NICKNAMED “L’OURS DE JOLIETTE,” MARCEL BONIN WAS ONE OF THE MOST FREE-SPIRITED PLAYERS OF HIS TIME.

With 174 pounds packed onto his 5-foot-7 frame, Marcel Bonin wasn’t the biggest guy in the NHL but he was one of the strongest players in the league in the 1950s and early 1960s. A rugged forward who could skate, score and pass while playing on either wing, his off-ice exploits made him somewhat of a folk hero in his native province.

Bonin once climbed into the ring to wrestle a bear, earning himself the nickname “L’ours de Joliette”. Known to chew and eat glass from time to time, Bonin was a free spirit, who was always popular with teammates and enjoyed every minute of his bruising, decade-long pro hockey career.

Turning pro with the Quebec Aces in 1951-52, 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.

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 big club, appearing in his first 37 NHL contests.

Returned to the minors, 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. His rookie campaign would be one to remember, as it ended with a Stanley Cup victory over the Montreal Canadiens in the spring of 1955.

On the move again, Bonin spent the following year in Boston. He made his return to Quebec when the 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.

Playing on a line with Jean Beliveau and “Boom Boom” Geoffrion, the stocky Bonin did a lot of the heavy lifting for the Habs. Strong in the corners and a precise passer, the robust Bonin also had one of the heaviest hip checks in the league. No longer having to prove himself with his fists, Bonin took to preventing potential fisticuffs using a bear hug that took all the fight out of the men on the receiving end.

Popular with both fans and teammates, Bonin scored an average of 15 goals each season and added about twice as many assists. A member of the Canadiens teams that won three consecutive Stanley Cups, Bonin preferred to let the other guys score the goals and deal with the pressures and expectations placed on snipers.

In 1958-59, an injured Maurice Richard was limited to only four playoff games while Beliveau appeared in just three. Coming off a 13-goal season, Bonin donned the Rocket’s abandoned gloves for good luck. Something of Richard must have rubbed off as Bonin scored 10 times in the postseason, his last goal securing the Stanley Cup.

His career was cut short when a back injury midway through the 1961-62 season sidelined the 31-year-old forward for good.

Long active in amateur sport in his hometown of Joliette, Bonin has since become a noted historian throughout his retirement years.