Herb Cain

Herb Cain
Herb Cain
Born	December 24, 1912; Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
Died	February 23, 1982 (aged 69); Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	165 lb (75 kg; 11 st 11 lb)
Position	Left Wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Montreal Maroons; Montreal Canadiens; Boston Bruins
Playing career	1933–1950

Herbert James Cain (December 24, 1912 in Newmarket, Ontario – February 23, 1982 in Newmarket, Ontario) was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Maroons, Montreal Canadiens, and Boston Bruins.

Early life

Cain was born in Newmarket, Ontario to John (Jack) and Elizabeth "Eliza" Cain (née Currier). He played junior hockey for the Newmarket Redmen and the Hamilton Tigers of the OHA.

Playing career

Cain's NHL career started when he joined the Montreal Maroons of the NHL in the 1933–34 season. He split that season between the Maroons and the Hamilton Tigers of the OHA. In 1934–35 Cain briefly played for the Windsor Bulldogs of the IHL. With the exception of a one-game stint with the Hershey Bears in 1940–41, he would remain in the NHL for the next 11 seasons.

As a member of the Maroons, Cain played on a line with Gus Marker and Bob Gracie. They were dubbed the "Green Line" and their combined offensive prowess led Montreal to their second Stanley Cup Championship in 1934–35. Cain was dealt to the Montreal Canadiens in the fall of 1938. After one season in Montreal, he was traded to the Boston Bruins for Charlie Sands and Ray Getliffe.

Cain had his most productive years in Boston. Playing on a line with future Hall of Fame inductee Bill Cowley, he helped the Bruins win the Stanley Cup in 1940–41. Cain went on to win the NHL scoring title in 1943–44 with 82 points. His total set a record for points in a season which stood until Gordie Howe scored 86 in 1950–51. Despite criticism that the war-depleted league had led to a freak season - his mark was more than double his previous season high - Cain was selected as a Second Team All-Star at left wing and was runner up to Clint Smith of the Chicago Black Hawks for the Lady Byng Trophy.

The following season, he scored 32 goals for Boston, but fell well short of his previous point mark, and in the season thereafter (in which players serving in the military returned to the NHL) his totals plummeted further. In 1946–47 Cain was sent to the Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL) and he went on to help the Bears win the first Calder Cup, the first in franchise history. Cain ended his professional career in 1949–50 as a member of the Bears.

Cain remains the only eligible former NHL scoring champion not inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He was the last active player in the NHL to have ever played for the Maroons.

In total, Cain played 571 NHL regular season games.

Cain's older brother Jack Cain played professional hockey in the AHL for the New Haven Eagles and the Bears. His cousin Jim "Dutch" Cain also played in the NHL.

Awards and achievements

1943–44 NHL Scoring Leader
1943–44 NHL Second Team All-Star - Left Wing

Records

1943–44 - Set NHL record for most points in a season with 82

Career statistics

			Regular season					Playoffs
Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1931–32	Newmarket Redmen	OHA-Jr.	7	7	2	9	6	6	11	0	11	—
1932–33	Hamilton Tigers	OHA-Sr.	22	14	5	19	20	5	3	3	6	2
1933–34	Montreal Maroons	NHL	30	4	5	9	14	4	0	0	0	0
1933–34	Hamilton Tigers	OHA-Sr.	11	4	2	6	17	—	—	—	—	—
1934–35	Montreal Maroons	NHL	44	20	7	27	13	7	1	0	1	2
1934–35	Windsor Bulldogs	IHL	6	1	3	4	6	—	—	—	—	—
1935–36	Montreal Maroons	NHL	48	5	13	18	16	3	0	1	1	0
1936–37	Montreal Maroons	NHL	42	13	17	30	18	5	1	1	2	0
1937–38	Montreal Maroons	NHL	47	11	19	30	10	—	—	—	—	—
1938–39	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	45	13	14	27	26	3	0	0	0	2
1939–40	Boston Bruins	NHL	48	21	10	31	30	6	1	3	4	2
1940–41	Boston Bruins	NHL	41	8	10	18	6	11	3	2	5	5
1940–41	Hershey Bears	AHL	1	1	0	1	0	—	—	—	—	—
1941–42	Boston Bruins	NHL	34	8	10	18	2	5	1	0	1	0
1942–43	Boston Bruins	NHL	45	18	18	36	19	7	4	2	6	0
1943–44	Boston Bruins	NHL	48	36	46	82	4	—	—	—	—	—
1944–45	Boston Bruins	NHL	50	32	13	45	16	7	5	2	7	0
1945–46	Boston Bruins	NHL	48	17	12	29	4	9	0	2	2	2
1946–47	Hershey Bears	AHL	59	36	30	66	19	11	9	6	15	9
1947–48	Hershey Bears	AHL	49	19	19	38	25	2	0	1	1	0
1948–49	Hershey Bears	AHL	49	25	35	60	10	11	4	6	10	6
1949–50	Hershey Bears	AHL	41	12	14	26	8	—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals			570	206	194	400	178	67	16	13	29	13

External links

Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
Herb Cain at Find a Grave