By Nancy Miller Chenier
Paul-Emile Drouin, or Polly as he was better known, was 12 years old when he moved to Ottawa with his family. He started his hockey career by helping his school’s hockey team move to the finals. From there, his hockey career included the Ottawa City Junior Hockey League, Ottawa City Senior Hockey League, National Hockey League, International American Hockey League, American Hockey League and Quebec Senior Hockey League.
As a Montreal Canadien, his speed and ability earned him the nickname, “the Flying Frenchman”. In his first official game with the Canadiens, he faced off against King Clancy, playing with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Clancy, who was impressed with the rookie’s high-calibre playing, joked after the game: “He must be from Ottawa!”
During the Second World War, he joined the Ottawa Commandos, a hockey team made up of members of the Canadian Army, and with the team won the league championship in the 1942-43 season. Always a scrapper, Corporal Drouin was frequently described by journalists as the “most effective attacking Commando” or as “leading the parade” as well as occasionally “the top penalty man.”
By 1946, Paul Drouin was firmly established back in Ottawa with his wife Germaine (née Lepine). They started their married life in the LaSalle Hotel at 245 Dalhousie Street, a business owned by his in-laws. Polly went on to run the hotel and was often present in Le Bar Sportif, a popular local tavern well known for its walls covered in sports memorabilia.
Based on research by Brendan Bowen, LCA summer student 2015