Setting the Record Straight about Hockey's One-Time "French Canadian Rule"

NHL Trivia expert and author Liam McGuire clarifies the real impact of an old rule that at one time allowed the Montreal Canadiens could take any two players from the province of Quebec in a special draft.

But the reality was, writes Liam, that none of these players could have already been previously signed to a C form (confirmation form) with any other club. (At this time in the NHL and right through the late 60's amateur players were signed by NHL teams to C forms and then placed on their appropriate junior clubs or minor pro clubs depending on their age. The most extreme case of this was Bobby Orr. Orr signed a C form three weeks before his 12th birthday with the Boston Bruins. He was so young his parents signature was required. When he turned 14 he began playing for Boston's junior sponsored team, the Oshawa Generals. That's how Orr became a Bruin.)

"From 1936-1943 Montreal protected 14 players through this special draft. Unfortunately none of them ever played a minute in the NHL."

He concludes, " I believe this fallacy was born primarily by frustrated anti-Montreal fans who for decades suffered through parade after Stanley Cup parade".

Insightful reading for those, like me, interested in hockey history accurately portrayed.

http://www.liam.ca/ed20040319.html