Leo Boivin

Leo Boivin
Born	August 2, 1932 (1932-08-02) Prescott, ON, CAN
Height	5 ft 07 in (1.70 m)
Weight	177 lb (80 kg; 12 st 9 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Toronto Maple Leafs Boston Bruins Detroit Red Wings Pittsburgh Penguins Minnesota North Stars
Playing career	1951–1970
Hall of Fame, 1986

Léo Joseph Boivin (born August 2, 1932 in Prescott, Ontario) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 19 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Minnesota North Stars.

Playing career

Leo Boivin began playing hockey at seven years of age on the rivers and outdoor ice surfaces of Prescott, Ontario, near Ottawa. He planned on being a defenceman since childhood, "because defencemen got to stay on the ice longer, got to play more." His junior career consisted of a year with the Inkerman Rockets and two more seasons with the Port Arthur Bruins. In 1951–52 he began playing for the AHL's Pittsburgh Hornets and was promoted to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Yet, Leo was most remembered for his time with the Boston Bruins as he helped lead them to two Stanley Cup finals in the late 50's. Leo starred with other Boston defensive stalwarts Allan Stanley, Fern Flaman, Doug Mohns and Bob Armstrong. He remained the anchor of a youthful Bruins defensive corps during the difficult reconstructive period of the early 1960s. Although just 5' 7", he was considered a very tough opponent, as Tim Horton referred to him as "the toughest blueliner to beat in a one-on-one situation". He has also been called the last of the toothrattling body checkers. Mr. Boivin became Captain of the Boston Bruins in 1963.

Following his retirement in 1970, Boivin became a scout. He became an interim coach of the St. Louis Blues during the 1975–76 and 1977–78 seasons, and coached the Ottawa 67's of the Ontario Hockey League for a brief period, tutoring young defenceman Denis Potvin. Boivin was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1986.

See also

• List of NHL players with 1000 games played

External links

• Leo Boivin's biography at Legends of Hockey
• Leo Boivin Showcase, Annual Midget AA/AAA Tournament in Prescott, Ontario
• Leo Boivin's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database

Preceded by Don McKenney	Boston Bruins captain 1963–66	Succeeded by John Bucyk
Preceded by Lynn Patrick Emile Francis	Head coach of the St. Louis Blues 1976 1977-78	Succeeded by Emile Francis Barclay Plager