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Howie Morenz (June 21, 1902 – March 8, 1937) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played centre for the Montreal Canadiens (in two stints), the Chicago Black Hawks, and the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Prior to joining the NHL, Morenz excelled in the junior Ontario Hockey Association, winning the Memorial Cup, the championship for junior ice hockey in Canada. Once in the NHL, he became one of the most dominant players in the league, setting several league scoring records. Considered one of the first stars of the NHL, Morenz played fourteen seasons in the league. He was a member of a Stanley Cup winning team three times, all with the Canadiens. Morenz consistently finished near the top of league scoring, placing in the top ten leading scorers ten times in his fourteen seasons. For seven straight seasons, Morenz led the Canadiens in both goals scored and points. Three times in his career Morenz was named the most valuable player of the league, and he led the league in goals scored once and points scored twice. He was named to the NHL All-Star Team three times. Morenz died from complications of a broken leg, an injury he suffered in a game. After his death, the Canadiens removed his jersey number from circulation, the first time the team had done so. When the Hockey Hall of Fame opened in 1945, Morenz was one of the original twelve inductees. In 1950 the Canadian Press named Morenz the best ice hockey player of the first half of the twentieth century. (more...)