Lou Jankowski

Louis Casimer Jankowski (June 27, 1931 – March 21, 2010) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward and scout who played 130 games in the NHL and had a prolific career in the WHL.

Lou Jankowski
Lou Jankowski as an Oshawa General.
Born (1931-06-27)June 27, 1931
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Died March 21, 2010(2010-03-21) (aged 78)
Clearwater, Florida, U.S.
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Center/Right Wing
Shot Right
Played for Chicago Black Hawks
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career 1950–1969

Early life

Louis Casimer Jankowski was born on June 27, 1931, in Regina, Saskatchewan, the fourth of six sons to a Polish Catholic mother, Anna Jankowski. Anna, her husband, and three sons had immigrated to Canada in 1927 from Świdnik, Poland. The family later moved to Hamilton, Ontario.

Playing career

Jankowski spent three seasons playing for the Oshawa Generals of the OHA. He played alongside Alex Delvecchio, where the duo became known for their offensive scoring punch.[1][2]

A versatile forward who could play both the right wing and center positions, along with an ability to score profusely, Jankowski won the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy as a member of the Generals, recording 65 goals, 59 assists and 124 points during the 1950-51 season.[3][4][5]

Jankowski earned a tryout with the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings, where he reunited with Delvecchio. While Delvecchio was established as a mainstay in the Wings lineup, Jankowski's tenure with the club was seen as a disappointment, managing only a goal and two assists in 22 games.

Jankowski (#10 for Chicago) scores during a 1954 game against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Harry Lumley while Leafs Captain Ted Kennedy looks on.

In the summer of 1953, the Red Wings sold Jankowski's contract to the Chicago Black Hawks. Jankowski displayed some of his scoring touch, notching 15 goals in 68 games, despite limited playing time.[6]

Jankowski's NHL career ended with 19 goals, 18 assists and 15 penalty minutes in 127 career games played.[7]

After other NHL clubs showed no interest in offering a contract, Jankowski signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the WHL, where he would reestablish his offensive game. Jankowski led the league in goals during his first three seasons, scoring a career high 57 goals in the 1960-61 season.[8]

Jankowski was named to the WHL All-Star Team four times between 1959 and 1963, earning the Leader Cup award as the WHL's Most Valuable Player in 1961.[9]

Jankowski led the league in goals with 41, during the 1963-64 season as a member of the Denver Invaders, where he was the recipient of the Fred J. Hume Cup as the league's most gentlemanly player.[10]

Jankowski would play for various minor league clubs, before announcing his retirement after 18 professional seasons.[11]

Jankowski found a second career as a scout in 1972. He would work for the St. Louis Blues, Washington Capitals, the NHL Central Scouting Bureau, and the New York Rangers, for whom he was employed for 15 years, retiring from the organization in 1993.

Personal life

Jankowski was married twice. His first marriage was to Helen Kelly, the sister of Hall of Famer Red Kelly. He was married to his second wife, Roseanna up until his death.

Jankowski has three children; Leonard, Cornell University Hockey Player, and Kathy, Skate Canada Professional Coach, from his marriage to Helen and Ryan, from his marriage to Roseanna. Ryan previously served as the assistant general manager of the New York Islanders. He was also the director of player personnel for Hockey Canada.[12]

Jankowski's grandson, Mark Jankowski, is a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Jankowski's grandson, Josh Slegers "A", Elmira Sugar Kings, Sutherland Cup Champion.

Awards and achievements
  • Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy (OHA/OHL Leading Scorer) (1950–51)
  • WHL Prairie Division First All-Star Team (1959)
  • WHL First All-Star Team (1960, 1961, 1964)
  • Leader Cup (MVP - WHL) (1961)
  • WHL Second All-Star Team (1962)
  • Fred J. Hume Cup (Most Gentlemanly Player - WHL) (1964)

Records
  • OHA - Most points in one season (65G, 59A, 124P in 54 games)
  • WHL - Most goals in one season (57G in 69 games)

Career statistics
    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Age Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1947–48 16 Hamilton Aerovox OHA - B ? ? ? ? ? 9 5 4 9 2
1948–49 17 Oshawa Generals OHA 34 7 5 12 27 2 0 0 0 0
1949–50 18 Oshawa Generals OHA 45 20 32 52 31 - - - - -
1950–51 19 Oshawa Generals OHA 54 65 59 124 14 5 6 4 10 2
1950–51 19 Detroit Red Wings NHL 1 0 1 1 0 - - - - -
1951–52 20 Indianapolis Capitals AHL 51 18 18 36 49 - - - - -
1952–53 21 Detroit Red Wings NHL 22 1 2 3 0 1 0 0 0 0
1952–53 21 Edmonton Flyers WHL 10 3 1 4 0 - - - - -
1953–54 22 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 68 15 13 28 7 - - - - -
1954–55 23 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 36 3 2 5 8 - - - - -
1954–55 23 Buffalo Bisons AHL 11 8 8 16 2 10 0 7 7 0
1955–56 24 Buffalo Bisons AHL 62 14 20 34 8 4 1 2 3 0
1956–57 25 Buffalo Bisons AHL 64 13 24 37 17 — — — — —
1957–58 26 Buffalo Bisons AHL 59 21 25 46 0 — — — — —
1958–59 27 Calgary Stampeders WHL 54 45 47 92 13 4 1 1 2 0
1959–60 28 Calgary Stampeders WHL 70 42 42 84 9 - - - - -
1960–61 29 Calgary Stampeders WHL 69 57 42 99 7 5 3 2 5 2
1961–62 30 Calgary Stampeders WHL 64 44 40 84 13 7 2 4 6 0
1962–63 31 Calgary Stampeders WHL 67 24 26 50 4 - - - - -
1963–64 32 Denver Invaders WHL 69 41 44 85 10 6 5 2 7 2
1964–65 33 Victoria Maple Leafs WHL 69 30 27 57 16 12 3 2 5 2
1965–66 34 Victoria Maple Leafs WHL 68 32 32 64 10 14 4 2 6 8
1966–67 35 Victoria Maple Leafs WHL 67 22 37 59 4 — — — — —
1967–68 36 Phoenix Roadrunners WHL 72 25 23 48 6 4 0 0 0 0
1968–69 37 Denver Spurs WHL 19 2 3 5 0 - - - - -
1968–69 37 Amarillo Wranglers CHL 46 14 11 25 2 - - - - -
OHA-B totals OHA-B ? ? ? ? ? 9 5 4 9 2
OHA totals OHA 133 92 92 188 72 7 6 4 10 2
NHL totals NHL 127 19 18 37 15 1 0 0 0 0
AHL totals AHL 284 88 114 202 44 14 1 9 10 0
WHL totals WHL 698 367 364 731 92 52 18 13 31 14
CHL totals CHL 46 14 11 25 2 - - - - -

References
  1. One on One with Alex Delvecchio
  2. OHL Classics: Lou Jankowski
  3. Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy winners
  4. Lou Jankowski, hockey player (1931-2010)
  5. OHL Classics: Lou Jankowski
  6. Larry Zeidel
  7. Lou Jankowski stastics
  8. Jankowski's Nostalgic Connection to Calgary
  9. OHL Classics: Lou Jankowski
  10. Louis Jankowski obituary
  11. OHL Classics: Lou Jankowski
  12. Lou Jankowski biography at Legends of Hockey. Retrieved Jan. 07, 2008.
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