Gerry Couture

Athlete (1994)

Hockey

Gerry Couture was born in Saskatoon in 1925. He attended St. Joseph's School and it was while there, he experienced first hockey success, playing on the Church League winners in 1936 and 1937. He played junior hockey for the Saskatoon Quakers in 1941-42 and 1942-43 and then joined University of Saskatchewan Huskies where he starred for the two seasons.

He joined Detroit Red Wings and was with the National Hockey League team for parts of seven seasons. He had an outstanding season in 1949-50 when he scored 29 goals - his best season in the NHL, and played on the Detroit team, which won the Stanley Cup. He scored four goals and one assist in the playoffs and his line scored the winner in the seventh game of the final against New York. Gerry went to the Montreal Canadiens in 1951-52 and later spent two seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Gerry joined Calgary Stampeders of the Western Hockey League for three seasons, scoring 32 goals and winning all-star one year and scoring 33 goals another season. He later played for Saskatoon-St. Paul Regals and finished his career as coach of the Saskatoon Quakers who went to the western final in 1959-60.

As a young man, he was an outstanding tennis player, joining Johnny Leicester in doubles and often winning Saskatchewan championships. They played in two Canadian championships and once beat the Mexican Davis Cup doubles team.

Gerry died July 13, 1994, a month after learning he had been accepted into the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame.

** Deceased