Lidio Fogolin was a rugged and solid positional defenceman who played over 400 games in the NHL. He began his career on the powerful Detroit Red Wings' then moved on to the Chicago Black Hawks as they became competitive in the 1950s. During his career, the hard-nosed blueliner dished out more than his share of bone-crunching bodychecks and saw to it that opposition forwards kept their heads up while heading down the ice on offense.
Fogolin started with the local Port Arthur Juniors before moving on to the OHA's Galt Kists/Red Wings. During his last season of junior in 1945-46 he scored 37 points in 27 games. He began his pro tenure by spending a year each with the USHL's Omaha Knights and the Indianapolis Capitals of the AHL.
Fogolin saw his first NHL action in the pressure-cooker of the Stanley finals against the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1948. He began the 1948-49 season in Indianapolis before joining Detroit for the last 43 games of the season. The burly rearguard played solidly for the Wings in the playoffs but they came up short against Toronto for the second straight year.
Fogolin was outstanding in 1949-50 as he played tough defense in his own end and was more self-assured moving the puck up ice. He was chosen to the NHL squad in that year's all-star game, then helped the Wings win the Stanley Cup that spring.
The veteran rearguard shifted gears in 1950-51 when he and Steve Black were traded to the weaker Chicago Black Hawks for Bert Olmstead and Vic Stasiuk. He scored 13 points in 35 games and helped solidify the Hawks' blueline. Fogolin was one of the best Chicago players over the next few years but the team's only playoff appearance came in 1953 when they lost a tough seven-game semi-final series to the Montreal Canadiens. He played his last NHL season in 1955-56 then spent a year with WHL's Calgary Stampeders where he broke his elbow twice before retiring in 1957.
