Ron Caron
| Ron Caron | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
December 19, 1929 Hull, Quebec, Canada | ||
| Died |
January 9, 2012 (aged 82) Montréal, Quebec, Canada | ||
| Coached for | St. Louis Blues | ||
Ronald Caron (December 19, 1929 – January 9, 2012) was a Canadian National Hockey League (NHL) executive who held positions with both the Montreal Canadiens and the St. Louis Blues.
Early life
[edit]Caron was born on December 19, 1929, in Hull, Quebec, a city that is now part of Gatineau. Raised in a French-Canadian household, he grew up during the Great Depression and World War II, eras that helped shape his work ethic and resilience. He pursued higher education at the University of Ottawa, where he earned his degree. His academic background, combined with his passion for hockey, would later contribute to his reputation as a sharp strategist and thoughtful executive in the world of professional ice hockey.[1]
Hockey career
[edit]Montreal Canadiens
[edit]Caron started his professional ice hockey career in 1959 as a part-time scout for the Montreal Junior Canadiens and was promoted to head scout in 1968.[1] He took over as head coach of the Montreal Voyageurs for the 1970–71 season, replacing Al MacNeil, but was later succeeded midseason by Floyd Curry.[2] The following year, he became the Voyageurs' general manager. Over the next ten seasons, he held various roles with the team, including assistant general manager and director of recruitment and player personnel.[1]
St. Louis Blues
[edit]Caron served as the general manager of the St. Louis Blues from 1983 to 1994,[3] playing a key role in acquiring standout players such as Doug Gilmour, Brett Hull, and Adam Oates. Before joining the Blues, he was the head scout for the Montreal Canadiens and contributed to six Stanley Cup victories in the 1970s while serving as assistant general manager. Known for his exceptional recall of hockey history, he earned the nickname "The Old Professor."[3]
Death
[edit]Caron passed away peacefully at the age of 82 on January 9, 2012, at his home in Montreal.[4]
Awards
[edit]
- Stanley Cup Champions 1971, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "The Montreal Canadiens mourn the passing of Ronald Caron", Montreal Canadiens press release, Tuesday, January 10, 2012.
- ^ Standings for the Montreal Voyageurs of the AHL – The Internet Hockey Database.
- ^ a b Duhatschek, Eric (March 13, 2007). "Duhatschek: The Old Professor, Ron Caron, reminisces as best he can". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^ "Ron Caron dies; former Blues GM", St. Louis Post-Dispatch (January 10, 2012)