Aurèle Joliat
A diminutive but ferociously skilled left winger for the Montreal Canadiens, whose heart and scoring touch powered three Stanley Cup victories in the 1920s and 30s.
1901–1986 (age 85)·Canadian professional ice hockey player·Birthday: August 29·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Aurèle Joliat, forever the 'Mighty Atom,' stood just 5-foot-7 and 136 pounds in an era of hockey that prized brute force. What he lacked in size, he compensated for with breathtaking speed, elusive agility, and a competitive fire that burned white-hot. Joining the Montreal Canadiens in 1922, he quickly became the perfect offensive complement to the larger Howie Morenz, forming one of the league's most dynamic duos. Joliat played his entire 16-year NHL career in Montreal, a testament to his loyalty and value. He was a craftsman with the puck, a relentless forechecker, and a clutch scorer, playing a pivotal role in the Canadiens' Stanley Cup wins in 1924, 1930, and 1931. His career, which concluded in 1938, was a masterclass in how skill and determination could utterly eclipse physical stature.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Aurèle was born in 1901, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Aurèle Was Born
The biggest hits of 1901
Aurèle's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1901Born
Queen Victoria dies, ending the Victorian era
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1906Started school
San Francisco earthquake devastates the city
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1914Became a teenager
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1917Could drive
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1919Could vote
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1922Turned 21
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1931Turned 30
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1941Turned 40
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1951Turned 50
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1961Turned 60
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 70
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 80
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Died at 85
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
Key Achievements
- Won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player in 1934.
- Scored 270 career goals and 460 points in 655 regular-season games, all for the Montreal Canadiens.
- Was a key member of three Stanley Cup championship teams (1924, 1930, 1931).
- Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1947.
Did You Know?
He famously played without a helmet his entire career, a common practice at the time.
Joliat worked as a firefighter in the off-seasons during his hockey career.
He was the last surviving member of the Canadiens' 1924 Stanley Cup team at the time of his death in 1986.
His nickname 'Little Giant' was often used interchangeably with 'Mighty Atom'.
“I was small, so I had to be fast and smart to survive on the ice.”
