LEO KANE
Date of Birth: 1947
Place of Birth: Gander, NL
Inducted: 2007 (Player Category)
Leo Kane was a proficient goal scorer during the ten years that he played for the Gander Flyers in provincial senior hockey. Owner of exceptional shooting ability and dedicated as a hard skating, hard working forward, he established himself as the finisher for some of the better players to perform in senior hockey. During the final nine years of his career, he averaged close to 30 goals per season.
He won the league scoring title for the 1970 season with 46 goals in 40 games and completed his career with 264 regular season goals in 287 games. His first season he played only five games with one goal making his overall totals all the more impressive. His regular season numbers include 225 assists for 489 points and 269 penalty minutes. In six playoff appearances, he had 37 goals and 37 assists for 74 additional points. Overall, he ranks seventh in goals, 14th in points and 23rd in assists.
He made two trips to the national Allan Cup playoffs, one with the 1969 Flyers who won the first provincial championship and Herder Memorial Trophy for the community. His other appearance came as a “pickup” player for the St. John’s Capitals in 1970. He had one goal and one assist for two points.
A true product of the Gander hockey system, he moved trough the minor league and played with the junior Flyers prior to becoming a valuable member of the senior Flyers. Blessed with speed as a skater, he thrived in open ice but operated with great efficiency in the opponents’ corners and was extremely difficult to move from in front of the opponents’ goals.
He contributed much to any team with which he played as he was a real teammate providing extra support for other members. Dependable as well as colourful, he was a main cog in the development of Gander hockey during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Home fans were especially thrilled by his on-ice play and with the manner in which he added to the Flyers success.