Originally from Rimouski Quebec, Les Anning was born March 17th, 1927 and came to be known by the nickname of the "Rimouski Rocket."
Les Anning first arrived in Britain in 1946 joining the Wembley Monarchs and in his first season, he led the club with 86 points. After a second season with the Monarchs, he then lined up with stable mates, the Wembley Lions for one season before crossing London to play three seasons (1950-53) in the colours of the Earls Court Rangers. Whilst a Ranger, he was twice voted onto the All Star A-team, and was a third of one of the great forward lines in British hockey, the BAR line with Kenny Booth at centre and Cliff Ryan on the left wing.
The 1954/55 season saw Anning, now recognised as one of the fastest skaters in post-war British hockey, playing for the Ayr Raiders in the first ever British League for one term. Four of the next five seasons were spent back in the capital with the Wembley Lions, the break being in 1958/59 when he iced as a Brighton Tiger. In those late fifties campaigns with the Lions, Anning was again part of another high-scoring trio of forwards, this time labelled the BSA line – his partners being again Kenny Booth at centre and fellow Hall-of-Famer Les Strongman on the left flank.
Les Anning’s complete statistical record in competitive games in British ice hockey reads:
GP 604 Goals 552 Ass 398 Pts 950 PIM 261
Statistics can be read in many ways, but it is hard to put any other interpretation on those above than to indicate that Les Anning was probably the most consistent scorer of his era.
Les Anning died 28th January 2008 aged 80.
Compiled with research, provided by Martin C.Harris - March 1999.
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