The Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto has five living members who were born in the 1890s. One of these individuals is a legendary figure in Canadian sports, and his name is Alf Smith. In this article, we will discuss the life and legacy of Smith, who was also known as “The Big Maple Leaf.”
Table of Contents
Early Life And Hockey Career
Alf Smith was born in Montreal in 1895. He moved with his family to Toronto when he was still a child. He played minor hockey in Toronto before moving on to the OHA. He debuted in the OHA in 1914 and ended up playing seven seasons for the Toronto St. Pats. He won the Allan Cup in 1918 with the St. Pats. Later that year, he turned professional and joined the Montreal Canadiens. He played one season for the Canadiens before returning to the OHA for one final season. In all, he played 14 seasons in the NHL. He also played one season for the Victoria Cougars in the Pacific Coast Hockey League. During his NHL career, which lasted until 1927, he dressed number 27, the famous number retired by the Canadiens in his honor.
The End Of An Era
Alf Smith’s career as an NHL player ended in 1927. He stayed in hockey, however, and became the head coach of the Victoria Cougars. He coached the team for six seasons before taking a coaching position in the minor leagues, at the time a part of the American Hockey League. He remained in this position until his retirement in 1944.
During his time in the minor leagues, he also served as a general manager of the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Bruins. He then returned to coaching in the NHL during the 1944–45 season, where he remained for three more seasons. He finished his career with a stint as a bench coach for the New York Rangers. He died in 1965 at the age of 69.
Legacy
Alf Smith, who played with an intensity that was unparalleled at the time, left an indelible mark on the game he loved. He is credited with popularizing the game in North America, leading to huge growth in popularity. Alf Smith’s contribution to hockey is immeasurable and his number, 27, is now permanently retired by the NHL. He is one of the five living members of the Hockey Hall of Fame, and the only one from the early years of the 1900s.
In 1921, Smith was the first inductee into the newly formed Hockey Hall of Fame. He is a member of the Canadian Professional Hockey Hall of Fame, the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame, and the Monticello Boxing & Hockey Club Hall of Fame. Alf Smith’s statue, which was commissioned in 1957 and unveiled in 1961, stands in front of the Ontario Hockey Association’s dressing room at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. The statue was sculpted by Richard B. Harrison and depicts Smith in a boxing stance.
Alf Smith’s Biggest Accomplishment
Although Smith is mostly remembered for his career as a hockey player, his legacy as the “Father of Professional Hockey in Canada” is undisputed. In 1936, he was hired by the OHA as the first president of the organization. He remained in this position until 1948. During this time, the OHA grew from six teams in 1936 to 16 teams in 1946. On one memorable occasion, he was presented with an honorary degree from the University of Toronto.
A Personal Tribute
Although he spent most of his life in sports, Alf Smith was a great Canadian patriot and humanitarian. In 1950, the year before his death, he donated an undisclosed amount of money to the war effort against the Nazis in World War II. He gave another donation the following year.
In addition to his political and military endeavors, Smith was also a member of the Order of Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Special Operations Executive during the war. He was instrumental in founding the Red Cross Society of Canada and served as its president from 1950 to 1961. In 1960, he was presented with the Medal of Freedom by President Eisenhower.
Alf Smith’s greatest legacy may be that he changed the game we all know and love. He helped to make it more professional and organized, and pushed for growth and change that has benefited generations of hockey players and fans. He was a larger-than-life character who meant the world to so many. He will be deeply missed.