Leo Labine passes away

Well known former NHLer Leo Labine passed away Friday night at the age of 73. Photo courtesy Bee Hive Hockey.

The North Bay Nugget is reporting Labine passed away due to a lengthy illness on Friday night.

Labine, born in Haileybury back in July of 1931, played 643 NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins between 1951-1962. He was diagnosed with liver cancer about 2 years ago and had received treatment in London.

One of his last public appearances was last year when Bruins alumni and friends joined Leo for a special event at the 406 Wing.

"He was an old-fashioned hockey player with very colorful language," remembers long-time North Bay Journalist Peter Handley of Labine who totalled 128 goals and 193 assists during his time in the NHL.

Labine, who also won a Memorial Cup in 1951 with the Barrie Flyers, was known for his physical style just as much as for scoring. Labine always enjoyed recanting his hockey stories to anyone who would have an ear for him. He especially enjoyed chatting about his games as a Bruin against the Montreal Canadiens where he was known for laying out hockey legend Maurice Richard on more than one occasion. He thought Montreal Defenceman Doug Harvey was the toughest defenceman to elude and Jacques Plante was the toughest goalie to beat.

"One time I made a move and was going around Harvey and he stuck out his arm and caught me right at the throat and said,'Hey kid, where do you think you're going.'" Labine told the London Free Press in an article last February.

When he wasn't on the ice, Labine could be found on the ball diamond in the summertime. He was a well known pitcher for the HE Brown Supply fastball team in the GMFA.

He was also part of the local Sealtest Oldtimers club that won the Oldtimers World Hockey Tournament back in the 1970's.

Prior to his illness, Labine had become a big fan of a game on pebbled ice, as he was a regular at the North Bay Granite Club.

The funeral time and date have yet to be finalized, for more information please contact McGuinty Funeral Home.