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SoÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¦who is YOUR favourite hockey player?

Sometimes itÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s not always about what happens on the ice
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Apps with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1942. Photo

Hockey, hockey, hockey.

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥˜Tis the season.

Regardless of what team you follow, whether youÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™re focused on the NHL, or cheering on your local squad, everyone has a favourite player.

Full disclosure, I own a Montreal Canadiens jersey. The only time I wore it to the hometown rink I experienced considerable ribbing from friends and strangers. Who knew there were so many Toronto Maple Leaf fans in a small B.C. town?

My favourite player Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ I except two of the DeMeer boys, because there is no choosing between them Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ played for the Leafs.

His name was Sylvanus Apps, and you are forgiven for not recognizing the name.

After all, he was born in 1915.

And we both grew up in the same small town of Paris, Ontario.

I was blessed to be close friends with one of his contemporaries Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ the two attended high school together Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ so I learned many things about this celebratory.

AppsÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™ remarkable character and goodness were relayed many times; what a friend he was to people.

He was an exceptional athlete from the off.

In 1936, he competed in the Berlin Olympics, placing sixth in pole vault.

Imagine being there for that particular event.

Later, he caught the eye of Conn Smythe.

He was signed to play for Toronto Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ centre always, 6-foot, 185 pounds and he shot left Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ but that is not all he contributed.

In 1943, he left hockey, to join the Canadian Armed Forces for two years. He returned to play again. And he got all kinds of trophies, of course.

Toronto won the Stanley Cup three times while he suited up, and heÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s on a Canada Post stamp even.

Various things are named for him. HeÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s in the Sports Hall of Fame, the Hockey Hall of Fame, Order of CanadaÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¦etc.

Apps ran for public office, and was a member of the provincial government for more than 20 years.

Veteran, public servant.

He left a sports legacy through his family.

His son Syl Apps Jr. was a top centre in the NHL in the 1970s, playing for the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins.

His granddaughter Gillian Apps won the gold medal in three consecutive Olympic hockey contests.

For all of that, what stands out the most, are the records and reports of AppsÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™ conduct as a person.

There are so many sources Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ teammates and opponents Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ who expressed their genuine appreciation of his old-fashioned gentlemanly nature.

Now thatÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s something worth playing for.

Sports are fraught with scandal.

Everyone reads the news stories exposing entitlement, privilege, abuse of power, criminality and coverups.

In 2017, Apps was named one of the top 100 players in the NHLÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s history.

Not a stretch to assume that was an honour at least partly extended because of his character.

These reflections make one a bit misty-eyed. My fingers itch to get online and order a Maple Leaf jersey with the retired number 10 on the back.

I canÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™t quite make myself do it, though, being a Habs fan and all.





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