‘Camille the Eel’: An Overlooked NHL Star

Today, a junior scout would easily overlook a Bantam player weighing just 140 lbs. Camille Henry is noted on the back of his rookie hockey card as being 5’10” and a slim 141 lbs as an NHL player. The Camille Henry rookie card is featured in the 1954-55 Topps series as number 32. At a value of $80, according to Beckett Hockey Monthly, Henry’s is the second highest valued card in the set, next to Doug Mohns ($125), a long way from the $1800 that Gordie Howe’s card from that series is valued at. Camille also appears in the 1954-55 Parkhurst series on card number 73. Beckett does not rate this card higher than a common card.

Camille Henry

Camille Henry was an a great player that was just under the radar. He played in 727 NHL regular season games between 1953-54 and 1969-70 with the New York Rangers, Chicago Black Hawks and St. Louis Blues. He was the Calder Trophy recipient as NHL rookie of the year with the Rangers in 1953-54. His only other NHL major award came in 1957-58 when he won the Lady Byng Trophy. He was named to the NHL’s Second All-Star Team that season. He played in a total of three NHL All-Star games during his career.

Camille can be found in the American Hockey League history books, as well. In 1955-56, with the Providence Reds, Henry led the league with 50 goals and was third with 91 points. The Reds captured the Calder Cup with a seven game victory over the Cleveland Barons in the finals. He was named to the AHL’s First All-Star Team.

His career defining NHL season came in 1962-63 with the Rangers. He scored 37 regular season goals, placing him second in the league, one behind Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings and one ahead of Frank Mahovlich of the Toronto Maple Leafs. New York finished in fifth place that season, out of the post-season.

Camille Henry Collection

 

Twice, Camille Henry played in the Stanley Cup finals. In 1964-65, he was traded mid-season by the Rangers to the Chicago Black Hawks. The Hawks lost to the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup finals in seven games. In 1968-69, Henry’s team, the St. Louis Blues, also lost to the Montreal Canadiens in the finals, 4-0.

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Season	Team	Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1953-54	New York Rangers	NHL	66	24	15	39	10
1954-55	Quebec Aces	QHL	37	20	18	38	2
1954-55	New York Rangers	NHL	21	5	2	7	4
1955-56	Providence Reds	AHL	59	50	41	91	8
1956-57	Providence Reds	AHL	29	31	16	47	8
1956-57	New York Rangers	NHL	36	14	15	29	2
1957-58	New York Rangers	NHL	70	32	24	56	2
1958-59	New York Rangers	NHL	70	23	35	58	2
1959-60	New York Rangers	NHL	49	12	15	27	6
1960-61	New York Rangers	NHL	53	28	25	53	8
1961-62	New York Rangers	NHL	60	23	15	38	8
1962-63	New York Rangers	NHL	60	37	23	60	8
1963-64	New York Rangers	NHL	68	29	26	55	8
1964-65	New York Rangers	NHL	48	21	15	36	20
1964-65	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL	22	5	3	8	2
1965-66	St. Louis Braves	CPHL	37	14	22	36	4
1967-68	Buffalo Bisons	AHL	22	9	10	19	0
1967-68	New York Rangers	NHL	36	8	12	20	0
1968-69	St. Louis Blues	NHL	64	17	22	39	8
1969-70	St. Louis Blues	NHL	4	1	2	3	0
1969-70	Kansas City Blues	CHL	15	5	7	12	4
	NHL Totals		727	279	249	528	88