Bill Thoms

Bill Thoms was a quiet, underrated player whose outstanding contributions never got the credit he deserved. In parts of seven seasons in Toronto he played in the shadow of the great Joe Primeau. Then was traded to Chicago where the weak Black Hawks struggled for wins and respect.

Thoms was a great amateur with the Toronto Marlboros of the Senior OHA before turning pro with the Syracuse Stars of the IAHL.

Thoms joined the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1932-33 and the team finished first three straight years. He was the center for Hec Kilrea and Frank Finnigan, filling in on the 'Kid Line' occasionally when Joe Primeau was hurt.

Though he was noted more as a playmaker than goal scorer, Thoms and Charlie Conacher led the NHL in goals in 1935-36 with 23. That year Thoms centered a line with Buzz Boll and Finnigan, and made the second all-star team. Although he didn't have the polish of Joe Primeau, he was nevertheless an excellent two-way center and got his share of points.

He had one of his best years in 1937-38 playing with Boll and Pep Kelly, once again helping the Leafs to another first place finish. The Leafs would falter in the playoffs yet again. In the 1930s the Leafs went to the Stanley Cup finals 8 times, losing 7 of them!

Conn Smythe saw fit to make changes and traded Thoms to Chicago for Doc Romnes in 1938-39. He played five good years for the Black Hawks where he quietly continued to be one of the NHL's best two-way centers. He was said to be very adept with the poke-check and was a very good stickhandler.

He really had a good year in 1941-42 with 15 goals, 30 assists for 45 points, finishing 7th in NHL scoring. He was out of action for much of 1943-44 and then Chicago sold him to Boston during 1944-45 where he finished his career.

The native of Newmarket, Ontario played in 548 NHL games, scoring 135 goals, 206 assists and 341 points.

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Bingo Kampman

When Rudolph Kampman broke into the NHL, he immediately caught the attention of observers due to his unique stick abilities. He was ambidextrous.

“One of the most unusual of our present day stick wielders in the NHL is “Bingo” Kampman. He’s distinctly a two-handed performer, who wields his stick either from the left side or the right with equal effectiveness. One minute you cast your eye over the Toronto defense and over Kampman, and you find him playing right-handed. Suddenly there is a shift of the opposing attack to his left. Presto! Bango Bingo is playing left-handed,” once wrote the editor of the Toronto Star.

Kampman was a hard rock defenseman with Toronto in the 1940s, not afraid to throw big body checks or exchange pleasantries with NHL's toughest fighters. His penchant for the physical game apparently earned him his famous nickname.

Kampman was as strong as an ox. Sometimes the on-ice Hercules even used his strength for his benefit away from the rink. More than once Kampman engaged in parlor tricks, winning bar room bets with his teammates by lifting tables high off of the ground with nothing more than his teeth!

Kampman was a bit like a modern day Ed Jovanovski, although Kampman was not nearly as gifted in the skating department. Still, he liked to rush the puck out of his zone, rumbling through each zone in burly although sometimes aimless fashion. He didn't score all that often, as his 14 tallies in 189 career games suggests, but his rushes were described as exciting and memorable.

Dit Clapper, the great Boston Bruin, certainly remembered one rush in particular. As Kampman entered the zone Clapper engaged him along the wall in a routine play. The two fell to the ice. Kampman got up, but Clapper was left lying on the ice in a pool of his own blood. Kampman's skate accidentally sliced Clapper's achillies tendon.

Kampman helped the Leafs with the Stanley Cup in 1942, but that would be the last he would play with them. He was enlisted in Canada's military efforts in World War II, serving in Ottawa and Nova Scotia while continuing to play senior hockey.

Upon his discharge Kampman, like so many Leafs of the early 40s, found his old roster spot taken by a younger player. Kampman continued to play on in various minor and senior leagues until 1950.

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Pete Langelle

Pete Langelle's NHL career was cut short due to military service in World War II. He was stationed in his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba, a training station of the Royal Canadian Air Force. He appeared in 3 full NHL seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs scoring 22 goals in 136 games. None of his goals were as big as hist last.

Langelle was born as Pete Landiak, but as he move through the ranks of amateur hockey he changed his name to Langelle, hoping to end the descrimination he and other Ukranians felt at the time.

Following a Memorial Cup championship with his hometown Monarchs in 1937, Langelle started his professional career with the Syracuse Stars of the AHL for two full seasons before joining the Leafs for the 1939 playoffs. He apprenticed with the Leafs the next two seasons before taking more of a full time role in the 1941-42 season. It was a magical season for both Langelle and the Leafs.

Toronto was emerging as a power-house that would end up winning 5 Stanley Cups before the end of the decade. The dynasty began with one of pro sports biggest comebacks in the 1942 Stanley Cup Finals against the Detroit Red Wings. The Wings took a commanding 3 games to none lead in the best of seven showdown. No team prior or since has comeback from a 3-0 deficit in the Stanley Cup finals. But the Leafs scratched and clawed their way back into contention, forcing a winner-takes-all seventh game.

The score was tied at one late in the third period when the unlikeliest of hereos scored a goal that would prove to be the Stanley Cup winning goal.

"The puck happened to bounce 10 feet from (Red Wing netminder John) Mowers and I kinda banged at it. Next thing I knew, the red light was on and we were ahead," recalled Langelle.

The Leafs would add another late goal to win the game 3-1 and win the series 4 games to 3 in an unthinkable come back. The Cup was Toronto's second championship.

Langelle had to leave the NHL for military service the following year but continued to play in a senior league in Winnipeg. When the war was over, Langelle returned to minor pro hockey. The speedy fan favorite found no room on the Leafs powerhouse roster upon his return. He continued on, playing six seasons with the AHL's Pittsburgh Hornets before returning to semi-pro senior hockey for two more seasons.

The 5'11" 170lb center scored 22 goals and 51 assists in 136 games. A good skater and crafty playmaker, he will always be remembered for his Stanley Cup winning goal in 1942.

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