Louis Trudel

This is a photo is of a 1938 collector's edition hockey matchbook cover. The striking young man (pun fully intended) is Louis Trudel, one of the earliest American born hockey players in NHL history.

That being said, it would be inaccurate to call him an American hockey star. Louis Napolean Trudel was born in Salem, Massachusetts on July 21st, 1912. His parents mad moved south from Montreal to start a new career. However the family soon moved to Edmonton, where young Lou grew up.

Trudel was a solid defensive forward who added some pop-gun offense. He was described as a polite player, and his penalty minute totals reflect that.

Trudel joined the Chicago Black Hawks in 1933, just in time to help the Hawks win the Stanley Cup. He would play 5 seasons in Chicago, exiting in 1938 after winning a second Stanley Cup title in the Windy City.

He extended his NHL career by playing parts of the next three seasons in Montreal before a long tenure in the minor leagues, first as a player, then as a coach, and later as goal judge.

Louis Trudel died of cancer in 1971. He was just 58 years old.