Conn Smythe
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Constantine Falkland Kerry Smythe (February 1, 1895 in Toronto, Ontario- November 18, 1980 in Caledon, Ontario) was a Canadian builder in the National Hockey League. One of the more competitive and colourful characters in NHL history, Conn Smythe built the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Maple Leaf Gardens.
He was a fearless leader as a major on the battlefield in both world wars, and he took no prisoners when making the Maple Leafs one of the League's powers.
The Toronto native attended the University of Toronto from where-- after having served with the 40th (Sportsmen) Battery, CFA during the First World War--he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1920. He first gained prominence in hockey as a centre who led the Varsity Blues to the 1915 Ontario amateur championship. Smythe later led U of T to the Allan Cup in 1927 and formed the Varsity Grads team that went on to win the Olympic gold medal at St. Moritz in 1928.
Smythe's first taste of the NHL came with the New York Rangers. The canny manager acquired Bill Cook, Frank Boucher, Ching Johnson, and Taffy Abel, moves that formed the core of the 1928 Stanley Cup champions. After a disagreement with management, Smythe bought the Toronto St. Pats and renamed them the Maple Leafs on February 14, 1927.
During the 1931-32 NHL season, he and associate J. P. Bickell financed the construction of Maple Leaf Gardens. Later that year the franchise won its first of eleven Stanley Cups as the Maple Leafs. Passionate about horse racing, Smythe helped build his team by purchasing Ottawa Senators star, King Clancy, with winnings from a bet.
Conn Smythe again served in the Canadian Army in the Second World War, serving in Normandy, where he was wounded. He was a vocal critic of the government's policy on conscription upon his return to Canada.
Smythe was majority owner of the Maple Leafs (after 1931, under the corporate name Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd.) for 34 years and oversaw one of hockey's greatest dynasties when Toronto won five Stanley Cups between 1945 and 1951. He retired as one of the greatest architects the league had ever seen. Smythe took a less-active role in the running of the Leafs as he aged, and ultimately handed day-to-day operations to his son Stafford. In 1961, he sold his interest in the Leafs to a partnership of Stafford, newspaper baron John Bassett and former Toronto Marlboros coach Harold Ballard. He was a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee, but resigned in 1971 when a player he didn't deem worthy of the honor, Harvey "Busher" Jackson, was elected.
Smythe was also a tireless promoter who brought entertainment, meetings, rallies and royalty to The Gardens. He was also heavily involved in such charities as the Ontario Society for Crippled Children and minor hockey development throughout the province. Smythe also personally supervised the construction of the Hockey Hall of Fame building in Toronto in 1961.
The National Hockey League honoured Smythe's contribution to the game by introducing a Conn Smythe Trophy in 1965 to be presented to the Most Valuable Player in the Stanley Cup playoffs. After his death on November 18, 1980 in Caledon, Ontario at the age of 85, the trophy was renamed the Conn Smythe Memorial Trophy. The league also named one of its four divisions, the Smythe Division, after him prior to the 1974-75 season. One of hockey's greatest builders, Smythe was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958.
Although not his own original formulation, one of his favourite quotes was: If you can't beat 'em in the alley, you can't beat 'em on the ice.
He is interred at Park Lawn Cemetery in Toronto, Canada.
See also
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