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Uploaded By: PRESIDENT on November 24th, 2017

Joseph Jacques Marcel Bonin - Born September 8, 1931 in Montreal, Quebec is a retired Canadian ice Hockey left winger.

Bonin first made a name for himself with the QPHL's Joliette Cyclones in 1949-50, then played 1 season with Trois-Rivières Flambeaux of the Quebec Junior Hockey League, scoring 30 goals (43 assists) in 44 games.

He turned pro with the Quebec Aces for the 1951-52 season, and Bonin established himself as a skilled practitioner of the more physical aspects of the game. Scrappy and determined, he rarely lost a battle for the puck along the boards or in the corner. The rookie picked up 131 penalty minutes, showcasing his pugilistic abilities, helping them win the 1952 1952 Thomas OConnell Memorial Trophy as league champions.

Bonin began the 1951-52 season in Quebec but his rights were soon sent to Detroit. He divided the remainder of the year between the AHL’s St. Louis Flyers and the Red Wings, making his NHL debut on December 27, 1952 vs Montreal Canadiens at The Forum. He picked up a assist in a 2-2 tie.

Bonin scored his 1st NHL goal vs Gerry McNeil of the Montreal Canadiens on February 28, 1953 at 8:50 of the 3rd period at The Forum in a 4-3 Red Wings win. His goal was the game winner.

Bonin played 37 games for the Red Wings and 5 playoff games during his first stint in the NHL, helping the Red Wings win the 1953 Prince of Wales Trophy as NHL regular season champions.

Bonin returned to the minors, playing for the Sherbrooke Saints and the Edmonton Flyers, Bonin played only one game with Detroit in 1953-54. He fought his way back to the big leagues, sticking with the Red Wings to start the next season, helping them again win the Prince of Wales Trophy. His official rookie season would be one to remember, as it ended with a Stanley Cup victory over the Montreal Canadiens in the spring of 1955.

Bonin then played a season with the Boston Bruins in 1955-56, before making his return to Quebec the next season with the Quebec Aces, helping them win the 1957 Thomas O'Connell Memorial Trophy and the 1957 Edinburgh Trophy championship.

The Montreal Canadiens picked him up in the 1957 inter-league draft. The four and a half years Bonin spent wearing “La Sainte Flanelle” were the best of his Hockey career, helping them win 5 straight Prince of Wales Trophies as NHL regular season champions.

Playing on a line with Jean Béliveau and “Boom Boom” Geoffrion, the stocky Bonin did a lot of the heavy lifting for the Canadiens. Strong in the corners and a precise passer, the robust Bonin also had one of the heaviest hip checks in the league.

Bonin scored 45 goals his first three years with the Canadiens. He also excelled in the playoffs especially in 1958-59 when he scored ten goals in 11 games, including the 1959 Stanley Cup winning goal. Bonin was on hand the following year when the Canadiens closed out their NHL record five-year reign as Stanley Cup champions.

In 1960-61, Bonin recorded a personal-high 51 points but the club's drive for a sixth straight championship ended in the semi-finals.

Bonin's career was ended following on-ice collision with Red Wings defenceman Pete Goegan on February 9, 1962 resulting in a severe back injury.

Credited to David Bier.

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