Toronto (Arenas – St Patricks) Maple Leafs
Originally known as the Arenas, the franchise signed a contract with an NHL superstar. Hall of Famer Harry Cameron signed the deal on December 15, 1917. The Toronto Arenas changed ownership and rejoined the NHL as St. Patricks for the 1919-20 season. St. Pats changed ownership on Valentine’s Day 1927 and used the new name, Maple Leafs, during the latter part of the 1926-27 season. They “officially” became the Maple Leafs on September 24, 1927. Realizing that changing the name of the Toronto NHL franchise from St. Pats to Maple Leafs also meant changing the team colors. In traditional Irish colors, the St. Pats wore green and white uniforms. The Maple Leafs changed to their current color scheme of blue and white. Officially, the Toronto franchise was known as the Maple Leafs for the entire 1927-28 season. Maple Leaf Gardens was built for $ 1.5 million. The gardens were built in 6 months! Running out of funds, the workers received $ 1 shares in Gardens stock. The Gardens opened their doors to the public on November 12, 1931. The Black Hawks defeated the Maple Leafs 2 – 1. Chicago’s Mush March scored the first goal in the Gardens.
LEAFS FOUNDATION – HAP DAY: Day abandoned his future pharmacy career in favor of hockey. Hap, a pharmacy student at U. Toronto, was persuaded to join the Toronto St. Pats for the 1924-25 season on a $ 5,000 contract. In his spare time he operated the pharmacy at Maple Leaf Gardens. Still known as the Toronto St. Pats, Hap Day was named team captain for the 1926-27 season. He would remain as captain of the Leafs until 1936-1937. September 23, 1937: Day was sold to the Americans in New York. Hap coached the Leafs again from 1940-41 to 1949-50 … winning five Stanley Cups.
CHARLIE CONACHER: Charlie grew up in a family of athletes and hockey players. Older brother Lionel was a hockey, soccer, and baseball superstar. Roy, Lionel and Charlie are members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Charlie Jr, also known as Pete, would follow his father to the NHL. Jackson – Primeau – Conacher’s “Kid Line” dominated the NHL in the early 1930s. Conacher won the NHL scoring championship in 1933-34 and 1934-35. Additionally, he was the NHL’s top five scorer. times. Charlie’s final goal total for the Maple Leafs was 200. Charlie ended his NHL career with Detroit and the Americans scoring an additional 25.
SYL APPLICATIONS: Syl was the British and Canadian Empire pole vault champion in 1934 and 1935. At the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, his sixth place finish was eclipsed by an American track star in what were regarded as the Olympics “Jesse Owens”. Later, in 1936, Syl turned pro with the Leafs and won the Calder Trophy. Apps made its NHL debut centering the line of Busher Jackson and Bob Davidson. During his 10 years with the Leafs, Syl was the team captain in three Stanley Cup championships. He was a two-time First All-Star and three-time Second All-Star, and he won the Lady Bying Trophy.
REALITY OR FICTION? Al Pudas was the first Scandinavian-born player in the National Hockey League. Born on February 17, 1899 in Sikka Joka, Finland, Pudas played 4 games for the St. Pats from the 1926-27 season. Ken Doraty is the only player in NHL history to score a hat trick in overtime. January 16, 1934 – Doraty scored 3 goals when the Maple Leafs defeated the Ottawa Senators 7 – 4. From 1928 – 29, the NHL had been playing a full 10 minute period when regular season games ended in a tie. The first “shared shutout” recorded in the NHL occurred on December 2, 1950. Maple Leafs netminders Al Rollins and Turk Broda saw action against Chicago. Rollins started for the Leafs and was replaced by Broda at 6:50 of the second period due to a cut under his eye. The Leafs battled the Hawks and Harry Lumley to a 0-0 tie. Interestingly, Rollins was filling in for Turk, who suffered from a broken nose.