Les Cunningham

Leslie Roy "Les" Cunningham
 * Born October 4, 1913 in Calgary, Alberta
 * Died: April 9, 1993
 * Position: Center

Cunningham played junior hockey with the Calgary Jimmies in the 1932-33 Alberta Junior Playoffs and was a pick-up by the Regina Pats for the 1932-33 Memorial Cup Final. He then played a season of senior hockey for the Saskatoon Elites in 1933-34.

Cunningham spent two seasons with the Buffalo Bisons, then made his NHL debut in 1936 with the New York Americans. Played 23 games and scored one goal and 8 assists for the Americans, and spent the rest of his season in the AHL with the Cleveland Falcons. After spending the next two seasons in Cleveland, he was acquired by the Chicago Black Hawks who gave him his second, and last, NHL opportunity. Made his mark in the NHL on Jan. 28, 1940, when he notched two goals and three helpers in the third period against Montreal. The five points stood as a single period record for the next 38 years until Brian Trottier recorded six points. He scored six goals and 17 points in 37 contests with the Black Hawks, and was held scoreless in one playoff game. At seasons end his rights were sent back to Cleveland, where he would play the next seven seasons with the Barons. Led the league in scoring in 1941, and was named to his first of five successive All-Star Teams. Left the Barons in 1947, and signed on with the Pacific Coast Hockey League's San Francisco Shamrocks for his final two years of professional hockey. In 1948, following the first AHL season without Cunningham, the American Hockey League first presented the Les Cunningham Plaque awarded annually to the league's Most Valuable Player. Upon his retirement Cunningham returned to the game to coach the Brandon Wheat Kings for the 1949-50 and 1950-51 seasons.

Awards & Achievements

 * Calgary City Junior Hockey League Championship (1932)
 * Alberta Junior Hockey Championship (1932)
 * Regina Junior Hockey League Championship (1933)
 * Saskatchewan Junior A Hockey Championship (1933)
 * Abbott Cup Western Canada Junior A Championship (1933)
 * Calder Cup International-American Hockey League Championship (1939)
 * AHL Scoring Champion (1941)
 * AHL Second All-Star Team (1941, 1943, 1944, & 1945)
 * Calder Cup American Hockey League Championship (1941 & 1945)
 * AHL First All-Star Team (1942)
 * MJHL First All-Star Team Coach (1950)
 * Turnbull Cup Manitoba Junior Hockey League Championship (1950)
 * MJHL All-Star Team Coach (1951)