EMILE FRANCIS

WLIE 540 AM SPORTSTALKNY

FROM THE SPORTSTALKNY ARCHIVES WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2011 EMILE FRANCISEmile "The Cat" Francis is a former player, coach, and general manager in the National Hockey League, most notably with the New York Rangers. Francis got his start in the NHL with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1947. From 1948 to 1952, he was the back-up goaltender for the New York Rangers. He finished out his career on a number of minor league teams in the AHL and WHL including the Vancouver Canucks. In 1945, Francis was the first goaltender to use a first baseman’s glove with a cuff added to protect his hand and wrist. Previously, goalies wore the same padded gloves as their teammates. Francis would become the coach of the OHA's Guelph Royals before landing the head coaching job with the Rangers from 1965 to 1975. He then joined the St. Louis Blues and had two separate head coaching stints with them. He was then General Manager of the Hartford Whalers from 1979 until 1988. Francis is the father of former Phoenix Coyotes head coach and 2002 Jack Adams Award winner Bobby Francis