PLAYERS from the Toronto Maple Leafs receive military training in years gone by. Photos courtesy of Toronto Scottish Regiment.
Timothy J. Stewart CD Regimental Historian
When Canada declared war against Germany in September 1939, thousands of volunteers stepped forward to serve King and Country.
Conn Smythe part owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs and a decorated veteran of the Great War volunteered for active service a second time and encouraged his players to consider it as well.
TORONTO Maple Leafs hockey stars receive training in trench warfare.
Many did. Names that are synonymous with the great Leaf teams of the 1930s and 40s including: Syl Apps, Turk Broda, Hap Day, Bob Davidson, Red Horner, Gordie Drillon, plus eleven others enlisted with the 2 nd Battalion The Toronto Scottish Regiment (Machine Gun) on the same day, August 6, 1940.
LEAFs players receive training on sharpening their weaponry skills.
As new recruits they underwent basic training including rifle drills and specialized training on the .303 water-cooled Vickers machine gun.
The 1 st Battalion of The Toronto Scottish had arrived in England prior to Christmas 1939 and the 2 nd Home (Reserve) Battalion, organized in 1940 was to supplement the overseas battalion.
With the increase of NHL players volunteering for military service, thus diluting the competitiveness of the league, there was discussion of halting play.
Continuing however was seen as an important morale booster to hockey fans in Canada and the United States.
Several NHL team owners wanting to protect their star players ensured they were kept out of combat roles and given duties on military bases or jobs in critical war industries.
Many of those who shipped out to England ended up playing hockey for any number of service teams that started up, once again to keep morale high amongst the troops and the civilian population.
Chris Korwin-Kuczynski of the Lakeshore Business Improvement Area will be making a presentation of photos to the regiment later this year of the 17 Maple Leaf hockey players who volunteered during World War II.