As the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate the franchise’s Centennial Anniversary this season, the team announced that it will pay tribute to one of the earliest eras of the club’s history by wearing St. Pats uniforms on March 18 at Air Canada Centre as the Leafs face the Chicago Blackhawks.
Prior to being renamed the Maple Leafs by Conn Smythe, the hockey club was known as the St. Pats from 1919 to 1927, winning the Stanley Cup in 1922 under that moniker, the franchise’s second after winning its original championship as the Toronto Arenas in 1918.
“The Toronto Maple Leafs have a long and storied history and the St. Pats are a very important part of that history,” said Brendan Shanahan, Toronto Maple Leafs President and Alternate Governor. “It will be a special moment for both our team and our fans as we recognize this memorable era in Maple Leafs and Toronto hockey history.”
The commemorative uniform to be honoured by the Maple Leafs next month is inspired by the sweater worn by the St. Pats from 1922-1925 and was worn by legendary players such as Hap Day, Babe Dye and Jack Adams during an important era in franchise history.
The Maple Leafs have only worn commemorative St. Pats uniforms on one other occasion. On March 2, 2002, in a game against the Buffalo Sabres, the team paid tribute to the 75th anniversary of the name change from St. Pats to Maple Leafs.
As the team honours the St. Pats, the new sweater, along with other merchandise, will be available at the Toronto Maple Leafs Store Powered by Real Sports Apparel beginning at 10 a.m. this morning as well as online.
Beginning March 1, fans can look for St. Pats themed historical highlights on mapleleafs.com, St. Pats giveaways excusive to Leafs Nation members including tickets to the March 18 game against Chicago, as well as sweaters and other merchandise.
St. Pats Facts
The St. Pats played at the Arena Gardens, or Mutual Street Arena, on Mutual Street in Toronto.
The franchise played its last game as the St. Pats in Windsor, Ontario against the Detroit Cougars on February 15, 1927 before changing to the Maple Leafs.
Ace Bailey was the first St. Pats player to have his number retired by the club and was also the first to have his number retired in all of pro sports.
The St. Pats were the first hockey team to have their game broadcast on radio.
Of the list of The One Hundred Greatest Maple Leafs, seven wore a St. Pats uniform including Hap Day, Ace Bailey, Corb Denneny, Reg Noble, Jack Adams, Harry Cameron and Babe Dye.
Corb Denneny was the only player in franchise history who wore a St. Pats, Arenas and Maple Leafs uniform.
Former St. Pat, Babe Dye, holds the franchise record for most goals per game in the 100 year history of the club.
Former St. Pats player, George Patterson, was the first player to score a goal for the newly named Toronto Maple Leafs. Corb Denneny was the last player to score a goal in a St. Pats uniform.
Reg Noble was the captain of the Stanley Cup winning St. Pats in 1922.
Source: Maple Leafs Toronto
