Leo Boivin

Leo Joseph Boivin (August 2, 1932 – October 16, 2021) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and coach who played 19 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Minnesota North Stars from 1952 to 1970.
==Playing Career==
Leo Boivin began playing hockey at seven years of age on the rivers and outdoor ice surfaces of Prescott, Ontario, near Ottawa. He planned on being a defenceman since childhood, "because defencemen got to stay on the ice longer, got to play more." His junior career consisted of a year with the Inkerman Rockets and two more seasons with the Port Arthur West End Bruins. In 1951–52 he began playing for the AHL's Pittsburgh Hornets and was promoted to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Yet, Leo was most remembered for his time with the Boston Bruins as he helped lead them to two Stanley Cup finals in the late 50's. Although just 5' 7", he was considered a very tough opponent, as Tim Horton referred to him as "the toughest blueliner to beat in a one-on-one situation". He has also been called the last of the tooth-rattling body checkers.
==Retirement==
Following his retirement in 1970, Boivin became a scout. He became an interim coach of the St. Louis Blues during the 1975–76 and 1977–78 seasons, and coached the Ottawa 67's of the Ontario Hockey League for a brief period, tutoring young defenceman Denis Potvin. Boivin was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1986.
==Gallery==
Stasiuk_goal-4Apr1959.gif|Leo Boivin's rush leads to Bronco Horvath's game winner, Game 6 of the 1959 Semi-finals, April 4, 1959.
1961-O'Ree_Burns_Hicke_Backstrom2.jpg|Willie O'Ree, Charlie Burns, Bill Hicke, Ralph Backstrom, Leo Boivin and Bruce Gamble in 1961 action.
26Nov1961-Head_Mohns_Pennington_Boivin.jpg|Don Head, #7 Cliff Pennington, #19 Doug Mohns, #4 Red Kelly, #20 Leo Boivin, November 26, 1961.
31Jan1962-Gamble_Hadfield.jpg|Bruce Gamble stops Rangers Vic Hadfield, January 31, 1962.
1961-62-Bruins_Leafs.jpg|#20 Leo Boivin and #4 Pat Stapleton defend against #20 Bob Pulford and George Armstrong in 1961-62 season action.
1961-62-Head_Boivin.jpg|Marcel Bonin, Don Head and Leo Boivin in 1961-62 season action.
Boivin-1959_gold_jersey.jpg|Leo Boivin in 1961-62 season action.
3Mar1963-Johnston_Stewart_Boivin.jpg|Bruins Eddie Johnston clears the puck away from Leafs #12 Ron Stewart while Leo Boivin watches, March 3, 1963.
1962-63_Bruins_defense.jpg|Bruins 1963-64 defense, Boivin, Green, Johnson, Awrey, Westfall and McCord.
8Mar1964-Prentice_Howe_Green.jpg|Dean Prentice, Gordie Howe, Leo Boivin, Ted Green, March 8, 1964.
10Nov1964-Boivin_Howe_Lindsay_Kurtenbach.jpg|Ted Lindsay, Orland Kurtenbach, Leo Boivin, Gordie Howe, Eddie Johnston, November 10, 1964.
1967-Boivin-Fonteyne-Bathgate-Dillabough-Daley-Stratton-MacDonald-Mattiussi.jpg|Leo Boivin, Val Fonteyne, Andy Bathgate, Bob Dillabough, Joe Daley, Art Stratton, Ab McDonald, Dick Mattiussi, October 1967.
1967-Nov22-McKenzie-Boivin-Binkley.jpg|John McKenzie, Leo Boivin, Les Binkley, November 22, 1967.
==Video==
Three minutes of highlights from Game 2 of the Bruins-Red Wings 1957 Semi-finals with French commentary. Goals by Gordie Howe, Lorne Ferguson, Fleming Mackell and Leo Boivin are shown.
GORDIE HOWE TED LINDSAY DON SIMMONS Boston Bruins Detroit Red Wings 1957 NHL playoff highlights-0
Two minutes of video from the October 18, 1958 Toronto-Boston game showing Leo Boivin hitting the post and then a scrap between Bronco Horvath and Bert Olmstead who later sit in the penalty box together.
NHL Oct. 18, 1958 Bert Olmstead,TOR v Bronco Horvath,BOS (almost) Toronto Maple Leafs Boston Bruins
Category:Born in 1931
Category:Boston Bruins players
Category:Canadian ice hockey players
Category:Detroit Red Wings players
Category:Hockey Hall of Fame
Category:Minnesota North Stars players
Category:Pittsburgh Hornets players
Category:Pittsburgh Penguins players
Category:St. Louis Blues coaches
Category:Toronto Maple Leafs players
Category:Inkerman Rockets alumni
Category:Port Arthur Bruins alumni
Category:Retired in 1970
Category:Dead in 2021