Emile Francis

Emile Francis
Born	(1926-09-13) September 13, 1926 North Battleford, SK, CAN
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight	155 lb (70 kg; 11 st 1 lb)
Position	Goalie
Caught	Left
Played for	Chicago Black Hawks New York Rangers
Playing career	1943–1960

Emile Francis (born September 13, 1926 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan), nicknamed "The Cat", is a former player, coach, and general manager in the National Hockey League, most notably with the New York Rangers.

Francis got his start in the NHL with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1947. From 1948 to 1952, he was the back-up goaltender for the New York Rangers. He finished out his career on a number of minor league teams in the AHL and WHL including the Vancouver Canucks.

In 1945, Francis was the first goaltender to use a first baseman’s glove with a cuff added to protect his hand and wrist. Previously, goalies wore the same padded gloves as their teammates.

Francis would become the coach of the OHA's Guelph Royals before landing the head coaching job with the Rangers from 1965 to 1975. He then joined the St. Louis Blues and had two separate head coaching stints with them. He was then General Manager of the Hartford Whalers from 1979 until 1988.

On Sunday, September 30, 2007, Francis' wife, Emma Francis, was reported missing after dropping Emile off at the Palm Beach International Airport for a flight to New Jersey. Neighbors reported not seeing Emma Francis return home after driving to the airport. She was found safe in a local hotel on October 2, 2007.

Francis is the father of former Phoenix Coyotes head coach and 2002 Jack Adams Award winner Bobby Francis.

See also

• List of members of the Hockey Hall of Fame
• Notable families in the NHL

External links

• Emile Francis's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
• Emile Francis's biography at Legends of Hockey

Preceded by Red Sullivan	Head coach of the New York Rangers 1965–68	Succeeded by Bernie Geoffrion
Preceded by Bernie Geoffrion	Head coach of the New York Rangers 1969–73	Succeeded by Larry Popein
Preceded by Larry Popein	Head coach of the New York Rangers 1973–75	Succeeded by Ron Stewart
Preceded by Leo Boivin Red Berenson	Head coach of the St. Louis Blues 1976-77 1982	Succeeded by Leo Boivin Barclay Plager
Preceded by Muzz Patrick	General Manager of the New York Rangers 1964–76	Succeeded by John Ferguson Sr
Preceded by Dennis Ball	General Manager of the St. Louis Blues 1976-83	Succeeded by Ron Caron
Preceded by Larry Pleau	General Manager of the Hartford Whalers 1983-89	Succeeded by Eddie Johnston