Known as ‘Doc’, according to his 1951-52 Parkhurst rookie card, Gerry Couture’s NHL career lasted a decade but was focused on a two year span, spent with the Detroit Red Wings. The Saskatoon native saw his best years in the National Hockey League come and go before his rookie card was released.
Gerry Couture – Junior and Minor Pro
Couture played with his hometown Saskatoon Quakers for three years from 1941-42 to 1943-44 in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). In his first year, the Quakers lost to the Regina Abbotts in the provincial semi-final. In his final year, Saskatoon lost to the University of Saskatchewan in the northern finals.
It was the middle year, 1942-43, when the Quakers had some success. The team beat the Regina Commandos in the provincial finals. Then, at the Abbott Cup (serving as the Western Canada Memorial Cup playoffs), Saskatoon beat the Edmonton Canadians to gain a spot in the finals. The Winnipeg Rangers ended the Quakers hopes at it was the Rangers that competed for the Memorial Cup that year.
Gerry Couture Collection
Throughout his years in the NHL, Couture was never far from the minors. His NHL days were intertwined with time in the AHL, QMHL and WHL. Over his career, he played 142 games in the American Hockey League, totalling 155 points. In the WHL, he played 257 regular season games and added 263 points.
After his NHL days were done, Gerry continued on in the WHL from 1954-55 to 1957-58. His top season came in 1954-55 with the Calgary Stampeders. Over 70 regular season games, Couture scored 33 and assisted on 49 for 82 points. Along with being team leader, he finished tied for fifth in the WHL for goals, tied for fifth for assists and all alone in fifth for total points.
That 1954-55 Calgary team finished just fourth in the six team league with exactly 70 points over 70 games. Yet, in the playoffs, the Stampeders reached the finals before losing out to the Edmonton Flyers. Edmonton was a pretty strong squad with Glenn Hall in net and the likes of Bronco Horvath, John Bucyk and Norm Ullman up front. Gerry had eleven points in nine playoff games.
The following year, 1955-56, Couture led the Stampeders offensively again. He scored 32 and assisted on 50 for 82 points over 66 regular season games. His 50 assists placed Gerry tied for fourth in the WHL and his point total was good for sixth in the league. He added another ten points in eight playoff games.
Gerry Couture – NHL
Couture played 385 regular season National Hockey League games between 1944-45 and 1953-54 with the Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks. Over that time, he scored 86 and assisted on 70 for 156 points. Gerry played 45 more games in the Stanley Cup playoffs, adding 16 points.
In 1948-49, the Red Wings finished first overall but were swept in the finals but the fourth seed Toronto Maple Leafs. The following year, Detroit made up for their mistakes and Couture had a career year.
The 1949-50 Red Wings again finished first overall. Yet, they had difficulty in the finals again. This time, the opponent was the New York Rangers. New York held a 3-2 lead in the series, at one point. Three games, including game seven, needed overtime. However, Detroit did come on top, giving Couture his lone Stanley Cup championship.
That year, Gerry scored 24 goals over 69 games while assisting on just seven. His 24 goals placed him tied for seventh in the NHL with Gaye Stewart of the Chicago Blackhawks. Couture’s nine points over 14 playoff games led the Red Wings.
During the summer of 1951, Couture was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Bert Hirschfield. Gerry played just ten games with Montreal before being traded again. Hirshfield never played in the NHL following the trade and only appeared in 33 NHL games previously.
On December 25, 1951, Gerry was sent to the Cleveland Barons of the AHL with Fern Perreault going to the Habs. Yes, there were trades between leagues in the day. Couture would play a few more years with the Chicago Blackhawks but Perreault would never add to the three games of NHL experience he had before being traded to Montreal. His three games came as a member of the New York Rangers.
Gerry Couture – Rookie Card
The Gerry Couture rookie card appears as number 17 in the 1951-52 Parkhurst set. He is shown as a member of the Montreal Canadiens, although he only spent a few months with the team.
There are just two other hockey cards featuring Couture, both Parkhurst Parkies. Both the 1952-53 Parkhurst number 41 and the 1953-54 Parkhurst number 84 show Gerry with the Chicago Blackhawks.
| Season | Team | Lge | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1944-45 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1945-46 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 43 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 18 |
| 1946-47 | Indianapolis Capitals | AHL | 34 | 24 | 18 | 42 | 21 |
| 1946-47 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 30 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 0 |
| 1947-48 | Indianapolis Capitals | AHL | 42 | 26 | 25 | 51 | 8 |
| 1947-48 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 19 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 2 |
| 1948-49 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 51 | 19 | 10 | 29 | 6 |
| 1949-50 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 69 | 24 | 7 | 31 | 21 |
| 1950-51 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 53 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 2 |
| 1951-52 | Montreal Royals | QSHL | 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| 1951-52 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 1951-52 | Buffalo-Cleveland | AHL | 47 | 24 | 21 | 45 | 4 |
| 1952-53 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 70 | 19 | 18 | 37 | 22 |
| 1953-54 | Providence Reds | AHL | 19 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 2 |
| 1953-54 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 40 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 14 |
| 1954-55 | Calgary Stampeders | WHL | 70 | 33 | 49 | 82 | 8 |
| 1955-56 | Calgary Stampeders | WHL | 66 | 32 | 50 | 82 | 10 |
| 1956-57 | Calgary Stampeders | WHL | 63 | 19 | 26 | 45 | 20 |
| 1957-58 | Sask Regals/St. Paul Saints | WHL | 58 | 23 | 31 | 54 | 22 |
| 1959-60 | Saskatoon Quakers | SSHL | 23 | 25 | 29 | 54 | 26 |
| NHL Totals | 385 | 86 | 70 | 156 | 89 |