Albert Pudas
Encyclopedia
Juho Albert Pudas (b. February 17, 1899 in Siikajoki
, Finland
– October 28, 1976 in Thunder Bay
, Ontario
Canada
) was a Finnish-Canadian
hockey player and coach. He was the first Finnish
-born hockey player in the National Hockey League
and possibly in North America
. Following his hockey career Pudas was active in the capacity of referee
.
Pudas received his Canadian citizenship at the young age of 18 months. He began his hockey career in Port Arthur, Ontario
with the Pascoes, Ports, and later, the Port Arthur Bearcats
. On October 28, 1926, Pudas accepted a contract offer from the Toronto St. Pats, the Toronto Maple Leafs
minor-league affiliate, along with fellow Bearcats Bill Brydge
, Danny Cox
and Lorne Chabot
. Pudas was recalled December 29, 1926, by the Maple Leafs to play a pair of games against Boston and Montreal. These games made Pudas officially the first Finnish-born player to play in the NHL.
In 1936 Pudas coached the Port Arthur Bearcats who represented Canada in the Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
in Bavaria, Germany. Canada won a silver medal with Pudas as coach (the only medal Canada won at these games).
Siikajoki
Siikajoki is a municipality of Finland. It is located in the province of Oulu and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
– October 28, 1976 in Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) was a Finnish-Canadian
Finnish-Canadian
Finnish Canadians are Canadians of Finnish ancestry. According to the 2001 census number over 114,000 Canadians claim Finnish ancestry. Finns started coming to Canada in the early 1880s, and in much larger numbers in the early 20th century and well into the mid-20th century...
hockey player and coach. He was the first Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
-born hockey player in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
and possibly in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. Following his hockey career Pudas was active in the capacity of referee
Official (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, an official is a person who has some responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game. There are two categories of officials, on-ice officials, who are the referees and linesmen that enforce the rules during game play, and off-ice officials, who have an...
.
Pudas received his Canadian citizenship at the young age of 18 months. He began his hockey career in Port Arthur, Ontario
Port Arthur, Ontario
Port Arthur was a city in Northern Ontario which amalgamated with Fort William and the townships of Neebing and McIntyre to form the city of Thunder Bay in January 1970. Port Arthur was the district seat of Thunder Bay District.- History :...
with the Pascoes, Ports, and later, the Port Arthur Bearcats
Port Arthur Bearcats
The Port Arthur Bearcats were an amateur men's senior ice hockey team based in Port Arthur, Ontario . Port Arthur were champions Canadian Amateur Hockey Association four times, and were chosen once to represent Canada as the Canada national men's ice hockey team at international competitions...
. On October 28, 1926, Pudas accepted a contract offer from the Toronto St. Pats, the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
minor-league affiliate, along with fellow Bearcats Bill Brydge
Bill Brydge
William Henry Beatty Brydge was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 368 games in the National Hockey League . He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Cougars and the New York Americans. He was born in Renfrew, Ontario.- External links :*...
, Danny Cox
Danny Cox
Danny Bradford Cox , is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1983 to 1988, the Philadelphia Phillies from 1991 to 1992, the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992, and then the Toronto Blue Jays from 1993 to 1995, when he retired...
and Lorne Chabot
Lorne Chabot
Lorne "Chabotsky" Chabot was a Canadian ice hockey goaltender.-Playing career:Lorne played in the National Hockey League from 1926 to 1937. During this time, he played for the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Black Hawks, Montreal Maroons, and New York Americans...
. Pudas was recalled December 29, 1926, by the Maple Leafs to play a pair of games against Boston and Montreal. These games made Pudas officially the first Finnish-born player to play in the NHL.
In 1936 Pudas coached the Port Arthur Bearcats who represented Canada in the Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a mountain resort town in Bavaria, southern Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the Oberbayern region, and the district is on the border with Austria...
in Bavaria, Germany. Canada won a silver medal with Pudas as coach (the only medal Canada won at these games).