MONTREAL - Bob Fillion, who played seven seasons for the Montreal Canadiens in the 1940s, has died, the NHL club announced Thursday.

Fillion, 95, who won Stanley Cups in 1944 and 1946, became the oldest surviving Canadien when his former teammate Elmer Lach died at 97 in April.

Rejean Houle, a Canadiens public relations ambassador and head of the team's alumni association, said Fillion attended most of the team's home games in recent years until he took ill near the end of last season.

"He had the problems of old age; I guess you could say he died of natural causes," said Houle. "He was a real Montreal Canadiens fan.

"He always came to the building and took notes. He followed the team very closely."

The Thetford Mines, Que., native had 42 goals and 61 assists in 327 career NHL games, all for the Canadiens. The mainly defensive left-winger, who often played on a line with Ken Mosdell and Murph Chamberlain, added seven goals and four assists in 33 playoff games.

His most productive season was his rookie year in 1943-44, when he had seven goals and 30 points. He had a career-high 10 goals in 1945-46, and then shone in the post-season with seven points in nine games to help Montreal win the Stanley Cup.

He played for the Canadiens till 1949-50 and retired after a season with the Sherbrooke Saints of the Quebec Senior Hockey League in 1950-51.

After his hockey career, he worked as a manager at a mine in his home town. In recent years he lived in St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que.

Fillion came from a family of seven hockey-playing brothers. Only one of his brothers, Marcel, made it to the NHL, playing one game for the Boston Bruins in 1944-45. The others played in senior and minor pro leagues.

Houle said forward Gerry Plamondon, 91, who played 74 NHL games between 1945 and 1951, is now believed to be the oldest surviving Canadien.