Wilfrid "Billy" Arthur Coutu (March 1, 1892 – February 28, 1978) was a professional Canadian
ice hockeyIce Hockey is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use sticks to direct a puck into the opposing team's goal. It is a fast-paced and physical sport...
defenceman who played 10 seasons in the
National Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league as a joint venture for its self perpetuating membership of 30 franchised member clubs located in the United States and Canada...
for the
Montreal CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The team is a member of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, the
Hamilton TigersThe Hamilton Tigers were a professional ice hockey team, and a member of the National Hockey League , based in Hamilton, Ontario that played from 1920 – 1925. The Tigers were formed from the sale of the Quebec Bulldogs NHL franchise to Hamilton interests. The team struggled to succeed, becoming the...
, and the
Boston BruinsThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, entering the league as the first United States-based expansion franchise...
. He was the first, and so far only player banned from the NHL for life, as a result of his attack on a
refereeA referee is a person who has authority to make decisions about play in many sports. Officials in various sports are known by a variety of titles, including: referee, umpire, judge, linesman, commissaire, timekeeper or touch judge.- Origin :The term referee originated in association football...
in 1927.
A former
captainIn ice hockey, each team can designate an official captain for each game. The player serving as captain during the game wears a "C" on his or her jersey.-Responsibilities and importance:...
of the
Montreal CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The team is a member of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
(1925–26), Coutu also played for the
Boston BruinsThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, entering the league as the first United States-based expansion franchise...
and
Hamilton TigersThe Hamilton Tigers were a professional ice hockey team, and a member of the National Hockey League , based in Hamilton, Ontario that played from 1920 – 1925. The Tigers were formed from the sale of the Quebec Bulldogs NHL franchise to Hamilton interests. The team struggled to succeed, becoming the...
and coached the
Providence RedsThe Providence Reds, later called the Rhode Island Reds, played in the Canadian-American Hockey League 1926–36 and the American Hockey League from 1936–76. They won the Calder Cup in 1938, 1940, 1949, and 1956. The team was renamed Rhode Island Reds in 1976...
.
Wilfrid "Billy" Arthur Coutu (March 1, 1892 – February 28, 1978) was a professional Canadian
ice hockeyIce Hockey is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use sticks to direct a puck into the opposing team's goal. It is a fast-paced and physical sport...
defenceman who played 10 seasons in the
National Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league as a joint venture for its self perpetuating membership of 30 franchised member clubs located in the United States and Canada...
for the
Montreal CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The team is a member of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, the
Hamilton TigersThe Hamilton Tigers were a professional ice hockey team, and a member of the National Hockey League , based in Hamilton, Ontario that played from 1920 – 1925. The Tigers were formed from the sale of the Quebec Bulldogs NHL franchise to Hamilton interests. The team struggled to succeed, becoming the...
, and the
Boston BruinsThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, entering the league as the first United States-based expansion franchise...
. He was the first, and so far only player banned from the NHL for life, as a result of his attack on a
refereeA referee is a person who has authority to make decisions about play in many sports. Officials in various sports are known by a variety of titles, including: referee, umpire, judge, linesman, commissaire, timekeeper or touch judge.- Origin :The term referee originated in association football...
in 1927.
A former
captainIn ice hockey, each team can designate an official captain for each game. The player serving as captain during the game wears a "C" on his or her jersey.-Responsibilities and importance:...
of the
Montreal CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The team is a member of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
(1925–26), Coutu also played for the
Boston BruinsThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, entering the league as the first United States-based expansion franchise...
and
Hamilton TigersThe Hamilton Tigers were a professional ice hockey team, and a member of the National Hockey League , based in Hamilton, Ontario that played from 1920 – 1925. The Tigers were formed from the sale of the Quebec Bulldogs NHL franchise to Hamilton interests. The team struggled to succeed, becoming the...
and coached the
Providence RedsThe Providence Reds, later called the Rhode Island Reds, played in the Canadian-American Hockey League 1926–36 and the American Hockey League from 1936–76. They won the Calder Cup in 1938, 1940, 1949, and 1956. The team was renamed Rhode Island Reds in 1976...
. His name appears on the 1923–24
Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club cup trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion. It has been referred to as The Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
ring.
Personal life
Billy Coutu's last name is sometimes incorrectly spelled "Couture", an error which appears in many NHL history books and, for a time, even showed up on the Montreal Canadiens website. Several hockey history books, including
The Hockey News "Habs Heroes" by Ken Campbell incorrectly attribute his name to a photograph of teammate Louis Berlinguette. He and his family pronounced their name "Koochee", which was sometimes confused with "Couture".
Ms. Aird Stuart, the sister of Coutu's wife, Gertrude Aird, was the mother of Mary Morenz and grandmother of Marlene Geoffrion, daughter of
Howie MorenzHoward William Morenz was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played centre for three National Hockey League teams: the Montreal Canadiens , the Chicago Black Hawks, and the New York Rangers...
and widow of
Bernie GeoffrionJoseph André Bernard Geoffrion , nicknamed "Boom Boom", was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach...
. Howie Morenz played with Coutu on the Canadiens.
Playing career
Coutu turned professional with the Canadiens in 1916–17, the last season of the NHA. He stayed with the Canadiens when the new NHL formed for 1917–18. During the
Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club cup trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion. It has been referred to as The Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
playoffs in 1919, Coutu and four other teammates contracted
influenzaInfluenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals. The name influenza is Italian and means "influence"...
and were hospitalized. The
1919 Stanley Cup seriesThe 1919 Stanley Cup Final ice hockey play-off series to determine the 1919 Stanley Cup champion ended with no champion decided, being suspended after five games had been played due to an outbreak of Spanish Influenza...
was cancelled.
After playing the 1920–21 NHL season with the
Hamilton TigersThe Hamilton Tigers were a professional ice hockey team, and a member of the National Hockey League , based in Hamilton, Ontario that played from 1920 – 1925. The Tigers were formed from the sale of the Quebec Bulldogs NHL franchise to Hamilton interests. The team struggled to succeed, becoming the...
, Coutu was traded back to Montreal prior to the start of the 1921–22 NHL season, along with
Sprague CleghornSprague Horace "Peg" Cleghorn, , was a Canadian professional hockey player from Westmount who played for the Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators, Renfrew Creamery Kings and Toronto St...
, in exchange for
Harry MummeryHarold "Mum" Mummery - was a professional ice hockey defenceman, shooting left. He was born in Chicago, IL, and died in Brandon, MB. Mummery played professionally from 1911 until 1923, including six seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Blueshirts, Toronto Arenas, Quebec Bulldogs,...
,
Amos ArbourAmos "Butch" Arbour - was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played 7 seasons in the National Hockey Association and 6 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens, Hamilton Tigers and Toronto St. Pats...
, and Cully Wilson, in the NHL's first multiple-player trade.
After the 1925–26 NHL season, Coutu was traded to the
Boston BruinsThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, entering the league as the first United States-based expansion franchise...
in exchange for
Amby MoranAmbrose Jason "Amby" Moran in Winnipeg, Manitoba) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 35 games in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Black Hawks....
. During his first practice with the Bruins, Coutu body-slammed
Eddie ShoreEdward William "Eddie" Shore was a Canadian professional ice hockey defender in the National Hockey League, principally for the Boston Bruins, and the longtime owner of the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League, iconic for his toughness and defensive skill.Shore won the Hart Trophy as...
. Coutu's forehead hit Shore's skull, severing Shore's ear. Shore visited several doctors who wanted to amputate the ear, but finally found one who sewed it back on. After refusing anaesthetic, Shore used a mirror to watch the doctor sew the ear back on. Shore claimed Coutu used his
hockey stickA hockey stick is a piece of equipment used in field hockey, ice hockey, or roller hockey to move the ball or puck.- Field hockey :Field hockey sticks have an end which varies in shape, often depending on the players position...
to cut off the ear, and Coutu was fined $50. However, Shore later recanted and Coutu's money was refunded.
In Game 4 of the 1927
Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club cup trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion. It has been referred to as The Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
, Coutu started a brawl, apparently at the request of coach
Art RossArthur Howey "Art" Ross was a Canadian ice hockey executive and defenceman in the National Hockey League and its predecessor, the National Hockey Association....
, by punching referee Jerry LaFlamme. As a result, he was expelled from the NHL for life; as of 2009, this punishment has not been used again. On October 8, 1929, the suspension was lifted so that Coutu could play in the
minor leagueMinor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
s. He never played in the NHL again, although he was reinstated in 1932–33 at the insistence of
Leo DandurandJoseph Viatuer "Léo" Dandurand , was a sportsman and businessman. He was the owner and coach of the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey team in the National Hockey League...
.
Career statistics
- Total games played: 240
- Total goals
A goal in ice hockey provides a team with one point. Unlike in American football, where a touchdown is scored if any part of the football crosses any part of the goal line, in ice hockey the entire puck must completely cross the goal line for a goal to be awarded.-Method of scoring:The object of...
: 33
- Total assists
In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal...
: 18
- Total points
Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player who either scores a goal or earns an assist during a game. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one...
: 51
- Total penalty
A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes during which the player can not participate in play...
minutes: 380
- Total won the Stanley Cup in 1924 with Montreal Canadiens
Source:
Hockey Database
Full amateur and professional statistics
Team history
- 1915–16 Michigan Soo Indians (NMHL)
- 1916–20 Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The team is a member of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
(NHAThe National Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey organization with teams in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. It is the direct predecessor organization to today's National Hockey League...
),(NHL)
- 1920–21 Hamilton Tigers
The Hamilton Tigers were a professional ice hockey team, and a member of the National Hockey League , based in Hamilton, Ontario that played from 1920 – 1925. The Tigers were formed from the sale of the Quebec Bulldogs NHL franchise to Hamilton interests. The team struggled to succeed, becoming the...
(NHL)
- 1921–26 Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The team is a member of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
(NHL)
- 1926–27 Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, entering the league as the first United States-based expansion franchise...
(NHL) (expelled)
- 1927–28 New-Haven Eagles (CAHL
The Canadian-American Hockey League existed from 1926 until the 1936. Following the 1935-36 season the CAHL merged with the original International Hockey League to form the International-American Hockey League for the 1936 season...
)
- 1928–29 Newark Bulldogs (CAHL)
- 1929–31 Minneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
(AHA)
- 1933–34 Providence Reds
The Providence Reds, later called the Rhode Island Reds, played in the Canadian-American Hockey League 1926–36 and the American Hockey League from 1936–76. They won the Calder Cup in 1938, 1940, 1949, and 1956. The team was renamed Rhode Island Reds in 1976...
(CAHL) Head Coach
Transactions
- November 24, 1916 - Signed as a free agent by Montreal Canadiens (NHA) -
- November 26, 1917 - Rights retained by Montreal Canadiens after NHA folded.
- November 27, 1920 - Loaned to Hamilton Tigers by Montreal Canadiens as part of trade of Jack McDonald, Harry Mummery and Dave Ritchie to Hamilton for Jack Coughlin, Samuel (Goldie) Prodgers and Joe Matte.
- January 26, 1921 - Returned to Montreal Canadiens from loan to Hamilton Tigers.
- November 15, 1921 - Fined $200 and suspended by Montreal Canadiens for rough play.
- March 8, 1923 - Missed seven games due to a broken wrist suffered in a game vs. Toronto St. Patricks.
- January 21, 1925 - Suspended two games and fined $100 by NHL for misconduct.
- January 19, 1926 - Suspended one game and fined $100 by NHL for tripping referee Jerry Laflamme vs Ottawa Senators.
- October 22, 1926 - Traded to Boston Bruins by Montreal Canadiens for Amby Moran.
- April 13, 1927 - Suspended for life from the NHL for striking referee Jerry Laflamme and starting an all-in brawl after a playoff game.
- January 5, 1928 - Traded to New Haven (Can-Am) by Boston with Pat '(Nobby) Clark for cash.
- January 28, 1928 - Suspended for the season by Can-Am for hitting George Redding of Boston with his stick in January 23, 1928 game.
- January 29, 1928 - Suspension lifted by Can-Am and changed to a $200 fine.
- August 19, 1928 - Traded to Minneapolis (AHA) by New Haven (Can-Am) for cash.
- November 8, 1928 - Released by Minneapolis (AHA).
- October 8, 1929 - Lifetime suspension from NHL lifted.
- October 2, 1934 - Named manager of Providence (Can-Am)
- March 24, 1935 - Ejected from Can-Am game due to abuse of referee Jack Cameron.
External links