Percy LeSueur

Percivale St-Helier LeSueur, affectionately known as "Peerless Percy," was born on November 21, 1881, and became a prominent figure in Canadian ice hockey. His career began as a goaltender with the Smiths Falls Seniors, where he showcased his exceptional skills during a 1906 Stanley Cup challenge series. Despite his team's loss, LeSueur's performance caught the eye of the Ottawa Silver Seven, leading to his recruitment just days later.

LeSueur's tenure with the Silver Seven spanned several seasons, during which he served as team captain for three years and took on coaching responsibilities in his final season. His journey continued with a trade to the Toronto Ontarios, later known as the Toronto Shamrocks, for the 1914-15 season. Following a brief stint with the Toronto Blueshirts, he enlisted in the army to serve Canada during the First World War.

After the war, LeSueur returned to the ice, contributing to the sport in various capacities, including referee, coach, manager, and journalist. Notably, he coached ten games in the National Hockey League with the Hamilton Tigers and was a pioneer in sports journalism, being the first to include shots on goal statistics in game summaries.

In addition to his on-ice achievements, LeSueur made significant advancements in hockey equipment, inventing the gauntlet-style goaltender glove and patenting the LeSueur net, designed to catch high-rising shots. His contributions to the sport were recognized with his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1961, shortly before his passing on January 27, 1962, after a lengthy illness.