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Floyd Curry of the Montreal Canadiens: The NHL’s Other Busher

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floyd curry montreal canadiens 1951-52 parkhurstFloyd ‘Busher’ Curry was busy winning a Memorial Cup championship with the Oshawa Generals in 1943-44, the same year Ralph Harvey ‘Busher’ Jackson was playing his final year in the NHL with the Boston Bruins. Unlike Jackson, Busher was Floyd’s nickname and didn’t completely replace his given names.

Floyd Curry – Junior and Minor Pro

Curry played junior for three years with the Oshawa Generals from 1941-42 to 1943-44. In all three years, the Generals advanced to the Memorial Cup finals. In Floyd’s first year, Oshawa fell to the Portage La Prairie Terriers.

The following year, the Generals once again came up short, losing to the Winnipeg Rangers. In Floyd’s final year with Oshawa, the team was crowned Canadian major junior hockey champions after sweeping the Trail Smoke Eaters.


For both the 1945-46 and 1946-47 seasons, Curry played in the QSHL with the Montreal Royals, a farm team of the Montreal Canadiens. In the first year, Floyd was named a First Team All-Star at right wing. The Royals won the league championship over the Ottawa Senators. At the Eastern Canada Allan Cup finals, Montreal lost to the Hamilton Tigers.

The following year, the Royals were once again champs and once again beat the Ottawa Senators in the finals. Floyd was once again an all-star but this time on the second team. In 1946-47, Montreal got a rematch with the Hamilton Tigers and this time advanced to the Allan Cup finals. In the finals, the Royals took out the Calgary Stampeders for the Canadian Senior Amateur championship.

Over the next three years, Floyd split his time between the NHL Canadiens and the Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League before becoming a regular in the National Hockey League for the 1950-51 season.

At the end of his NHL career, Curry returned to the minors for one last season. In 1958-59, he played mostly with the Royals again, now in the QHL and now a professional team, no longer amateur. He also appeared in two AHL games with the Rochester Americans.

Floyd Curry – NHL

Between 1947-48 and 1957-58, Curry played 601 regular season games in the National Hockey League, scoring 105 goals and assisting on 99 for 204 points. His entire NHL career was spent with the Canadiens.


Floyd Curry Collection

1951-52 parkhurst button

 

1952-53 parkhurst button

 

1953-54 parkhurst button

 

1954-55 parkhurst button

 

1955-56 parkhurst button

 


Over 91 playoff games, Floyd added 23 goals and totalled 40 points. With the Habs, Curry was part of four Stanley Cup champions. In 1952-53, Montreal took out the Boston Bruins in five games. Floyd was also part of the first three of five consecutive championships for the Canadiens Dynasty of the 1950’s. In 1955-56, the victim was the Detroit Red Wings and in the next two years it was the Boston Bruins.

Curry was a 20 goal scorer with the Canadiens in 1951-52. In the 1954-55 Stanley Cup playoffs, Floyd scored eight and assisted on four for 12 points over 12 games. He tied Bernie Geoffrion for the team lead in goals and was one point behind Geoffrion and Jean Beliveau. Montreal reached the finals before falling to the Red Wings.

Floyd Curry – Coaching and Management

Curry stepped behind the bench of the Quebec Aces for three AHL seasons from 1961-62 to 1963-64. In the final season, the Aces tied for first overall in the nine team league with the Pittsburgh Hornets. Quebec reached the Calder Cup finals before being swept by the Fred Glover coached Cleveland Barons.

From 1968-69 to 1977-78, Floyd was the Assistant General Manager of the Canadiens. He then remained onboard as director of scouting. Curry was with Montreal for six more Stanley Cup championships as management.

Floyd Curry – Rookie Card

The Floyd Curry rookie card appears as number 12 in the 1951-52 Parkhurst set. The card is valued at a third more than a common card. Curry, of course, appears as a member of the Montreal Canadiens. Floyd appeared on just six hockey cards during his playing career, all with Parkhurst.

Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM
1945-46 Montreal Royals QSHL 32 22 23 45 8
1946-47 Montreal Royals QSHL 40 23 20 43 26
1947-48 Montreal Canadiens NHL 31 1 5 6 0
1947-48 Buffalo Bisons AHL 14 6 8 14 10
1948-49 Buffalo Bisons AHL 67 24 19 43 12
1948-49 Montreal Canadiens NHL Playoffs only
1949-50 Montreal Canadiens NHL 49 8 8 16 8
1949-50 Buffalo Bisons AHL 24 4 6 10 6
1950-51 Montreal Canadiens NHL 69 13 14 27 23
1951-52 Montreal Canadiens NHL 64 20 18 38 10
1952-53 Montreal Canadiens NHL 68 16 6 22 10
1953-54 Montreal Canadiens NHL 70 13 8 21 22
1954-55 Montreal Canadiens NHL 68 11 10 21 36
1955-56 Montreal Canadiens NHL 70 14 18 32 10
1956-57 Montreal Canadiens NHL 70 7 9 16 20
1957-58 Montreal Canadiens NHL 42 2 3 5 8
1958-59 Rochester Americans AHL 2 0 0 0 4
1958-59 Montreal Royals QHL 57 9 13 22 40
NHL Totals 601 105 99 204 147

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