Toronto Maple Leafs Legends

Monday

Daniel Marois

For a couple of seasons, Daniel Marois was the talk of Toronto. Along with fellow Frenchman Vincent Damphousse, the duo were taking the NHL by storm. The Leafs, who also had another great tandem in Ed Olczyk and Gary Leeman, were one of the more exciting offensive teams. Unfortunately the team's chemistry fell apart. Marois and Damphousse were take off the same line and later Damphousse, who has made a career out of making players around him better, was traded away. Marois was never able to regain his status as a top sniper in the game.

Marois relied on his good hockey sense to become a top goal scorer. He broke into the league in 1988-89 and scored 31 goals as a rookie. The following year he moved up to 39 goals. Marois was one dimensional in the sense that he was a goal scorer. He had terrific eye-hand coordination and a quick release, and an uncanny knack to get open at the right time. He was a very good skater and a powerplay specialist.

Damphousse, and center iceman Tom Fergus, were solid two way players who specialized in setting up plays, so Marois was a good fit on that line. However he had his shortcomings - most notably his lack of strength and a non-existent defensive game. He also lacked the vision set up plays to his linemates.

After those back to back 30 plus goal seasons, Marois found himself losing confidence in his game after a season of injuries decimated the Leafs lineup. Damphousse was moved to a new line while Fergus played in only 14 games due to a groin injury. He was reduced to 21 goals and just 9 assists. The following year he scored just 15 times before being traded to the New York Islanders.

The move out of Toronto was just what Marois needed to get his career back on track, but fate would not allow that. Serious back problems began plaguing Marois for the rest of his career. He struggled with the Islanders, and later with the Boston Bruins and briefly with the Dallas Stars. He spent considerable time in the minor leagues and on the injury list as well.

By 1997 Marois had left North America and became a top import in various European leagues

Friday

Billy Harris

Billy Harris was a local kid who grew up idolizing the Leafs He was a star hockey player himself, coming up through the Marlies system, winning the Memorial Cup in 1954-55. He was part of an influx of young talent that would join the Leafs in the late 1950s who would help return the Leafs to glory, winning 4 Stanley Cups in the 1960s. Harris was a part of the first three.

Tall and thin, "Hinky" was a good skater and stickhandler, a real heady player. Early on he was counted on in an offensive role, but by the end of 1950s he would become a 3rd line utility player. Part of this was because he was a bit of a whipping boy for coach Punch Imlach. But the biggest reason was the incredible depth at center ice the Leafs enjoyed by the 1960s - Dave Keon and Red Kelly were undeniably the team's top two centers.

His ice time dwindled as the 1960s progressed, so he was moved from Toronto and started bouncing around the league a bit. He went on to play briefly with the Canadian national team after his NHL days were done. This exposed him to international hockey and from there, he spent a year in Sweden coaching their national team, where he got a real appreciation of the European game, especially the Soviets. He was one of the few Canadians who were cautioning Canada's expectations when the NHL's pros first played the Soviets at the 1972 Summit Series.

Harris, who coached a number of WHA teams including the Toronto Toros, was selected to run the bench for the 1974 Summit Series, a WHA copycat tournament of the original.

Harris scored 134 goals and 229 assists in 769 NHL games with Toronto, Detroit, Oakland and Pittsburgh during a 14-year NHL career from 1956-69.

Harris, a very active member of the Leafs alumni association in later years, wrote a wonderful book - a mixture of Leafs history and personal autobiography, in 1989. The Glory Years: Memories of a Decade 1955-1965 is just a wonderful inside recollection of an amazing team with some amazing players.

Billy Harris died of leukemia in 2001. He was just 66 years old.

Sunday

Felix Potvin

Potvin was one of the first of seemingly countless great Quebecois puck stoppers to follow in the footsteps of Patrick Roy. Judging by his junior career, Potvin would be the next Roy and perhaps better! He was born and raised in Montreal but was never a Habs fan. He liked the Quebec Nordiques better, but liked Billy Smith and the New York Islanders best of all. He led the QMJHL in shutouts three straight seasons. His final year he was named as the Canadian major junior goaltender of the year after backstopping Chicoutimi to the Memorial Cup finals. He also earned a gold medal at the World Junior championships.

The Leafs were pleasantly surprised to see Potvin still available in the second round of the deep 1990 NHL entry draft. Ht Leafs grabbed him with 31st overall pick. After a year of learning English and successful of apprenticeship in the American Hockey League (he was named as the top rookie, top goalie and first team all star) Felix made the move to Toronto in 1992-93.

Potvin took the NHL by storm once he arrived. In his rookie season Potvin led the league in goals against average with a 2.50 mark, and backstopped the Leafs not only to their first true mark of respectability since the 1970s, but to playoff success. Potvin was brilliant as the Leafs went on a magical playoff run, only to fall short in a 7 game conference finals against Wayne Gretzky's Los Angeles Kings. Had the Leafs been successful, the Stanley Cup would have been a classic showdown - Leafs vs. Habs, Potvin vs. Roy.

Potvin followed up his rookie season with a 34 win season, tying Johnny Bower's team record for most wins in a year. He represented the Leafs in the All Star game and was even named player of the month in October. Potvin led the Leafs deep into the playoffs again, this time falling short against the Vancouver Canucks in the conference finals. Potvin was brilliant, perhaps no more so than in the opening round against Chicago. Potvin and Eddie Belfour had a classic goaltender grudge match. Potvin prevailed, including 3 nail biting 1-0 shutouts!

The Leafs fortunes sagged after that season. Potvin continued to be the workhorse goalie, including setting a Leafs record with 74 games appeared in 1996-97. That season Felix also set a league record with the most shots faced with 2662. Somehow Felix saved almost 91% percent of those shots! Yet increasingly it was the shots that eluded him that were beginning to bother people. He could stop 35 pucks in a game, but somehow would often let in a soft goal or a goal at exactly the wrong time.

By the summer of 1998 the Leafs had signed Curtis Joseph as their goalie. Potvin was out of the Leafs goaltending picture, and soon dispatched to the lowly New York Islanders where he, like everyone else on Long Island, struggled. The Cat was then moved on to Vancouver where he was subsequently booed out of town before finding another of his 9 lives in Los Angeles and then Boston.

Felix was nicknamed The Cat not only because he obviously held the same name as the famous comic strip, but because he relied on his cat-like reflexes to stop pucks. Potvin tended to stay back in his net too much and struggled with his lateral mobility. Word quickly got around the league to shoot up high on him and make him move around. He would lose his angle and his cat-like reflexes weren't able to stop the onslaught. After a great start to his career, he fell from his status as one of the league's best goaltenders.

Thursday

Bob Hassard

I just learned of the passing of Bob Hassard on December 30th, 2010. He was 81 years old.

Hassard is best remembered as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the early 1950s, including as a member of the 1951 Stanley Cup championship team. Interestingly, he only played 12 games with the Leafs that season, and none in the playoffs. Yet his named was still inscribed on the Stanley Cup. He may be the only player who never played a single playoff game in his career to have his name on the Stanley Cup.

Winning was something Hassard got used to. The previous season he helped the senior Toronto Marlies win the Allan Cup as Canada's amateur champions. Then the year after the Stanley Cup victory he helped the Pittsburgh Hornets capture the Calder Cup as AHL champions!

Though he was born in Lloydminister, Saskatchewan, he grew up in Toronto, not far from Maple Leaf Gardens. it was his dream to play for the Leafs. Actually, he was just as thrilled to make the Bantam Marlies at the age of 14 and later the junior Marlies.

Described as a great skater and a junior and minor league offensive dynamo, Hassard was in many ways burdened by his position. He was most comfortable at his natural position of center. The problem was the championship Leafs teams of his era had centers named Teeder Kennedy and Max Bentley, both Hall of Famers, and Cal Gardner and Tod Sloan, no slouches in their own right.

The gentlemanly center played sparingly in 5 NHL seasons, all with the Leafs except for 17 games with Chicago. He totalled just 126 games played, including 70 in 1952-53, his only full season in the league. He enjoyed long tenures with the junior and senior Marlies, as well as in the AHL. He left pro hockey in 1958, but returned to amateur senior hockey with the Whitby Dunlops through 1960. He helped Whitby win the Allan Cup in 1959.

All in all, not a bad hockey career considering he almost embarked upon a career in professional baseball, instead. When he was just 18 the Brooklyn Dodgers offered him a chance to play in the minor league system and work his way up to the minor leagues. He passed on the offer of reportedly $100 per month.

After retiring from the game in 1958, Bob Hassard settled in Stouffville, Ontario, a beautiful city just north of Toronto. Along with a business partner named Birkett, he opened up a successful insurance business. He was also a long time local minor hockey coach, teaching a generation of hockey loving kids including a young Keith Acton.

He enjoyed the slower pace of life in Stouffville and became a noted bluegrass musician. He also enjoyed giving free Christmas Eve wagon rides to children as well. Often long time Leaf and Hassard's close friend George Armstrong would join in for the night.

Hassard is survived by his son Bill, a Leaf draft pick in 1974, and daughters Kim and Jacqui, nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Friday

Greg Terrion

Greg Terrion was one of those unspectacular but consistent role players that every team needs in order to win hockey games. Unfortunately for Greg, his steady and consistent play was always with teams that were neither steady nor consistent as he was.

Drafted by Los Angeles 33rd overall in 1980, Greg played 2 years with the Kings before being traded to Toronto in 1982 for a 4th round draft choice. Greg spent the next 6 years in Toronto, playing his final NHL game in 1988.

Greg wasn't an overly talented finesse player. He was an above average skater, with really good speed. Combined with good defensive anticipation skills, Terrion's speed enabled him to carve out a nice niche for himself as a checking third line winger and regular penalty killer.

Despite his speed and hockey sense, Terrion was unable to translate those abilities to the offensive end of the rink. He seemed to have trouble finding open linemates with crisp passes. In addition his shot was pretty average at best, and he didn't release a shot nearly as often as he probably should have.

Physically Greg was only of average build. He did bump along the boards and was always getting in someone's way, but since he was not exceptionally strong, Terrion's physical game was limited by capability, not enthusiasm.

Terrion's trivia question claim to fame? He shares the NHL record for most penalty shot goals in one season - two, in the 1983-84 season. Both goals came in home games against Chicago. The first goal beat Tony Esposito on Oct. 15, 1983. The second goal beat Murray Bannerman on Jan. 14, 1984.

Brian Glennie

Phil Esposito. Bobby Clarke. Paul Henderson. Ken Dryden. Brian Glennie. What do these guys have in common? They were all part of the 1972 Team Canada team that took on the Soviet Union in the greatest hockey tournament ever.

Brian Glennie? No, that's not a mistake. He was a spare defenseman who never actually played in the series, but none-the-less was part of Team Canada. Despite not playing, being part of the team was unquestionably the highlite of his career.

“It still brings tears to your eyes to think about it. That’s something I’ll never forget.” said Glennie “My strongest memory is from when Paul was doing his usual job of backchecking and scored the winning goal. After the game, I don’t think I’ve heard ‘O Canada’ sung with such feeling in my life."

Glennie, an unheralded defensive blueliner in his 10 year NHL career, was asked to join Team Canada after Boston rearguard Dallas Smith had to turn down his invitation.

“At every hockey banquet I go too, I thank Dallas Smith for saying no,” Glennie jokes “It made me a better hockey player and turned out to be one of the greatest moments of my life.”

Glennie, who had a reputation as a hard hitting bodychecker and fierce defensive force, was asked to join the team partially because of his experience against the Russians. Unlike most of the NHLers on Team Canada, Glennie had twice played against the Russians. Once while in junior with the Toronto Marlies, and once during the 1968 Olympics.

Glennie played his junior hockey with his hometown Toronto Marlboros where he helped lead the team to the Memorial Cup in 1966-67 and played one more year of junior before breaking into the NHL. The low-scoring defenseman began his NHL career with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1969-70. after the Olympics and a year of seasoning in the minor leagues. He played nine seasons with the Leafs before he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings on June 14, 1978. Glennie played in 18 games for the Kings in 1978-79 before retiring from the NHL. Over his career, the rugged defenseman scored 14 goals with 100 assists for 114 points with 621 penalty minutes in 572 regular season games.

But it was that memorable September in 1972 that ranks highest on Glennie's highlight list.

After his hockey days were over, Glennie was involved in several businesses until 1990 when a severe heart attack forced him into retirement. He continues to make public appearances at banquets.

Wednesday

Turk Broda Welcomes Friend To His Crease

Turk Broda welcomes a friend to his goal crease:

Monday

Toronto Maple Leafs Greatest Players

Toronto Maple Leafs Legends

King Wendel Babe Dye Tim Red Kelly Teeder Dave Frank Mahovlich Terry Darryl Sittler

Other Maple Leafs Players

Ace Andy Barbe Andy Jim Garth Buzz Pat Carl Arthur Brooks Brian Charlie Vincent Ken Jim Kent Gord Dick Dave Ron Jimmy Fowler Miroslav Cal Bob George Paul Larry Al Larry Joe Alex Levinsky Dan Ulcers McCool Goose Bucko Howie Don Nick Metz Gus Bob Gary Ed Bert Wilf Mike Babe Marcel Bob Pat Sweeney Eddie Allan Wally Pete Gaye Steve Bill Thoms Jimmy Ian Norm Rick Carl Shakey Tiger Peter

Sunday

Albert Pudas

Al Pudas was born in Siikajoki, Finland. When he played 4 games with the Toronto St. Patricks (later renamed the Maple Leafs) he became the first NHL player who was born in Finland.

He may have been born in Finland, but he moved to Ontario with his parents when he was a little kid. He learned to play hockey on small frozen ponds and became a pretty good player as a youngster, eventually graduating to the Port Arthur Ports in 1922-23.

Pudas did very well there, scoring more than a goal per game (17 in 16 games). He continued to play for Port Arthur until 1926 (they were named the Bearcats later on). In the 1924-25 playoffs Al exploded for 21 points (11 goals and 10 assists) in only 10 games, and the following playoffs in 1925-26 he led all playoff scorers with 13 points (including 7 goals) in 9 games.

His fine performance during the playoffs gave him his shot at the NHL. The Toronto St. Pats signed Pudas as a free agent on November 10, 1926. He started out with a farm team, playing for the Windsor Hornets in the Canadian Professional Hockey League. Al played so well there that the St. Pats called him up on December 28, 1926.

Two nights later, on December 30, Al made his NHL debut, playing left wing against Boston, making him the first Finnish born player to skate in the National Hockey League. Boston's legendary coach and GM Art Ross protested Toronto's use of Pudas, believing that he was ineligible to play. The NHL ruled Pudas was indeed eligible to play, and Toronto won the game 4-1.

Pudas played the next three games for the St.Pats - a 3-0 loss to the Montreal Maroons on January 1, 1927, a 2-1 win against the Detroit Cougars on January 4 and a 3-1 win against the NY Americans on January 8th. He was held pointless in all four games.

Pudas was sent back to Windsor on January 10th, and never made it back to the NHL. Instead he bounced between Hamilton, Stratford, London and Detroit in the Can-Pro league for the next couple of seasons.

He eventually retired in the late 1920's and went on to be a successful coach. Al coached the Port Arthur Bearcats where he once had played. The Bearcats lost the 1935 Allan Cup finals to the Halifax Wolves. This meant that Halixax were designated as the 1936 Olympic colour-bearers, but before the 35-36 season began, several members from the Halifax team had jumped to other teams. So the CAHA (Canadian Amateur Hockey Association) decided to send the Port Arthur Bearcats to the Olympics

By doing so Pudas made another historic first, as he became the only European born coach for a Canadian national team. His Bearcats were strengthened by five good Montreal players and one from Port Colborne, Ontario. Unfortunately for Pudas and Canada, Great Britain controversially won the Olympic gold, with Canada left in second place for the first time in Olympic history.

The controversial British team had a team full of native Canadians. Five players were originally from Ontario and another three players were from Winnipeg, including the sensational goalie Jimmy Foster who at that time was heralded by many as being the best goalie to come out of Winnipeg behind only Charlie Gardiner.

Canada lost to Great Britain in the preliminary round, but fully expected to get another crack at the British squad in the four-team final round as teams always had in the past. But the general secretary of the British Ice Hockey Federation and the future IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) president John Francis "Bunny" Ahearne, who was a known Canadian hater for many years insisted that a return match in the final round wasn't necessary. The uproar was so furious that Paul Loicq of Belgium, the president of the IIHF at that time, was obliged to call an emergency meeting to deal with Canada's protests. Ahearne managed to outmaneuver the Canadians and Al Pudas. When the vote came, five countries, including the USA, sided with Ahearne. Canada's only supporter was Germany.

The Silver medal was a great disappointment for both Al and Canada. But Pudas will go down to the history books as the first Finn in the NHL as well as the first and only European born person to coach a North American national hockey team.

Friday

Bill Derlago

Bill Derlago was Vancouver's 1st round, 4th overall draft pick in 1978 following a spectacular junior career with the Brandon Wheat Kings. In the 1976-77 campaign Derlago scored a whopping 96 goals and 178 points in full 72 game season. In 1977-78 he would play in only 52 games but scored 89 goals and 152 points! He also set a junior record by reaching the 50 goal mark in just 27 games!

However Derlago's luck would quickly run out in his first pro season. He suffered a severely broken leg which cost him most of the season. He appeared in only 9 NHL games, scoring a promising 4 goals and 8 points.

"Billy D" got off to a slow second season as well. He only had 11 goals and 26 points in 54 games when Vancouver gave up on him. Fearing he was a bit too small and that his broken leg had caused him to lose a step, the Canucks prematurely gave up on him and another fellow promising young player, Rick Vaive. The pair were dealt to Toronto in exchange for Jerry Butler and Tiger Williams, the key to the deal from a Vancouver perspective.

While Williams and Butler gave the Canucks lots of heart and determination, they didn't provide a whole lot of offense. Vaive of course would go on to be one of the most productive goal scorers in Maple Leaf history, including three consecutive 50 goal seasons. Derlago would often serve as Vaive's center, and while he never duplicated the same offensive flare he showed in junior, he enjoyed some success while in Toronto. Four times he scored more than 30 goals, including a career high 40 in 1983-84. His best offensive season came two years earlier when he scored 34 goals and 84 points.

Derlago would only play one game of the 1985-86 season with Toronto before he was traded to Boston in exchange for Tom Fergus. Bill had trouble adjusting in Beantown and halfway through the season he was dealt to Winnipeg for big Wade Campbell. Derlago couldn't get things untracked with the Jets that year or the next, which he split between Winnipeg, Quebec and the minor leagues. It proved to be Derlago's last season of pro hockey in North America. He did play one more year in Switzerland.

Billy Derlago, one of the greatest junior hockey players in the history of game, scored 189 goals in 555 NHL games. He scored 185 goals in his last two season of junior hockey (124 games)!

Wednesday

Luke Richardson

A lot of people are really impressed by Luke Schenn these days. And well they should be. He really impressed in his rookie season in 2008-09, logging big minutes with the weak Toronto Maple Leafs. Aside from Tomas Kaberle, he was arguably their best defenseman while still being a teenager.

This Luke reminds me of another Luke who entered into the NHL as a rough and tumble rookie with a sorry Leafs team - Luke Richardson back in the late 1980s.

Luke Richardson was an imposing figure to be sure. He was 6'3" and 215 lbs, and he loved to throw his weight around. He did not just hit to take the man off the puck, either. He hit to hurt. In his younger days his hitting was made even more scary by his impressive skating. He never had a lot of straight ahead speed, but he was very mobile laterally and had excellent balance.

His intimidating presence won him a lot of fans in the early days. He had never played a game in the minor leagues, jumping straight from junior hockey to the NHL, heightening expectations even more so. Fans had visions of another Larry Robinson or Borje Salming, Richardson's two boyhood idols, the latter of whom he actually had the chance to play with in his first two seasons. Coaches and fans definitely had early visions of a similar player in Richardson, but they had lots of work to do. In order to be a true impact player Richardson needed to improve much of his game, something that he was very slow in doing. This led him to travelling around the league a fair deal.

His defensive reads were poor at times. He could look spectacularly awful in overcommitting at the wrong time, especially when he strayed into corners when he should have remained clearing the slot. He also strayed out of position to make a big hit. He never had the speed or the hand skills to carry the puck or jump into the rush. He rarely put the puck on the net with his merely adequate shot.

His physical exuberance also drew a lot of enemies from around the league. Other teams' tough guys would target young Richardson, who was really not a fighter. He answered the bell and accepted the job, but he rarely won the fights.

Yet Richardson lasted 1417 games in the league, always remaining positive, winning the admiration of his teammates. He accepted his limitations and played within them with great determination. He became known a serviceable veteran depth defenseman providing quiet leadership, physical presence and eager shot blocking for several teams.

He was involved in one of the more high-profile trades of the 1990's, dealt to Edmonton from Toronto with Vincent Damphousse, Peter Ing and Scott Thornton, for Grant Fuhr, Glenn Anderson and Craig Berube, on September 19, 1991. After six seasons with the Oilers, Richardson signed as an unrestricted free agent with Philadelphia for five seasons. he later signed in Columbus, Ottawa.

In some ways Luke Richardson never achieved his potential, but that potential was probably built up by the media and fans too high. He did play in over 1400 games, so he no disappointment either.

Friday

Bill Juzda

Bill Juzda, a hard hitting, stay at home defenseman in the 1940s, had two nicknames.

He was best known as "The Beast" because of his physical exuberance he preferred while delivering defensive excellence, shutting down even the most explosive of the NHL's offensive stars.

But if there was one star he was best known for battling it was Montreal's Rocket Richard. Their continuing war earned Juzda the unofficial moniker of Richard's Anglo Nemesis.

In fact, the 5'9" and 180lb defenseman who was known for his bone-rattling bodychecks is best remembered for the night he hit Rocket Richard so hard that the Plexiglas broke. Plexiglas was still new back then, and no one thought it could be broken.

Juzda was an old school defenseman if there ever was one. He cared not about offense. He only scored 14 goals and 68 points in 398 games. But he took immense pride in his defensive play. The bruising bodychecker played the game rough and tough, but his penalty minute totals were very reasonable - just 398 minutes in as many games.

Juzda started his pro career with the New York Rangers in 1940-41. His career was interrupted for a couple of years when he served as a pilot in the Second World War. He was traded to the Leafs in 1948, and was an all-star in 1948 and '49. He won Stanley Cups with the Leafs in 1949 and 1951 before leaving the NHl in 1952.

In 1953 he returned to Winnipeg to play for the Winnipeg Maroons for ten seasons making two Allan Cup final appearances. He also worked as an engineer with the Canadian Pacific Railroad for many years. He also coached amateur hockey at all levels, from midget to senior. He continued to play oldtimers hockey himself until he was in his 70s.

Juzda died of cancer on February 17th, 2008. He was 87 years old.

Vic Lynn

Vic Lynn is the only player in NHL history to skate for all of the Original Six teams.

Lynn played one game for the New York Rangers in 1943. He was picked up by the Detroit Red Wings and played just three games. He played another two with the Montreal Canadiens in 1945 before joining the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1946. Lynn won three Stanley Cups over five seasons in Toronto. Lynn would also go on to play a few dozen games with both the Boston Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks as well.

While Lynn was an important member of the 1940s Toronto Maple Leafs teams, much of his professional career was spent in the minor leagues. He toiled in cities like Indianapolis, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Providence and Cleveland. But he never minded.

"I spent five years in the minors before I got my first real chance," he recalled. "But I got to see the world."

For all his stops, he is best known (at least outside of his native Saskatchewan) as a Toronto Maple Leaf. He played left wing on the KLM Line with Teeder Kennedy and Howie Meeker. But Lynn spent most of his hockey career actually playing as a defenseman.

"Defence had always been my position but when Conn Smythe and Hap Day brought me up, they moved me to left wing, and that's where I played for the next five years. Kennedy was outstanding at centre and that always helped, and Meeker was a speed demon, and the three of us always got along well together."

Lynn, more of a banger and crasher, also formed memorable penalty kill tandems with Joe Klukay and later Johnny McCormack.

Asked what his career highlight was, Lynn of course talked about the Stanley Cup wins.

"The Stanley Cup, that'd be the best one in the world. In 1947, 1948 and 1949. We felt like heroes, you know, everybody cheering you, everybody giving you a pat on the back, until you went back to training camp the next year, then you had to start all over again. We had a pretty good hockey team. It was pretty well equalized, everybody was the same, everybody got their turn to play and everybody played good. We had a good coach and we had good management, and that's what made it."

Vic Lynn was born in Saskatoon in 1925. He was a junior hockey star (as well as a football player) who was dubbed the "Saskatoon Streak." He was inducted into the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame in 1987, thanks in large part to his returning to the Saskatchewan city after his NHL days to play senior hockey for the Quakers hockey team. In a decade of senior hockey following his NHL days Lynn led the club to seven Saskatchewan championships and four Western Canada titles.

Lynn also owned and operated a hotel just north of Saskatoon until his mid 50s.

Tuesday

Alex Levinsky

Born in Syracuse, New York, Levinsky had a most interesting nickname - "Mine Boy." No, he never worked in any mines. Nor did his father, but it was he who inadvertantly gave his son the life long moniker. The proud poppa used to yell from the stands "That's mine boy!"

I have not been able to confirm it just yet, but Alex Levinsky may have been the first Jewish hockey player in NHL history.

Levinsky was a two time Stanley Cup champion who split his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Chicago Blackhawks, and played ever so briefly with the New York Rangers. He won a Cup title both as a Leaf and as a Hawk: in Toronto in 1932 and in Chicago in 1938.

Levinsky, who grew up in Toronto, was a solid, stay-at-home defenseman, who rarely scored. He was a strong skater blessed with speed, as he had played a lot of forward as a youth. Smythe had signed him and his junior partner Bob Gracie right out of the Toronto Marlies junior team, though Levinsky would find himself soon partnered with Hap Day.

The Leafs moved Levinsky to the Rangers for the 1934-35 campaign, but after just 20 games with the Blueshirts Levinsky moved on to Chicago. He would play the next five years with the Hawks before being suspended by the team. The Hawks had traded Levinsky, the oldest player on their blue line, down to the minor leagues for Joe Cooper of the Philadelphia Ramblers. Levinsky balked at the move to Philly, and was suspended indefinitely. He eventually reported Philadelphia, but only after assurances from New York Rangers boss Lester Patrick that he would soon return to the NHL as the Rangers wanted him back. That never did happen though. Levinsky would play two years with the Ramblers, serving as team captain.

In 367 NHL games Levinsky scored 19 goals and 49 assists for 68 career points. He added another 2 goals and 1 assist in 37 playoff games.

After hockey he returned hom to Toronto and owned his own car dealership and ran a bowling alley. He died on September 1st, 1990.

Sunday

Arthur Brooks

Arthur Brooks was an agile goalie who had a solid career in the OHA Sr. league. He played for Owen Sound and his hometown Guelph Maple Leafs team. He was signed as a spare goalie by the Toronto Arenas in the NHA (National Hockey Association) in 1916 and played four games for the Arenas.

During the inaugural NHL season of 1917-18 Arthur was signed by Toronto once again, this time on December 15th, 1917. His first NHL action came in a wild game against the Montreal Wanderers on December 19th, 1917. Toronto Arenas regular goalie Sammy Hebert was decked by an errant shot in the face and had to leave the game early in the second period. Arthur stepped in and saw five pucks get past him in the Wanderers 10-9 win.

In his next game (December 22nd) Arthur stopped Ottawa as his Toronto won 11-4. Four days later Arthur was standing on his head, saving shots from all angles as Toronto beat the Montreal Canadiens 7-5.

His fourth and last NHL game came on December 29th on the road against the Canadiens. This time the Montreal team wasn't going to be denied and bombarded poor Arthur who had to surrender nine goals in a 9-2 defeat. The gung-ho style that Toronto displayed during these games didn't sit well with Charlie Querrie who was Toronto's manager at that time. When it became apparent that Hebert wasn't coming back, Querrie started to look after a reliable and experienced goalie. Querrie managed to secure the services of dependable Harry "Hap" Holmes from the Seattle Metropolitans (PCHL) on January 4th, 1918.

With "Hap" aboard there was not any need for Arthur and he was released on January 6th, 1918, only two days after "Hap" had signed with Toronto. In his brief NHL career Arthur didn't have much opportunity to shine. The Arenas eventually went on to win the Stanley Cup that year and although Arthur never got his name engraved on the Cup, he was a member of the team.

It's believed that Arthur never played hockey again after that 1917-18 season. Having earned a reported $20 per game, Brooks must have decided he needed a better career off of the ice.

Tuesday

Pep Kelly

North Bay, Ontario's Regis Kelly was tagged early in his hockey life as a "pepperpot" of a play thanks mainly to his tireless skating. The moniker was shortened to the name almost everyone knew him best by - Pep.

The curly haired speedster was quickly noticed by the Leafs, as he helped the Newmarket Redmen win the Memorial Cup in 1933. The Leafs had him join the St. Mikes Majors the following year, and he again was a major part of a Memorial Cup championship, this time alongside future Leafs teammates Art Jackson and Nick Metz.

With his very successful junior career over, Kelly immediately joined the Maple Leafs in 1935. The Leafs were a regular season power house although they kept stumbling in the playoffs. But Kelly stepped in nicely, scoring 11 goals in 42 games as a rookie.

In the 1936-37 season the Leafs loaned the 5'7" and 155lb Kelly to Chicago for the balance of the season. He was returned to Toronto in the summer. The practice of loaning players to undermanned teams was not unheard of in this era.

Kelly played three more unspectacular seasons in Toronto, challenging the double digits mark in goals each season. He was also a regular on the penalty kill. He was able to help the Leafs reach five Stanley Cup finals, but he never did get the chance to hoist Lord Stanley's mug.

By 1940 he was permanently moved to Chicago, but by 1941 he would find himself toiling in the minor leagues (aside from a short tour with the Brooklyn Americans), bouncing around until he retired from pro hockey in 1943.

Pep Kelly played in 288 NHL contests, scoring 74 goals and 127 points. He added another 7 goals and 13 points in 38 playoff contests.

Pep continued playing senior hockey, first in Sudbury and then back home in North Bay. He extended his hockey days by seven years chasing senior hockey glory, which in the 1940s carried a much bigger status than it does today. Three times he helped his teams to the Allan Cup tournament, though never won it all.

After retiring Kelly got a real job, working with the Canadian Pacific Railway just like his father, first as a fireman then as an engineer. A train collision in 1952 seriously injured his hip, ending his athletic days forever - both on the ice and on the golf course. Undeterred, Kelly continued to stay in hockey, coaching senior and kids hockey in North Bay while also scouting for the Leafs.

Regis "Pep" Kelly died in North Bay in 1990.

Saturday

Carl Voss

Carl Voss was a well traveled hockey player, but he got his start as a Toronto Maple Leaf. In fact, he was the original Toronto Maple Leaf.

In 1926, Conn Smythe purchased the Toronto hockey club, then known as the St. Pats. Smythe immediately changed the team's name to the Maple Leafs. That same day Smythe, or more accurately Frank Selke, signed his first player, a 20-year-old centerman from Massachusetts named Carl Voss. For the sum of $1200 for the season, Voss became the first hockey player to become a Toronto Maple Leaf.

While that is a great trivia question, Voss, born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, is not known for being a Maple Leaf. In fact from 1926 until 1932 he would play only 14 games in a Leafs' uniform, otherwise spending his time in the minor leagues. He enjoyed his best minor league seasons in Buffalo with the IAHL's Bisons. His best season came in 1931-32 when he led that league in scoring with 41 points in 46 games.

That fine season earned Voss a second look at the NHL level. In 1932-33 he attended the New York Rangers training camp and made the team. Despite scoring 2 goals and 3 points, Voss was sold to the Detroit Red Wings after only 10 games. Carl finished the season with 20 points in 38 games. That was good enough to make Carl Voss the first winner of the Calder Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year.

Over the next two seasons Voss played in 36 games with the Wings before being traded to Ottawa. He played in only 40 games in Ottawa before the whole franchise moved to St. Louis in 1934, where he played a full 48 games. That season proved to be his best as he scored 13 goals and 31 points.

The St. Louis franchise folded after just one season and Voss was picked up by the New York Americans. He played there but struggled in 1935-36 before he joined the Montreal Maroons in 1936-37. He started the 1937-38 season in Montreal but ended it with the Chicago Black Hawks. That was a great move for Voss as the Hawks won the Stanley Cup that season. Voss chipped in with 3 goals and 5 point in 10 playoff games. His last goal was the Stanley Cup winner!

That goal proved to be his last in the NHL as he retired from active play after the playoffs. But hockey remained a huge part of his life. By 1950, Carl was named the NHL's first Referee-in-Chief. He did a thankless job of monitoring referee performance and development, and helped the NHL evolve into its glory years.

For his work in this field, Voss was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1974.

Tuesday

Jimmy Fowler

His name is Jimmy Fowler. They fantastically nicknamed him "The Blonde Bouncer," hinting at some sort of robust and flamboyant nature. But from what I have been told he was actually a rather quiet and docile guy. Friends dubbed him "Gentleman Jim."

Fowler was a versatile player with the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1936 through 1939. Described as "a youthful rearguard" who also doubled as a utility forward at times, Fowler scored 18 goals and 47 points in 135 games. He added another 3 assists in 18 Stanley Cup playoff games.

After three seasons Fowler was starting to make a pretty good name for himself in the National Hockey League. He was a good skater with a good shot and strong passes. No one would have guessed he would retire before the 1940-41 season.

Fowler was part of one of the biggest trades in hockey history on May 18th, 1939. The Leafs traded Fowler, Busher Jackson, Murray Armstrong, Buzz Boll and Doc Romnes to the New York Americans all for superstar Sweeney Schriner.

Fowler had no interest in leaving Toronto. Rather than continue his career as a National Hockey League player, he simply retired. He began working as a saleseman for the paint company Glidden. He rose all the way to company president, retiring in 1976.

Fowler, who also trained pilots for the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II, played a lot of golf in retirement. He split his retirement time between southern Ontario and Florida.

Jimmy Fowler died on October 17th, 1985 after complications with heart surgery.

Tie Domi

Though he also played for the New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets, Tie Domi will always be remembered as a Toronto Maple Leaf.

He was unmistakably a tough guy, with under-appreciated hockey skills, too. He got into 100s of fights (a NHL record 333 to be exact), and is proud to be the Leafs all time penalty minutes leader. But he is also proud to be one of the most popular players in Leafs history.

Domi was unlike any other hockey player in Leafs history. He occupied a space in Toronto's sporting conscience normally reserved for superstars. He was no star, in fact he was often loathed as a hockey cementhead, but he was inextricably woven into the fabric of the city. He was more than a hockey player - he was a celebrity.

Part of Domi's charm was his undying commitment to charity and children in the city. He was also a popular fixture on Bay Street where he won over many in the business crowd not with his celebrity but his own acumen. NHL tough guys don't normally get confused with the intellectual crowd, but Domi was very much a savvy and intelligent businessman, turning his million dollar hockey paychecks into a whole new stratosphere as the CEO of his own company to overseas mergers and acquisitions.

Domi never forgot his roots though, and he knows he owes it all to hockey and his willingness to quite literally fight his way to the top.

He is quick to credit junior coach Dick Todd for his success, too.

"I was fortunate to play (Junior A) in Peterborough. The reason I'm where I am today is because I played there for Dick Todd. There's no ifs and buts," Domi says. Todd put Domi on the top line with Mike Ricci, then the best player in all of Canadian junior hockey, and scouts realized Domi could play too.

"I went from a guy who couldn't play -- from sitting in the stands one year, to playing on the first line and being drafted 27th overall by the Leafs."

After getting a chance to play just two games with the Leafs before he was traded to New York. In total he spent six years with the Rangers and Winnipeg Jets, cementing his reputation of cement hands. Despite being just 5'10" tall he fought all of the NHL's toughest customers, most notably Bob Probert.

But in his heart he always a Toronto boy, and he was thrilled to rejoin the Leafs in 1994. He stayed for more than a decade, turning down more lucrative job offers from other NHL teams (most notably from his good friend Mario Lemieux in Pittsburgh) to remain a Leaf forever.

Domi's amazing story quite literally comes from almost nothing. His family fled from their native Albania. His father John was hit in the head with a bullet trying to escape, but he made it to Canada and started a family. Tie (his given name is Tahir) grew up fighting, quite literally, on and off the ice. It was never easy, but persevered and turned his life into a great success story.

All in all Tie Domi played in 1020 NHL games, scoring 104 goals and 245 points as well as accumulating 3515 penalty minutes.

"Pretty good for a guy who wasn't supposed to make it, eh?" Domi says.

Thursday

Stan Kemp

Stan Kemp is a chartered member of the NHL's "One Game Wonder" club.

Kemp was an AHL regular during the 1940s, starring with the Providence Reds and Pittsburgh Hornets. Debuting as a 19 year old in 1943 after being honorably discharged from the military, the former Hamilton Whizzers junior player quickly established himself as an offensive defenseman. The 5'9" 170lb right-handed rearguard from Hamilton reached double digits in goals scored in five of his seven full AHL season in an era where that was not common.

He was in the middle of an AHL all-star season in 1948-49 when the Toronto Maple Leafs called him up for what would prove to be his only NHL game. That game came on January 23rd, 1949, a 2-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Kemp, wearing #16, made his only mark on the boxscore that night with a 2 minute minor penalty for tripping. Unfortunately for him, Gordie Howe, in his first game back after missing 20 with a foot injury, scored on the power play.

Kemp was returned to Pittsburgh soon after, where he finished the season as a second team all star. Somewhat oddly, that would prove to be Kemp's final season in the pros.

Kemp, nicknamed by teammates as "Bud," returned to Southern Ontario where he opened his own construction company, a profitable venture which he oversaw until his death in August 1999.

Though he left the pros in 1949, his hockey career was far from over. He played several years of senior hockey in Hamilton, Kitchener and Stratford.

Friday

Dr. Bill Carson

The Carson family remains legendary in Parry Sound, Ontario. Patriarch D. M. Carson was a lumber baron in the area, moving from Bracebridge in 1905. He built a beautiful Victorian home on 33 Church Street and raised four sons, three of whom went on to play in the National Hockey League in the 1920s and 1930s. The family home still stands in Parry Sound. It is now a bed and breakfast simply known as The Carson House.

Frank Carson, whose hair famously grayed in his early twenties, played seven seasons in the NHL, and was one the junior linemate of the great Howie Morenz.

Gerald "Stub" Carson played in 261 NHL games, mostly with the Montreal Canadiens, but scored just 12 goals.

But it was oldest brother Bill Carson who achieved the most fame on the ice. Once called the best junior hockey player in all of Ontario, he was a dashing and dynamic center. Despite that, he always felt he had another calling in life.

The Toronto St. Pats, forerunner to the Maple Leafs, signed Carson complete with a signing bonus consisting of a new pair of skates. But Bill opted not to attend the professional training camp, choosing to spend the next two years studying dentistry while starring on the varsity team at the University of Toronto. He helped that team win Canada's amateur championship, the Allan Cup, in 1921.

Carson eventually did try his hand at professional hockey, turning pro with the Leafs in 1926. He scored 16 goals in 40 games that first year, and the following year he became the first player in Leafs history to score 20 goals in a season. Playing on a speedy line with Ace Bailey and Butch Keeling or Danny Cox, Carson did it in only 32 games.

The 5'8" and 160lb center would be sold to Boston in the middle of his third campaign. He scored two goals in five playoff games, including the Stanley Cup winning goal!

He played in Boston for one more campaign, opting to retire at the end of the 1929-30 season. He returned to Parry Sound and practiced as a dentist.

In 159 NHL games Bill Carson scored 54 goals and 78 points. He died on May 29th, 1967.

Monday

Andy Barbe

Andy Barbe was destined for NHL stardom. That was the prognosis coming from none other than his minor league coach - and NHL legend - Francis "King" Clancy.

Clancy raved about his high scoring right winger. The King even swore that Barbe had the hardest shot in all of hockey. Unfortunately Andy Barbe would not become a NHL star, but rather a one game wonder who was never heard from again.

Barbe, from Coniston, Ontario, was an explosive scorer with the Los Angeles Monarchs of the old PCHL in the late 1940s. He scored 139 goals in 3 seasons with LA. In order to further his career he knew he had to leave the warm sunshine of California and play hockey at a higher level. He joined Toronto's farm team in the AHL, the Pittsburgh Hornets, in 1949. He quickly established himself as a 20 goal scorer in the "A."

Barbe's only NHL game came during the 1950-51 season. Wearing the Leafs' jersey he scored no points and picked up a minor penalty.

Thursday

Red Armstrong

Owen Sound, Ontario's Norm "Red" Armstrong was a long time minor leaguer. He was an excellent AHL player, but it was his love of the physical game that earned him his cup of coffee in the National Hockey League.

On December 15th, 1962 Red Armstrong was called up for his first NHL game. The Leafs were looking for some added truculence with Bobby Baun and Bob Nevin out of the lineup with injuries.

Now I do not know if this is factual or just myth, but there is a story out there that Armstrong had trouble getting on the ice for his first shift. As the story goes, the first time coach Punch Imlach called for him to go out, he called for "Red" and Red Kelly jumped out instead. The next shift Imlach called out "Armstrong" and captain George Armstrong jumped out. The anxious rookie could only watch from the bench.

What I do know for sure is that when Red Armstrong finally did make it out on the ice, he made sure he was noticed. On his first shift he scored a goal!

Armstrong would play a total of 7 games with the Leafs that season before returning to the minor leagues. He would go on to become one of the most popular players in Rochester Americans history, playing 9 full seasons. In 1985 the Amerks even retired Armstrong's jersey #6.

Armstrong worked the summers as a steelworker. After retiring from the Amerks in 1973 he immediately took his lunch bucket and punch card back to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario where he worked for the Algoma Steel plant. A year later he would did on the job after losing his balance and falling from a great height. He was just 35 years old.

Wednesday

Claire Alexander

Claire Alexander had a most interesting nickname: The Milkman

It turns out his nickname came by obviously enough. He gave up his job as a milkman in Orillia, Ontario. The Collingwood, Ontario born Alexander had a good job and was a senior league star with the Terriers when he was convinced to turn professional in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization.

After spending a season in the minor leagues with Oklahoma of the CHL, Alexander made his NHL debut at the age of 29 in 1974-75. He would play parts of three seasons with the Leafs, and later single seasons with the Vancouver Canucks and WHA Edmonton Oilers. He was said to be a solid defensive defenseman with a good shot.

When the Oilers joined the NHL in 1979 they left Alexander behind. He went to Germany to play for a couple of seasons. He would also coach a junior team there, and another in Switzerland for one year, before returning home to southern Ontario.

By this time Alexander's milkman job was long gone so he opened up a sporting good store in Orillia. He and Pat Stapleton opened up an instructional hockey academy before Alexander took the offer of coaching the Leafs farm team down the road in St. Catherines in 1984.

The Leafs must have thought highly of Alexander, as after one year of coaching the farm team they offered him an assistant coaching job back in the NHL. But Alexander turned it down, and ended up leaving the organization entirely, as he was unhappy away from his family. He returned home to Orillia and worked on construction sites installing exterior windows on buildings.

Claire Alexander's daughter, Buffy, became one of Canada's most successful rowers, winning silver medals at 1997 and 1998 world championships and bronze medals in successive the 1998 and 1999 world championships and 2000 Olympics. She also competed in the 2004 and 2008 Olympic games.

Sunday

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.

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.

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.

Wednesday

Jack McLean

During the Second World War, there was discussion on whether the National Hockey League should be suspended temporarily in order to focus on the larger matter at hand. It was quickly decided that the entertainment value brought by professional hockey outweighed any advantage to turning out the lights on the NHL.

But that didn't mean the league didn't change. The New York Americans franchise suspended operations (later deciding not to continue), while a number of very elite NHL players enlisted to support their country. With the talent drain came the need to re-stock teams, and most owners went the route of the young player.

One of those was Jack McLean. Although only 5'8", Jack was solid as a rock, and played an aggressive game of hockey for the Toronto Young Rangers of the OHA Junior A ranks. Soft hands around the net, but hard knuckles when needed, the young Toronto native signed a C form, and was brought up to practice with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the latter part of the 1941-42 season. There was talk of McLean suiting up for the "team of destiny" during the playoffs, but the Leafs called up another young player, Gaye Stewart, instead to fill that role.

McLean was an engineering student at the University of Toronto at the beginning of the 1942-43 season and was called up to the big club during November of that year. In his first game, on a line with Gaye Stewart and Bud Poile, 19 year old Jack scored a goal and assisted on two others against the Bruins' star goaltender, Frank Brimsek. But in an odd twist, McLean, like other Leafs Bobby Copp and Tom "Windy" O'Neill, was unable to cross the border into the U.S. because of his university student status. So Jack played only home games and in Montreal and, during school breaks at Christmas, the odd time in the States. As a result, through his three seasons with the Leafs during the war, Jack McLean played only 67 regular season games for the Leafs, scoring 14 goals, adding 24 assists for 38 points. He also earned 76 penalty minutes.

On March 23, 1943, Jack scored a goal at 10:18 of the fourth overtime period to give his Leafs a semi-final win over the Red Wings. The goal was credited to McLean, but teammate Bud Poile swore he scored the goal. The recipient was in limbo for a full day, until NHL President Red Dutton conferred with King Clancy, the game's referee, as well as both Poile and McLean and several of the Detroit players. Dutton awarded the goal to McLean. Incidentally, this was the only NHL game in which Jack's father ever saw him play.

During the 1944-45 season, Jack ran into a litany of injuries, including a concussion so severe that team doctors told him to retire (sound familiar?). Although he only played 8 games that season, McLean was inserted into the playoff lineup to add some moxy. But after four games, a cross-check to the back of the head put McLean out for the series, and in fact, for good. The Leafs went on to win the Stanley Cup, and McLean's name is proudly etched on the silver mug, but he never played for the Leafs again. By this time, McLean had earned his engineering degree, and began his career. He was able to be reinstated as an amateur, playing for the Toronto Staffords of the the OHA Senior League (along with Sid Smith and coached by "Red" Horner), later moving to Ottawa to take a job with the government. While in the Capital, Jack played for the Ottawa Senators of the Quebec Senior Hockey League, a team that boasted talent like Hall of Famer Syd Howe and future NHL player and executive Larry Regan.

Jack lived in Ottawa until his death in 2003.

Tuesday

Ken Baumgartner

Ken Baumgartner was told he wasn’t good enough to play hockey at the junior level, let alone in the NHL. That only inspired "Bomber" to prove the "experts" wrong.

Bomber was never confused with the more skilled players on any team he played on, even before he made it to the junior level.

“Ken was never the best player on any team he played with,” recalls Ted Baumgartner, Ken's father. “But he was by far the strongest and the most determined.”

A defenseman until he reached the NHL, Baumgartner had little tangible skill according to scouts. His skating was horrendous, despite hard work to improve it. Below average speed and mobility made it easy for better skaters to burn the large blueliner. He had a poor shot, always rushing his release which resulted in an easy save or a wide shot.

Although Ken was good at reading the oncoming attack, his lack of patience hindered him. He quickly would lose his composure and positioning as he wanted to flatten the puck carrier. That of course resulted in a big hit by Baumgartner, but usually not before the forward dished the puck off to a wide open teammate resulting in a great scoring chance against his team. He was a punishing hitter, although it took him a long time to learn how to be an effective hitter. He was also a willing fighter, often initiating fisticuffs. Make no mistake about it, fighting is the reason Bomber made it to the NHL, and the reason he stuck around so long.

While the juniors were apparently going to pass over this fumbling, over aggressive kid, Baumgartner started to change his focus. He decided that if he didn't make it to the juniors that he would give up on hockey to pursue a university education. However Baumgartner put on an eye-catching performance in front of a scout for the Prince Albert Raiders.

“I had some good hits, a fight and a goal,” recalls Baumgartner, who was subsequently offered a three-day tryout with the Western Hockey League’s Raiders. “One thing led to another and three years later I graduated out of junior.”

Baumgartner had a decent junior career too. He helped the Raiders win a Memorial Cup Championship (1984-85) and was named to the WHL All-Scholastic Team (1983-84). He was even selected as one of the two top Prince Albert defensemen of all-time by a panel of Canadian Hockey League officials.

While he beat the odds and made it to the junior level, his dream of playing in the NHL was still far, far away. He was drafted though, by the Buffalo Sabres. The bad news was he was an after thought of the draft, selected in the final round, 245th overall in 1985. He was drafted strictly because of his fighting ability. The Sabres figured there was an outside chance he could fill a role as a minor league tough guy for them, but not much else.

But Ken worked hard and never gave up on his dream, and against all odds he made it to the NHL.

“Ken has always wanted to improve himself in whatever he does,” says Ted Baumgartner. “It’s really pretty simple. Everything Ken has accomplished is the result of hard work.”

After his junior career, Baumgartner, along with brother Kevin, a netminder, opted to play in Switzerland. The brothers were considered to be non-imports to the roster due to the fact that their grandfather hailed from Switzerland. Now one would think that Bomber would be out of place in international hockey where speed, skill and finesse were promoted, not fighting and bodychecking. However he brought his crash-and-bang brand of hockey to the league and played pretty well, considering.

“The gloves stayed on because those were the rules,” says Baumgartner “But there were some solid cross-ice body checks that were somewhat frowned upon!”

While playing in Switzerland, Bomber's NHL rights were traded from Buffalo to Los Angeles. Once the Swiss season ended, the Flin Flon Manitoba native reported to the Kings' AHL affiliate in New Haven, picking up 99 PIM in 13 games plus 60 more in 6 playoff games.

Bomber started the 1987-88 year in the minors of course, but his reputation as one of the minor league's toughest customers earned him a promotion to Los Angeles. He played 30 games in the NHL year, including his first game as an NHLer, on January 4, 1988.

With the exception of 10 games in the minors, Bomber stuck with the Kings the following year. It was. It was an exciting time for Baumgartner. Not only had he made it to the NHL, but he was playing on the same team as Wayne Gretzky! One game in particular sticks out with Ken in a Kings uniform. It was against the New York Rangers and Ken went out of his way to run Guy Lafleur on a couple of occasions. Lafleur of course was a Hall of Famer who came out of retirement to play again, and this brash young kid named Baumgartner was looking to make a name for himself.

With fellow tough guys Jay Miller and Marty McSorley in Los Angeles, Bomber became expendable. In November of 1989, Baumgartner was traded to the New York Islanders, who may have become interested in Bomber after the incident with Lafleur and the Isles arch rival Rangers.

However coach Al Arbour pulled Baumgartner aside was not impressed with Bomber's skating ability and informed the blueliner that he was taking him off defense and making him a winger.

The move worked well and probably lengthened Ken's career in the NHL. His lack of mobility wasn't as noticeable as he patrolled the left wing. Although you get the impression that Ken was really disappointed to leave the blueline.

“I was not happy to see my jersey hanging in a forward’s stall,” recalls Baumgartner. “But, I had no choice. I wanted to contribute to the team."

Ken spent almost three years in New York before being shuffled off to Toronto where he enjoyed his longest stay, almost 4 full season. Ken, who is a very articulate businessman and student, played a large role for the NHLPA during the lockout shortened season of 1994-95. His prominent role with the union probably spelled the end of Bomber's career in Toronto. However a season ending broken wrist forced the Leafs to wait until next year before shipping Bomber to Anaheim.

Ken played a strong game on the 4th line for Anaheim. He even scored a modest career high 11 points, all assists.

Ken became an unrestricted free agent in 1997 and signed with the Boston Bruins. There he was reunited with his former coach from Toronto - Pat Burns. He would play two more seasons, retiring in 1999.

The odds were against Ken Baumgartner ever making the NHL. There were far more talented players through out history who were not good enough to stick in the league. But the desire to succeed, the willingness to sacrifice, and the heart and effort that Ken showed earned him a lengthy NHL career.

After retiring as a player, Bomber initially entered the world of coaching. He soon left to enter the MBA program at Harvard, and has been very active in his daughter Alexa's hockey career.

Saturday

Don Ashby

Don Ashby was an incredible junior player with the Calgary Centennials, where his teammates included Mike Rogers, Danny Gare, Jim Watson and Grant Mulvey. Ashby had an incredible final season of junior in 1974-75. He scored 52 goals and 68 assists for an amazing 120 points! Such a great season coupled with his obvious scoring prowress encouraged the Toronto Maple Leafs to draft Don in the first round, 6th overall in 1975.

However Don Ashby would become known as a first round bust rather than a success story. He was never able to join the likes of Lanny McDonald, Tiger Williams and Darryl Sittler as one of the young guns that gave Leaf fans eternal hope in the late 1970s.

Ashby floundered in his first year, scoring just 6 goals in 50 games. He spent the end of his disappointing season in the minor leagues.

Ashby played a full season in the NHL in 1976-77, scoring 19 goals and 42 assists, but spent most of the next season back in the minor leagues. Frustrated with the way things were going, Ashbee retired for the majority of the 1978-79 season , though returned when the Leafs promised to trade him. The trade came in March 1979 as Ashby went to the lowly Colorado Rockies.

Ashby didn't do much better in Colorado. he only played in 23 games in two years, and again, much to his dismay, he spent most of his time in the minor leagues.

Late in the 1979-80 season Don was traded to Edmonton in exchange for veteran Bobby Schmautz. Ashby finished the season nicely, soring 10 goals and 9 assists in 18 games, seeing some time with 18 year old phenom Wayne Gretzky.

Yet the following season Don was in the minors again. Despite scoring 5 points in 6 NHL games, Don was once again in the CHL, a place he had grown not to like. Only this time was different. Perhaps he was maturing or perhaps he finally found a coach that was not as hard on him for his shortcomings, as Don had his best year since junior. He exploded for 36 goals and 96 points in 70 games! In addition, he scored 9 goals and 16 assists for 25 points in 18 playoff games as the Wichita Wind appeared in the Adams Cup finals, only to lose to the Salt Lake Golden Eagles in the 7th and deciding game..

Less than two weeks after the end of the 80/81 Adams Cup playoffs, the C.H.L. was shocked by the tragic automobile accident that claimed the life of the Kamloops born Ashby, and his wife Terry.

Tuesday

Jim Benning

The 1981 NHL Entry Draft featured one sure-fire superstar in Dale Hawerchuk. There was little doubt that the Cornwall Royals center would be selected first overall, and he was by the Winnipeg Jets.

However there was no general consensus as to who was the second best selection. History would prove that Ron Francis (selected 4th), Grant Fuhr (8th) and Al MacInnis (15th) were the best players aside from Hawerchuk.

At the time Ottawa 67's center Doug Smith was selected directly behind Hawechuk. However many felt that Jim Benning, who had an unbelievable season with the WHL Portland Winter Hawks, was the second best prospect that year.

One of those people was Punch Imlach, who as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs eagerly snapped him up with the 6th overall selection.

In his memoires, Imlach recalls the 1981 draft as this:

"At the amateur draft (in 1981) I'd done better than I had a right to. After Dale Hawerchuk, the kid who was automatic first pick overall by the Winnipeg Jets, the one I wanted was Jim Benning, an eighteen year old defenceman who'd played with the Portland Winter Hawks. As we were drafting sixth, I didn't think he'd still be available when our turn came, but he was and I grabbed him."

Jim's statistics that year were simply staggering. He quarterbacked the Winter Hawks offense. He scored 28 goals himself, but added a major junior record 111 assists (since bettered) while leading his team with 139 points! Some even compared his offensive qualities to his boyhood idol, the great Bobby Orr.

Jim was truly the key to the Winter Hawks. At one point he had an incredible 45 game scoring streak. Despite have a deep group of forwards with 30, 40 and 50+ goal scorers, none went on to anything more than a cup of coffee in the NHL.

Despite his incredilbe season, not everyone was as sold on Benning as Imlach was. There were concerns about his size and strength, as well as his play without the puck. But Imlach wanted him.

"He's a very smart offensive hockey player and frankly, if he develops as he should, he might be the best defenseman Toronto as ever come up with. That's say a hell of a lot."

It certainly did. But ultimately Jim, like many others, never did materialize into the kind of player the Leafs had invisioned. Why is that?

It basically boils down to the Leafs not developing him as they should have. Imlach had to resign just a couple months after the Entry Draft. He suffered a third heart attack in a short period of time and he had to step down as GM or it likely would have killed him. Had Imlach been healthy, he definitely would have handled Jim's development differently.

"I'd told them about Benning, that unless he was good enough to play regularly it would be better if he went back to junior hockey for a year", Imlach said. "A lot of other clubs did that with their young ones, called them up from time to time and they did well. But the Leafs kept Benning, and after he'd played the ten games allowed a junior, they couldn't send him back. If they (the Leafs) try to force feed these kids into the lineup just to say they're a young team, its no going to work. These kids have to have the atmosphere and the competition to develop their skills naturally. If they're in over their heads they won't get the opportunity because all they'll be doing is trying to hang on."

Jim struggled in that first year of force feeding. He was given the opportunity to run the Leafs powerplay but he clearly wasn't ready for that. On many nights he probably didn't belong in the NHL - Jim had all the skills in the world but he was just too young and not ready to play the role the Leafs wanted him to. He finished with a poor -27 defensive rating. As a NHL rookie defenseman, he had yet to learn how to play solid defense, and was burned many times by bigger stronger forwards. He didn't have the strength required in the corners and in front of the net. Jim still had a decent season offensively, scoring 31 points, including 7 goals, in 74 games as a rookie. "The first one was a thrill." Jim said.

Jim added 10 pounds of muscle before his sophmore season. He gradually improved his play and showed some good progress in year three (1983-84). He quarterbacked the power play with decent success. He scored 12 goals (6 on the power play) and 39 assists for a career high 51 points. He also had a respectable -4 on a weak Leafs team, but still at times he was an adventure in his own zone and was continually overpowered by bigger forwards.

Jim followed that season up with decent offensive totals in 1984-85 with 9 goals and 44 points, but was an awful -39 and was becoming much maligned by the Leafs media and fans.
But the fact is that Jim was the highest scoring defenseman from the 1981 draft up to that point. Jim had 148 points in his first four seasons in the NHL, the runner up Al MacInnis had 111. Some of the criticism was unfair to the 22 year old Jim.

After an injury plagued 1985-86 season, the Leafs finally gave up on the guy once projected to become the greatest blueliner in Maple Leaf history. They traded him and another failing prospect in Dan Hodgson to Vancouver in exchange for veteran defenseman Rick Lanz.

Jim played in 4 seasons for the Canucks. Jim often saw power play time in his early days on the west coast but couldn't quite come up to the standard that everyone expected of him. He was the co-leader in the plus/minus department (+9) in 1986-87. In 1987-88 he was awarded the Premier's Trophy as Vancouver's outstanding defenseman. But when names like Paul Reinhart and Robert Nordmark arrived, Jim's ice time was reduced. Despite his experience over the years making him a fairly well rounded player, his lack of size and strength didn't continued to hinder him.

By the end of his tenure with the Canucks, he was phased out of the lineup and then out of the NHL. He spent a year with the Canucks minor league team in Milwaukee before jumping overseas to finish his hockey career.

Jim never fulfilled his potential, and never even came close to being a memorable Leaf blueliner, let alone the greatest defenseman in team history. Why is this? He, like so many other junior sensations, was rushed into the NHL destined to fail and quickly was labelled as a just another junior star who failed at the NHL level. While he likely never would have reached superstar status, with proper upbringing he could have developed into a top 4 defenseman with better point production.

With all that said Jim had a fairly good career playing with some very poor teams.

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