THE SIDELINES : Fall Hospitalizes Ex-Canadien

MONTREAL — Hector (Toe) Blake, coach of the Montreal Canadiens from 1955 to 1968, was in the hospital today for treatment of a head injury after a fall at his home.

A Canadiens’ spokesman said the 77-year-old Blake sustained the injury Sunday. He will remain in the hospital under observation for an indefinite period, the NHL club said.

Joan Lamontagne, a spokesman for the Montreal General Hospital, said Blake arrived at the emergency department about 1 a.m. and his condition was being evaluated.

In 13 seasons as the Canadians’ coach, he took his teams to eight Stanley Cup championships--including five straight from 1955 to 1960.

He joined the Canadiens as a player in 1936 and won the Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable player in the 1938-39 season. He gave up playing in 1948 after breaking his ankle and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1966.