Lou Fontinato facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lou Fontinato |
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| Born | January 20, 1932 Guelph, Ontario, Canada |
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| Died | July 3, 2016 (aged 84) Guelph, Ontario, Canada |
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| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | New York Rangers Montreal Canadiens |
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| Playing career | 1954–1963 | ||
Louis Joseph "Leapin' Louie" Fontinato (born January 20, 1932 – died July 3, 2016) was a Canadian ice hockey player. He was a tough defenceman in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the New York Rangers from 1954 to 1961 and the Montreal Canadiens from 1961 to 1963.
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Leapin' Louie's Hockey Career
Lou Fontinato was known as a very strong and tough defender. He was one of the most feared "enforcers" of his time. An enforcer is a player who protects their teammates and isn't afraid to get into fights. He started playing for the New York Rangers in the 1954-55 season.
Leading in Penalty Minutes
The next year, Fontinato led the NHL in penalty minutes. This means he spent the most time in the penalty box for breaking rules. He was the first player ever to get over 200 penalty minutes in one season! He also led the league in penalty minutes in 1957-58 and again in 1961-62 when he played for Montreal.
Famous Rivalries and Trades
While playing for the Rangers, Fontinato had a long-running rivalry with Gordie Howe, a famous player from another team. This rivalry led to a well-known fight on February 1, 1959. Fontinato was later traded to the Montreal Canadiens. This trade was a big deal because the Rangers received Hall-of-Fame player Doug Harvey in return.
Career-Ending Injury
Fontinato's hockey career ended suddenly in 1963. During a game at the Montreal Forum, he had a serious accident. He missed a check on a player and crashed hard into the boards. This injury meant he could no longer play professional hockey.
Life After Hockey
After his hockey career, Lou Fontinato lived a quieter life. He ran a cattle farm near Eden Mills, Ontario. He passed away in Guelph, Ontario, on July 3, 2016. Interestingly, his great-nephew, Greg McKegg, also became a professional ice hockey player.
Lou Fontinato's Legacy
Lou Fontinato is remembered as an important part of hockey history. In a 2009 book called 100 Ranger Greats, he was ranked as the 95th best player out of all the 901 players who had ever played for the New York Rangers.
A 1964 documentary film called Un Jeu Si Simple (A Game So Simple) includes footage of Fontinato. It even shows the moment of his career-ending injury. Even famous hockey legend Gordie Howe once said that his fight with Lou Fontinato was the most memorable of his career.
