Hockey Hall of Famer Emile Francis Dies at Age 95
The NHL announced Saturday that Hockey Hall of Famer Emile Francis died at the age of 95.
The league also shared a statement from commissioner Gary Bettman:
Francis was a goaltender during his playing days that lasted from 1946-47 through 1951-52 for the Blackhawks and Rangers.
He posted a 3.75 goals-against average during his 95 games and had a shutout during the 1947-48 campaign for Chicago.
Yet he was better known for his accomplishments after he retired as a player. He coached the Rangers for 10 seasons from 1965-66 through 1974-75 and posted a 342-209-103 record before coaching the St. Louis Blues for three seasons from 1976-77 through 1982-83 with a 46-64-14 record.
Francis' teams made the playoffs in 11 of his 13 seasons as a head coach, including when he led the Rangers to the 1972 Stanley Cup Final. New York lost that series to the Boston Bruins in six games.
He was also the general manager for the Rangers during his coaching career.
Francis' career wasn't limited to hockey, as Steven Ellis of the Hockey News noted he also managed the North Battleford Beavers baseball team to six Western Canada championships.
