Toe Blake Biography: Age, Height, Net Worth, Team, Wife, Stats, Hockey League, Awards, Death

Joseph Hector “Toe” Blake CM was a Canadian hockey player and NHL coach. He played in the league from 1935 to 1948, primarily with the Montreal Maroons and Montreal Canadiens.

Blake led the NHL in scoring in 1939 and won the Hart Trophy as the most valuable player that same year.

He also served as the captain of the Canadiens from 1940 until his retirement. Throughout his career, Blake won the Stanley Cup three times—once with the Maroons in 1935 and twice with the Canadiens in 1944 and 1946.

Profile

• Full Name: Joseph Hector “Toe” Blake
• Stage Name: Toe Blake
• Born: August 21, 1912
• Death date: May 17, 1995
• Age: 82 years old
• Birthplace: Victoria Mines, Ontario, Canada
• Nationality: Canadian
• Occupation: Canadian ice hockey player and coach
• Height: 1.78 m
• Parent: Wilmer Blake ,Arzélie Blake
• Siblings: Thomas Joseph Blake, Leonard Blake, Aldege Blake, Margaret Blake.
• Spouse: Elizabeth Marion “Bessie” Walters
• Children: Bruce Blake, Linda Blake, Patricia Blake
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: Unknown

Early Life And Education

Joseph Hector “Toe” Blake was born on August 21, 1912, in Victoria Mines, Ontario, Canada, to Wilmer Blake and Arzelie Filion Blake.

His father, Wilmer, was of English and Irish descent, while his mother, Arzelie, had strong Quebec roots. Toe came from a large family.

He was one of 13 children, of whom 11 survived childhood. He had several siblings, including Thomas Joseph Blake, Leonard Blake, Aldege Blake, and Margaret Blake.

Details about Blake’s early education are not widely known, but his family’s upbringing likely significantly shaped his character.

His heritage was French-Canadian, and the details of his religious beliefs are not publicly known.

Career

Toe Blake began his hockey career playing junior and senior hockey in Sudbury. He was part of the 1932 Memorial Cup-winning Sudbury Cub Wolves.

Blake then played for the Hamilton Tigers of the Ontario Hockey Association in the 1934-35 season before signing with the Montreal Maroons in February 1935.

He made his NHL debut two days later, though he played only eight games that season and did not participate in the Maroons’ playoff run, despite having his name added to the Stanley Cup when they won.

Blake joined the Montreal Canadiens in 1935 and had a remarkable career. He won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s Most Valuable Player in the 1938-39 season and was the league’s top scorer with 47 points that year.

For the final eight years of his playing career, he served as the Canadiens’ captain, leading them to Stanley Cup victories in 1944 and 1946. In 1946, he also became the first Canadian to win the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship.

Blake was part of the famous “Punch Line” trio with Elmer Lach and Maurice Richard. The line helped the Canadiens win the 1944 Stanley Cup, with Blake scoring the Cup-clinching goal in overtime.

The following season, the Punch Line finished first, second, and third in NHL scoring, becoming only the second trio in history to achieve this feat. Blake’s time with the Punch Line solidified his status as one of the NHL’s top players of the era.

Blake’s playing career was cut short after a serious ankle injury in 1948 caused by a collision with a New York Rangers player.

However, Blake was ranked 66 on The Hockey News’ list of the NHL’s 100 most significant players 1998. At his retirement, Blake was second all-time in career points, and his 62 playoff points were the most in NHL history.

In 1955, Blake transitioned to coaching after spending eight years coaching the Canadiens minor league affiliates. As head coach of the Canadiens, Blake led the team to eight Stanley Cup titles, a record for the franchise.

His coaching success continued with a remarkable streak of championship wins in his first five seasons. Blake retired as head coach in 1968 after winning another Stanley Cup, marking the end of 33 consecutive years with the Canadiens organization.

Blake was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1966 and awarded the Order of Canada in 1982. He remains one of the most influential figures in Canadiens history, with his coaching record still standing.

Known as “The Old Lamplighter” for his goal-scoring prowess, Blake’s legacy as a player and coach cemented his place among the NHL’s greats.

Social Media

Toe Blake does not have any active social media accounts.

Personal Life

Toe Blake was married to Elizabeth Marion “Bessie” Walters, and together, they had three children: Bruce, Linda, and Patricia.

His family supported his hockey career, and his son Bruce honoured his legacy by wearing his iconic fedora and team cardigan at events.

Blake passed away on May 17, 1995, after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Net Worth

Toe Blake’s net worth is unknown, but his wealth came from his successful player and coach career.

He won three Stanley Cups as a player and eight as a coach with the Montreal Canadiens.

Despite his remarkable achievements, his net worth was modest compared to modern hockey stars.