 28 44 58
1960-61 Boston/Detroit NHL 64 9 21 30 66
1961-62 Detroit NHL 48 3 4 7 30
NHL Totals 643 128 193 321 730
Bruins Totals 571 123 180 303 626
Playoff Totals 60 11 12 23 82
Bruin Playoff Totals 49 8 10 18 98

From: Boston Bruins Legends by Ian Wilson & Jim Littlefield.
Website http://legends.hks.com “7628,7624

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LABINE, Leo Gerald - Surrounded by loving family at North Bay General Hospital, Scollard Site, Friday, February 25, 2005 following a courageous battle with cancer. Leo Labine beloved husband of Rosemary Kelly and the late Betty Soucie in his 74th year. Dearly loved father of Cindy Sullivan (Edward) of North Bay, Mary Anne McParland (Mike) of Switzerland, Dan Labine (Glenda) of Caledon and Laura Anderson (Ian) of London. A hero never to be forgotten by seven grandchildren, Jordan Sullivan, Meghan and Adam McParland, Leo and Sarah Labine, and Nolan and
Emma Anderson. Dear brother of Nora Walsh (Ed) of Lively and Dennis Labine (Marie) of Pembroke. Predeceased by his parents Nora and Andrew Labine, a sister Theresa Truchon and brothers, Paul and John Labine. Leo arrived on the hockey scene with the Barrie Jr. Flyers where he won a
Memorial Cup in 1951. In 1952 he joined the professional ranks with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League. He joined the Boston Bruins for the play-offs in 1952 where he remained until 1961. He played for the Detroit Red Wings from 1961 to 1963 and then for the L.A. Blades of
the Western Hockey League from 1963 to 1967 when he concluded his career. Leo loved and lived for hockey. He enjoyed golf and pitching fastball for H.E. Brown Supply Co., winning several local and provincial championships in the 50's and 60's. Leo 'the Lion' will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by family and friends. Family receiving friends at the McGUINTY FUNERAL HOME, today, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Pro Cathedral of the Assumption, Tuesday at 10 a.m. Cremation Forest Lawn Crematorium with interment of cremated
remains at St. Mary's Cemetery. As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Canadian Diabetes Association, Ontario Wellness Pain Control Organization or charity of your choice would be gratefully appreciated by the family. signguestbook/condolences www.mcguintyfuneralhome.com
<http://www.mcguintyfuneralhome.com>; - 2/28/2005 - ID57461217554

    ____________________

Former Red Wing Leo Labine dead at 73

2/26/2005, 6:24 pm ET The Associated Press

NORTH BAY, Ont. (AP) -- Former Detroit Red Wing and Boston Bruin Leo
Labine is dead at 73.

Labine, nicknamed "The Lion," died Friday at North Bay Hospital, a
hospital spokesman said. He played 12 years in the NHL, with 128 goals
and 321 points in 643 games.

Labine saw his first action with the Bruins in the 1951-52 season, when
he played in 15 games. He was the team's leading scorer in 1954-55 when
he had 24 goals and 18 assists and had a career best 47 points in 1956-57.

He was best known for aggressive, physical play, twice leading the
Bruins in penalty minutes. He was traded in 1961 to Detroit, where he
spent two seasons.

Funeral arrangements were pending Saturday.

From:http://www.mlive.com/sportsflash/hockey/index.ssf?...torylist=michigannhl

You can read about his hockey career at this web site:
http://www.bruins-legends.com/L/labine.htm7625

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“ Leo loved and lived for hockey. He enjoyed golf and pitching fastball for H. E. Brown Supply Co., winning several local and provincial championships in the 50’s and 60’s. Leo ‘the Lion’ will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by family and friends. Family receiving friends at the McGINTY FUNERAL HOME, today, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Pro Cathedral of the Assumption, Tuesday at 10 a.m. Cremation Forest Lawn Crematorium with interment of cremated remains at St. Mary’s Cemetery. As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Canadian Diabetes Association, Ontario Wellness Pain Control Organization or charity of your choice would be gratefully appreciated by the family. “ In 1951 Leo Labine won the Memorial Cup playing for the Barrie Jr. Flyers. 7556

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Leo Gerald LaBine
Leo LaBine
“Leo the Lion” (Ice hockey nickname)