‘Leapin’ Lou is an institution in this city. He was also one of the most feared competitors to ever step on the ice. You knew if you went into the corner with him after the puck, you would emerge with nothing more than bruises.
He played minor hockey in Guelph before graduating to the Junior ‘B’ club in 1949. He spent two years as a key member of the Guelph Biltmore Madhatters and helped lead the 1952 club to the city’s first Memorial Cup championship.
Later that fall he left home for the first time to play for the Vancouver Canucks and Saskatoon Quakers of the Western Semi-Pro League before making it to the NHL with the New York
Rangers. Lou played 9 years in the NHL (7 with the Rangers and 2 with the Montreal Canadiens) compiling 26 goals and 78 assists in 535 regular season games. He lead the league in penalties twice, finishing with 1,247 penalty minutes. His career ended during the 1962-63 season when he was checked from behind into the boards, suffering a broken neck.
Inducted into the Guelph Sports Hall of Fame – April 7, 1994
