Lawrence Wilson (October 23, 1930 – August 16, 1979) was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and coach. He played 152 games in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Black Hawks between 1950 and 1955, winning the Stanley Cup in his first season with Detroit in 1950. Wilson later became the interim head coach of the Red Wings during the 1976–77 season. He also coached in the minor leagues between 1968 and 1979. and 1978–79 seasons.
Personal life
Wilson was the father of former NHL player and head coach Ron Wilson. His older brother, Johnny Wilson, also played and coached in the NHL.
During the summer of 1979, he died of an apparent heart attack while jogging.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| | Regular season | | Playoffs |
|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|
| 1947–48 | Windsor Spitfires | OHA | 12 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| 1947–48 | Windsor Hettche Spitfires | IHL | 25 | 13 | 29 | 42 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1948–49 | Windsor Spitfires | OHA | 45 | 23 | 37 | 60 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 1948–49 | Windsor Hettche Spitfires | IHL | 9 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 6 | 13 | 4 | 17 | 21 | 20 |
| 1949–50 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1949–50 | Omaha Knights | USHL | 70 | 22 | 57 | 79 | 51 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| 1950–51 | Indianapolis Capitals | AHL | 53 | 12 | 23 | 35 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1951–52 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1951–52 | Indianapolis Capitals | AHL | 62 | 19 | 40 | 59 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1952–53 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 15 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1952–53 | Edmonton Flyers | WHL | 49 | 17 | 29 | 46 | 24 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 4 |
| 1953–54 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 66 | 9 | 33 | 42 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1954–55 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 63 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 39 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1955–56 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1955–56 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 62 | 39 | 39 | 78 | 74 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 1956–57 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 64 | 22 | 45 | 67 | 71 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1957–58 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 70 | 26 | 53 | 79 | 48 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1958–59 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 66 | 24 | 39 | 63 | 26 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 1959–60 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 64 | 33 | 45 | 78 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1960–61 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 72 | 30 | 54 | 84 | 62 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1961–62 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 68 | 9 | 25 | 34 | 28 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| 1962–63 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 72 | 16 | 29 | 45 | 30 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| 1963–64 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 71 | 17 | 26 | 43 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1964–65 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 31 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1965–66 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 38 | 13 | 12 | 25 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1966–67 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 65 | 28 | 37 | 65 | 60 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1967–68 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 41 | 10 | 18 | 28 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1968–69 | Dayton Gems | IHL | 50 | 19 | 42 | 61 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1969–70 | Dayton Gems | IHL | 68 | 20 | 43 | 63 | 54 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| AHL totals | 899 | 298 | 492 | 790 | 543 | 46 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 15 |
|---|
| NHL totals | 152 | 21 | 48 | 69 | 75 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|---|
NHL coaching record
| Team | Year | Regular Season | Post Season |
|---|
| G | W | L | T | Pts | Finish | Result |
|---|
| Detroit Red Wings | 1976–77 | 36 | 3 | 29 | 4 | 10 | 5th in Norris | Did not qualify |
|---|