Quick Facts
Biography
Alfred Joseph Francis "Gentleman Joe" Primeau (January 29, 1906 – May 14, 1989), was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He is of no relation to Wayne Primeau or Keith Primeau.
Playing career
Born in Lindsay, Ontario, and raised in Victoria, British Columbia, Primeau moved to Toronto at an early age and began his professional career in 1927 with the Toronto Ravinas, an affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He became a full-time member of the Leafs in the 1929–30 season. Primeau played on the Leafs' Kid Line with Charlie Conacher and Busher Jackson. He won his only Stanley Cup as a player in 1931–32 and won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy that same season. He retired in 1936 at age 30. Over his NHL career, Primeau scored 66 goals and 177 assists in 310 games.
Primeau was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1963. He died in Toronto, Ontario at the age of 83. In 1998, Primeau was ranked number 92 on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.
Coaching career
Primeau won the Stanley Cup in his first year as head coach of the Maple Leafs in 1950–51. He is the only coach to lead teams to Memorial Cup, Allan Cup and Stanley Cup championships.
Miscellany
Following the Canada-Sweden game at the 1976 Canada Cup tournament, Primeau presented the award to the top Canadian player of the game: Bob Gainey.
Awards and achievements
Player
- 1931–32 – Stanley Cup Champion – Toronto Maple Leafs
- 1931–32 – Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
- 1933–34 – Second Team All-Star – Centre
- 1963 – Honoured member – Hockey Hall of Fame
Coach
- 1946–47 – Memorial Cup Champion – Toronto St. Michael's Majors
- 1949–50 – Allen Cup Champion – Toronto Marlboros
- 1950–51 – Stanley Cup Champion – Toronto Maple Leafs
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1923–24 | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | OHA-Jr. | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1924–25 | Toronto St. Mary's | OHA-Jr. | 8 | 7 | 3 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1925–26 | Toronto St. Mary's | OHA-Jr. | 7 | 15 | 2 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | — | ||
| 1926–27 | Toronto Marlboros | OHA-Jr. | 10 | 11 | 3 | 14 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1927–28 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1927–28 | Toronto Ravinas | CPHL | 41 | 26 | 13 | 39 | 36 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1928–29 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1928–29 | London Panthers | CPHL | 35 | 12 | 10 | 22 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1929–30 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 43 | 5 | 21 | 26 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1930–31 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 38 | 9 | 32 | 41 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1931–32 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 45 | 13 | 37 | 50 | 25 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 2 | ||
| 1932–33 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 48 | 11 | 21 | 32 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 1933–34 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 45 | 14 | 32 | 46 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | ||
| 1934–35 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 37 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 1935–36 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 45 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 0 | ||
| NHL totals | 310 | 66 | 177 | 243 | 105 | 38 | 5 | 18 | 23 | 12 | ||||
Coaching record
| Team | Year | Regular season | Post season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | T | Pts | Finish | Result | ||
| TOR | 1950–51 | 70 | 41 | 16 | 13 | 95 | 2nd in NHL | Won Stanley Cup |
| TOR | 1951–52 | 70 | 29 | 25 | 16 | 74 | 3rd in NHL | Lost in first round |
| TOR | 1952–53 | 70 | 27 | 30 | 13 | 67 | 5th in NHL | Did not qualify |
| Total | 210 | 87 | 71 | 42 | ||||
