Larry Aurie (February 8, 1905 in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada – Died - December 11, 1952) was a Canadian professional ice hockey Right Winger who played 11 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Cougars, Detroit Falcons and Detroit Red Wings February 8 is the 39th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1905 (MCMV) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Greater Sudbury (2001 census population 155,219) is a city in Northern Ontario. ... December 11 is the 345th day (346th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... A professional is required to possess a large knowledge derived from extensive academic and practical training. ... Ice hockey, known simply as hockey in areas where it is more common than field hockey, is a team sport played on ice. ... In politics, right-wing, the political right, or simply the right, are terms which refer, with no particular precision, to the segment of the political spectrum in opposition to left-wing politics. ... NHL redirects here. ... The Detroit Red Wings are a National Hockey League team based in Detroit, Michigan, USA and Windsor, Ontario. ... The Detroit Red Wings are a National Hockey League team based in Detroit, Michigan, USA and Windsor, Ontario. ... The Detroit Red Wings are an NHL franchise located in Detroit, Michigan. ...

Playing career

Aurie was known for his goal-scoring achievements and for helping the Red Wings win two Stanley Cup championships. Aurie began his professional hockey career in 1926 with the London Panthers of the Canadian Professional Hockey League (CPHL). The following season, he moved up to the NHL to play with Detroit. His dedication to off-season fitness with his short stature (5 foot 6 inches) earned him the nickname "Little Dempsey". This is the current WikiProject: Ice Hockey Article Improvement Drive collaboration! The Stanley Cup The Stanley Cup is the championship trophy of the National Hockey League (NHL), the major professional ice hockey league in Canada and the United States. ... The Canadian Professional Hockey League (CPHL) was announced during the National Hockey Leagues 2004-05 season player lockout. ...

Twice during his career, Aurie led the Wings in assists and in 1933-34, his 35 points topped the club in scoring. He was third in NHL scoring with a career-high 46 points in 1934-35 and fourth overall in 1936-37 with 43 points. He represented the Red Wings in the first-ever NHL All-Star game in 1934.

According to Cummy Burton, Aurie's cousin and an ex-Wing from the late 1950's, ``the best tribute paid to Larry was when someone once asked Jack Adams to compare a young Gordie Howe to Larry.

``When Howe was starting out, a newspaper reporter asked Adams, ``how do you compare Howe to Larry Aurie? At that time, they were using Larry Aurie as the talent gauge.

Aurie captained the team in 1932-33, led the league in playoff scoring in 1934 with 10 points in nine games and led the league in goal scoring in 1937 with 23 while earning a first-team selection on the post-season NHL All-Star team.

He was part of the Wings' first big line, playing along side center Marty Barry and left wing Herbie Lewis. His selfless play and hustle made him a favorite of then-owner James Norris.

Aurie scored his NHL-leading 23rd goal on March 11, 1937 in a 4-2 win over the New York Rangers, Aurie scored his 23rd season goal, but later in the game he fractured his leg in a collision with Rangers' defenseman Art Coulter, ending his season. Aurie season NHL-leading scoring performance earned him a berth on the NHL First All-Star Team. Unfortunately, this was Aurie’s last strong season. The lingering effects of his fractured leg affected his play. In 1937-38, he dropped to 10 goals and 19 points. March 11 is the 70th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (71st in Leap year). ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... The New York Rangers (NYR) are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City, New York, USA. They play in the National Hockey League (NHL). ... Art Coulter (May 31, 1909 in Winnipeg, Manitoba - October 14, 2000 was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman who played for the New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks in the National Hockey League. ...

The following season, Aurie was named player-coach of Detroit’s AHL farm club in Pittsburgh. He made a final appearance for the Red Wings against Montreal, scoring in a 3-0 shutout.

Aurie's jersey #6 was officially retired by then-Wings owner James Norris after the 1938 season, and his retired jersey was once displayed in the Olympia Stadium lobby in the 1960's. However, current Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch has for some unknown reason refused to hang Aurie's No. 6 from the rafters at Joe Louis Arena with the other five retired numbers - 1 (Terry Sawchuk), 7 (Ted Lindsay), 9 (Gordie Howe), 10 (Alex Delvecchio) and 12 (Sid Abel). Aurie's No. 6 was reissued only once - to his cousin Cummy Burton (1957-59) - with the family's blessing.

``Not hanging up Larry's number would be compared to the Yankees' not retiring Lou Gehrig's number, said Burton, ``just because he was from the 1930's and now forgotten just because it's all old stuff now. It's like saying that war heroes don't mean anything, just because they're not around anymore.

``If this guy (Wings owner Mike Ilitch) has got any moxie, he'll honor the request of his predecessor (Norris). Norris and coach Jack Adams thought the world of him. Pay your respects to the men who went before, said Burton emphatically during a 1997 interview.

A "Red Wing Hockey Magazine" article was published in its Dec. 18 1952 issue to eulogize both Aurie and Norris, who had also died in Dec. 1952 just prior to Aurie's death. It read: ``It was, perhaps, merciful that Mr. Norris was spared the sudden, shocking, and untimely passing of Larry Aurie.

``Larry was one of Mr. Norris' favorite players. That was manifested when Aurie's jersey, bearing number six, was retired from the active numbers when Larry left the Red Wing lineup for the last time.

``Perhaps, much of the admiration which Norris held for Larry lay in Aurie's type. He was a typical Red Wing. A great two-way hockey player, he continually battled the handicap of size to become the first Detroit forward to ever win All-Star recognition from the league. He was a uninanimous choice for the original Detroit Hall of Hockey Fame and the first member of it to die.

``Typical of Aurie was the fact that after he left the Wings to assume a player-coaches' role at Pittsburgh (AHL), he was called back to Detroit for a one-night performance to help a loss-ridden, injury-riddled team. Larry scored the winning goal.

``Thus, two men from two poles of the hockey world have passed beyond us. In each, we are the losers."

Aurie's No. 6 had been listed as retired in the Official NHL Guide and Record Book since 1975, when retired sweater numbers began being featured in the book. At the time, three numbers were listed as being retired by Detroit: Aurie's No. 6, Gordie Howe's No. 9 and Alex Delvecchio's No. 10. Before the 2000-01 season, Ilitch ordered the number removed from the publication - again without explanation. His refusal to honor Aurie properly remains a mystery to the hockey world.

Aurie died in 1952 from a stroke.

Statistics

Best season with the Red Wings

1934-35 (17-29-46)

Career totals with the Red Wings

GP-489, G-147, A-129, PTS-276

Achievements and honours

• IAHL Second All-Star Team, 1939
• Led NHL in goals in 1936-37
• Named to NHL First All-Star Team, 1936-37
• Played in NHL All-Star Game, 1933-34
• Led Detroit in scoring, 1933-34
• Served as team captain, 1932-33

The American Hockey League (AHL) is regarded as the top professional hockey league in North America outside the National Hockey League (NHL). ...

Note

1. ↑  The NHL team in Detroit has had three names — Detroit Cougars (1926-1930), Detroit Falcons (1930-1932), and Detroit Red Wings (1932 to date)

References

• Laury Aurie player statistics, Hockeydb.com.
• Larry Aurie, Wings of Legend, Detroit Red Wings.

External links

• Larry Aurie, Hockeytown Legends, Detroit Red Wings Team History.
• Career Stats