The Canadiens first captain would be 130 years old today.

Jean-Baptiste “Jack” Laviolette was born in Belleville, ON on this day, in 1879.

Growing up in Valleyfield, QC, Laviolette was a two sport star athlete in both lacrosse and hockey.

Laviolette gained stardom in the International Hockey League with the Michigan-Soo Indians before joining the Montreal Shamrocks in 1907.

Laviolette as a member of the Michigan-Soo Indians

He was approached by J. Ambrose O’Brien, in the fall of 1909, to not only play, but also captain, coach and assemble a new French-speaking pro hockey team in Montreal for the newly formed NHA.

As exciting a chance it appeared to be, the Canadiens went 2-12 in it’s first season, finishing dead last.

Laviolette turned the captaincy of the team over to Newsy Lalonde the following season, but found himself captain again in 1911-12 when Lalonde left the Canadiens.

Laviolette would lead the Canadiens to their first Stanley Cup championship in 1916.

They would claim the NHA title again the next season, but lose to Seattle in their quest to repeat as Cup  champions.

In the 1917-18 season, the Canadiens were part of the newly formed NHL.  Montreal would take first place that season.

His playing career ended in 1919 when he lost his right foot in a car crash.

The Canadiens held a benefit game, for their first captain, in 1921 where he participated,as a referee.

Laviolette died in 1960, and would be inducted, as a lacrosse player, into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame later that same year.

He would become an honored member of the Hockey Hall of Fame two years later.