Art Duncan

Art Duncan was playing with the Vancouver Millionaires of the Pacfic Coast Hockey Association in the 1915-16 season when enlisted for the military in World War 1. When Duncan returned from the war, he came decorated with the military cross and returned to play for the Millionaires where he helped the team win 4 PCHA championships.

Duncan (seen here on the left, wearing funky pants and shaking King Clancy's hand) made the jump to the NHL in the 1926-27 campaign as a player/coach for the Detroit Cougars which later became known as the Detroit Falcons and the Detroit Red Wings. But after just one season with Detroit Duncan was replaced by Jack Adams. Art wasn't discouraged by that and he went on to play for the Toronto St. Pats. As Art arrived to Toronto Conn Smythe just bought the Toronto franchise. He renamed the team to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

In 1930-31 Smythe decided to go out and purchase King Clancy and Alex Levinsky to help out on their blueline. Since Duncan's main postion was defence and his skills were no longer needed he retired as a player and went on to coach. Duncan was again replaced as coach by Dick Irvin in the 1931-32 campain. That was the first year the Maple Leafs won their first Stanley Cup.

When Duncan retired he had played in 156 games. He scored 18 goals and 16 assists for 34 points, and he tallied up 225 PIM. It was too bad that after his career he wasn't able to make it as a head coach in the NHL. Then again if Duncan could see how quickly NHL head coaches change jobs nowadays he probably wouldn't feel that bad.