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Professional
Hockey Player - Lorne was born July 20, 1930, in
Lumsden and grew up in Regina, attending Scott Collegiate before
playing junior hockey with the Regina Pats, with whom he scored
"lots of big goals'' as they advanced to the 1950 Memorial
Cup.
Given
an oppor-tunity to pursue careers as a professional baseball or
hockey player, he signed a contract with the New York Rangers and
ultimately advanced to the National Hockey League with the
Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks and
Boston Bruins. He was with Montreal and Detroit when they won
Stanley Cups in 1953 and 1955 respectively.
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He also
played in other professional and senior leagues before joining the
Canadian national team in the 1960s.
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He
coached three teams the International Hockey League's Muskegon
Zephyrs, his beloved Regina Pats during the 1976-1978. (Much to
my surprise I, Ron C. Johnston, received a phone call from Lorne
asking me to come and assist him during those years.)
At
the request of Father David Bauer, Lorne became a co-coach with
the Canadian team that participated in the 1980 Olympics. He
proudly wore an Olympic pendant around his neck and Stanley Cup
rings from the Oilers and Canadiens on his fingers.
Lorne
was an NHL scout for more than half of his life.
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He
died Thursday, December 20, 2007, surrounded by his family at the
Regina General Hospital. He was 77. Lorne started assessing hockey
players for the NHL's St. Louis Blues in 1967 and continued attending
more than 200 games annually on four continents for 40 years.
He
loved watching hockey games, giving his opinions on prospective
players and granting interviews to anybody who wanted to hear
insightful, often humorous responses. After stints scouting for the
Houston Aeros and New York Rangers, he joined the Edmonton Oilers in
1980, becoming a loyal employee to an appreciative, successful and
understanding organization.
Lorne's
son Darrell, reported that Lorne was directly responsible for two of
the most quintessential Oilers draft picks of all time. He said,
"(Grant) Fuhr was one of his draft picks, so was long-time
Oilers forward Ryan Smyth. According to Dad, those were the two
players he told the Oilers brass they had better select or he would
no longer be working for the team. Pretty good choices to put your
career on the line with."
Because
of illness, Lorne missed the first assignment of his scouting career
earlier in December 2007. Before succumbing to cancer and cardiac
arrest.
Visitation
was held Thursday, December 27, from 6:00 - 9:00 pm and Friday,
December 28, from 9:00 11:00 a.m. in Speers Funeral Chapel, 2136
College Avenue, Regina. A private interment followed Friday's
visitation. Hockey fans, players, coaches and friends were invited to
participate in a joyful tribute to Lorne's life on Friday, December
28, from 1:00 4:00 p.m. at Regina's Queensbury Centre. A short,
formal program began at 2:00 p.m. and everyone was given an
opportunity to share stories and memories; embellished, true or
otherwise.
Regina
Pats honoured Lorne's memory by erecting a memorial banner in
recognition of his having been one of the team builders. “Although
Lorne was tremendously loyal to the Oilers, he could never completely
shake the affection he had for the Montreal Canadiens.’’
said Brad Davis, one of Lorne’s sons and an Edmonton Oilers
scout. “That dates back to his days with the Pats. He knew
everything there was to know about the Pats, every player they
produced, every coach who was behind their bench, and he always felt
a part of the organization.
“What
a wonderful gesture by the Pats. I thought he might be honoured as a
player, because he was a good junior on a team with lots of great
players. But it’s so fitting that his name is on a banner high
in the corner of the Brandt Centre, because he was always sitting up
in the corner, where the scouts sit.’’
Burial:
Riverside
Memorial Park Cemetery – Plot: 112E – 13 - A
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