This 1940 autographed photograph of Elmer Lach is from the Jay Plante collection

Elmer Lach was born on January 22, 1918 in Nokomis Saskatchewan. Elmer played from 1940-54 for the Montreal Canadiens. In 1943-44 he centered a line with Maurice Richard on right wing and Toe Blake on the left. This line was dubbed the Punch Line.

He won the Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy in 1944-45. In 1947-48 he won the Art Ross Trophy with 30 goals and 31 assists.

On November 8, 1952 he scores his 200th NHL goal. In 1953 he scored the Stanley Cup winning goal as Montreal defeated Boston. Elmer Lach left the game with a hat trick of Stanley Cups.