Minor professional hockey leagues are the backbone of the NHL. These leagues over the years have served as training grounds for the NHL teams. Entertaining hockey in their own right and offering non NHL players a chance to earn a living.
Eastern Professional Hockey League (1959-63)
The Eastern Professional Hockey League (1959-63) (EPHL) was a minor pro league that operated for four seasons.
The NHL had established working relationships with teams in leagues such as the AHL and WHL but these leagues were not fully under the control of the NHL. The Eastern Professional Hockey League was created in 1959 as the first farm league fully run and controlled by the NHL. While the league proved to be a success on the ice, it largely failed off the ice. Attendance in these small communities could not support professional hockey. By 1962, the league was reduced to just four teams.
Eastern Professional Hockey League (1959-1963) Franchises
Hull-Ottawa Canadiens (1959-1963)
Kingston Frontenacs (1959-1963)
Montreal Royals (1959-1961)
Soo Thunderbirds (1959-1961)
Sudbury Wolves (1959-1963)
Trois Rivieres Lions (1959-1960)
Kitchener Waterloo Dutchmen (1960-1961)
Kitchener Beavers (1961-1962)
Soo Greyhounds (1961-1962)
Soo Thunderbirds (1960-1961)
North
Bay Trappers (1961-1962)
Syracuse Braves (1962-1963)
St Louis Braves (1962-1963)
Trois Rivieres franchise moved to Kitchener for 1960-61 season
Sault Ste. Marie franchise moved to Syracuse for 1962-63 season
Syracuse franchise moved to St. Louis during the 1962-63 season
Eastern Professional Hockey League (1959-1963) Champions
The league played each season for the Tom Foley Memorial Trophy.
| Year
|
Champion
|
Runner Up
|
1960 |
Montreal Royals |
Sudbury Wolves |
| 1961 |
Hull - Ottawa Canadiens |
Soo Thunderbirds |
| 1962 |
Hull - Ottawa Canadiens |
Kingston Frontenacs |
1963 |
Kingston Frontenacs |
Sudbury Wolves |
Eastern Professional Hockey League (1959-1963) Seasons
| 1960 | GP
|
Win
|
Lose
|
Tie
|
GF
|
GA
|
Points
|
| Sudbury Wolves | 70 |
36 |
26 |
8 |
310 |
283 |
80 |
| Montreal Royals | 70 |
30 |
26 |
14 |
215 |
198 |
74 |
| Ottawa-Hull Canadiens | 70 |
31 |
28 |
11 |
249 |
241 |
73 |
| Trois-Rivieres Lions | 70 |
30 |
31 |
9 |
226 |
235 |
69 |
| Soo Thunderbirds | 70 |
27 |
32 |
11 |
248 |
262 |
65 |
| Kingston Frontenacs | 70 |
28 |
39 |
3 |
297 |
326 |
59 |
| 1961 | GP
|
Win
|
Lose
|
Tie
|
GF
|
GA
|
Points
|
| Ottawa-Hull Canadiens | 70 |
41 |
20 |
9 |
268 |
187 |
91 |
| Soo Thunderbirds | 70 |
32 |
29 |
9 |
236 |
234 |
73 |
| Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen | 70 |
31 |
28 |
11 |
220 |
215 |
73 |
| Kingston Frontenacs | 70 |
29 |
33 |
8 |
259 |
269 |
66 |
| Sudbury Wolves | 70 |
28 |
33 |
9 |
236 |
257 |
65 |
| Montreal Royals | 70 |
19 |
37 |
14 |
167 |
224 |
52 |
| 1962 | GP
|
Win
|
Lose
|
Tie
|
GF
|
GA
|
Points
|
| Ottawa-Hull Canadiens | 70 |
38 |
21 |
11 |
223 |
172 |
87 |
| Kingston Frontenacs | 70 |
38 |
24 |
8 |
274 |
224 |
84 |
| Kitchener Beavers | 70 |
36 |
24 |
10 |
263 |
217 |
82 |
| Sudbury Wolves | 70 |
27 |
31 |
12 |
235 |
271 |
66 |
| North Bay Trappers | 70 |
23 |
37 |
10 |
186 |
229 |
56 |
| Soo Greyhounds | 70 |
17 |
42 |
11 |
207 |
285 |
45 |
| 1963 | GP
|
Win
|
Lose
|
Tie
|
GF
|
GA
|
Points
|
| Kingston Frontenacs | 72 |
42 |
19 |
11 |
300 |
229 |
95 |
| Ottawa-Hull Canadiens | 72 |
40 |
25 |
7 |
279 |
224 |
87 |
| Sudbury Wolves | 72 |
27 |
32 |
13 |
294 |
305 |
67 |
| St.Louis Braves | 72 |
26 |
37 |
9 |
275 |
304 |
61 |
| The EPHL played games vs the International Hockey League (IHL). These games counted in the standings for both leagues. | |||||||
Eastern Professional Hockey League (1959-1963) Award Winners
Most Valuable Player
Year |
Most Valuable Player |
1960 |
J.C. Tremblay Hull-Ottawa |
1961 |
Cliff Pennington Hull-Ottawa Fred Burchell Montreal |
1962 |
Orval Tessier Kingston |
1963 |
Harry Sinden Kingston |
Top Defenceman Award
Year
|
Top Defenceman |
1960
|
Gerry Odrowski Sudbury |
1961
|
Al MacNeil Hull-Ottawa |
1962
|
Jean Gauthier Hull-Ottawa Harry Sinden Kingston |
1963
|
Harry Sinden Kingston |
Rookie of the Year
Year
|
Rookie of the Year |
1960
|
Denis DeJordy S.S. Marie |
1961
|
Cliff Pennington Hull-Ottawa |
1962
|
Jim Neilson Kitchener-Waterloo |
1963
|
Marc Dufour Sudbury |
Top Goaltender
Year
|
Top Goaltender |
1960
|
Gerry McNeil Montreal
|
1961
|
Ed Johnston Hull-Ottawa |
1962
|
Cesare Maniago Hull-Ottawa |
1963
|
Ernie Wakely Hull-Ottawa |
Gentlemanly Player Award
Year
|
Gentlemanly Player |
1960
|
Bill Carter Hull-Ottawa |
1961
|
Cliff Pennington Hull-Ottawa |
1962
|
Orval Tessier Kingston |
1963
|
Bill Carter Hull-Ottawa |
Year by Year Scoring Leaders
| Year | Player | Team | Games
|
Goals
|
Assists
|
Points
|
| 1960 | Orval Tessier | Kingston Frontenacs | 70
|
59
|
67
|
126
|
| 1961 | Cliff Pennington | Hull-Ottawa Canadiens | 65
|
33
|
69
|
102
|
| 1962 | Orval Tessier | Kingston Frontenacs | 66
|
54
|
60
|
114
|
| 1963 | Gord Labossiere | Sudbury Wolves | 72
|
34
|
67
|
101
|
Year by Year Leading Goatenders
| Year | Goaltender | Team | Games |
Goals |
Goals Average |
| 1960 | Gerry McNeil | Montreal Royals | 28 |
67 |
2.39 |
| 1961 | Ed Johnston | Hull-Ottawa Canadiens | 70 |
187 |
2.67 |
| 1962 | Ceasare Maniago | Hull-Ottawa Canadiens | 68 |
168 |
2.47 |
| 1963 | Ernie Wakely | Hull-Ottawa Canadiens | 41 |
122 |
2.97 |
Career Leaders Games Played
Player |
Games Played |
Bill Carter |
264 |
Merv Kuryluk |
240 |
Pete Panagabko |
214 |
Milan Marcetta |
209 |
Fred Hilts |
208 |
Leon Rochefort |
204 |
Harry Sinden |
193 |
Jim Farelli |
186 |
Tom McCarthy |
185 |
Jack Hendrickson |
181 |
Career Scoring Leaders
| Player | Games
|
Goals
|
Assists
|
Points
|
| Bill Carter | 264 |
122 |
189 |
311 |
| Orval Tessier | 170 |
135 |
148 |
283 |
| Tom McCarthy | 185 |
129 |
131 |
260 |
| Fred Hilts | 208 |
116 |
110 |
226 |
| Sam Bettio | 167 |
94 |
128 |
222 |
| Merv Kuryluk | 240 |
95 |
125 |
220 |
| Bob Courcy | 174 |
103 |
109 |
212 |
| Milan Marcetta | 209 |
77 |
122 |
199 |
| Keke Mortson | 164 |
68 |
131 |
199 |
| Gerry Ouellette | 178 |
94 |
99 |
193 |
Career Goal Scoring Leaders
Player |
Games |
Goals |
Orval Tessier |
170 |
135 |
Tom McCarthy |
185 |
129 |
Bill Carter |
264 |
122 |
Fred Hilts |
208 |
116 |
Bob Courcy |
174 |
103 |
Merv Kuryluk |
240 |
95 |
Sam Bettio |
167 |
94 |
Gerry Ouellette |
178 |
94 |
Alain Caron |
114 |
82 |
Leon Rochefort |
204 |
82 |
Career Assist Leaders
Player |
Games |
Assists |
Bill Carter |
264 |
189 |
Harry Sinden |
193 |
153 |
Orval Tessier |
170 |
148 |
Keke Mortson |
164 |
131 |
Tom McCarthy |
185 |
131 |
Sam Bettio |
167 |
128 |
Pete Panagabko |
214 |
126 |
Merv Kuryluk |
240 |
125 |
| Milan Marcetta |
209 |
122 |
Fred Burchell |
135 |
119 |
Career Leading Goaltenders
| Goaltender | Games |
Goals |
Goals
Average |
| Cesare Maniago | 107 |
255 |
2.38 |
| Ed Johnston | 70 |
187 |
2.67 |
| Jack McCartan | 122 |
362 |
2.97 |
| Charlie Hodge | 81 |
244 |
3.01 |
| Ed Chadwick | 67 |
214 |
3.19 |
Career Games Played Goaltenders
Goaltender |
Games |
Jack McCartan |
122 |
Gerry McNamara |
111 |
Cesare Maniago |
107 |
Denis DeJordy |
102 |
Charlie Hodge |
81 |
All Star Team Selections
| 1960 | ||
First Team |
Position |
Second Team |
Gerry McNeil Montreal |
Goal |
Claude Evans Trois Rivieres |
J.C. Tremblay Hull - Ottawa |
Defense |
Gary Blaine S.S. Marie |
Moe Mantha Montreal |
Defense |
Gerry Odrowski Sudbury |
Tom McCarthy Sudbury |
Left Wing |
Gilles Tremblay Hull - Ottawa |
Cal Gardner Kingston |
Center |
Bill Carter Hull - Ottawa |
Bob Courcy Hull - Ottawa |
Right Wing |
Orval Tessier Kingston |
| 1961 | ||
First
Team
|
Position
|
Second
Team
|
Ed Johnston Hull |
Goal |
Gerry McNamara Sudbury |
Al MacNeil Hull - Ottawa |
Defense |
Pat Stapleton S.S. Marie |
Jean Gauthier Hull - Ottawa |
Defense |
Jack Bownass Kitchener - Waterloo |
Fred Hilts S.S. Marie |
Left Wing |
Sam Bettio Sudbury |
Cliff Pennington Hull - Ottawa |
Center |
Fred Burchell Montreal |
Bobby Rousseau Hull - Ottawa |
Right Wing |
Ed Kachur S.S. Marie |
| 1962 | ||
First
Team
|
Position
|
Second
Team
|
Cesare Maniago Hull - Ottawa |
Goal |
Jack McCartan Kitchener - Waterloo |
Jean Gauthier Hull - Ottawa |
Defense |
Jack Bownass Kitchener - Waterloo |
Harry Sinden Kingston |
Defense |
Jim Neilson Kitchener - Waterloo |
Tom McCarthy Kingston |
Left Wing |
Len Ronson Kitchener - Waterloo |
Orval Tessier Kingston |
Center |
Bob Attersley Kingston |
Keith McCreary Hull - Ottawa |
Right Wing |
Leon Rochefort Kitchener - Waterloo |
| 1963 | ||
First
Team
|
Position
|
Second
Team
|
Bruce Gamble Kingston
|
Goal |
Ernie Wakely Hull - Ottawa |
Harry Sinden Kingston |
Defense |
Jacques Laperriere Hull - Ottawa |
Pat Stapleton Kingston |
Defense |
Terry Harper Hull - Ottawa |
Don Blackburn Kingston |
Left Wing |
Keith McCreary Hull - Ottawa |
Jeannot Gilbert Kingston |
Center |
Murray Hall St. Louis |
Alain Caron St. Louis |
Right Wing |
Marc Dufour Sudbury |