CENTRE ICE: The Smythe Family, the Gardens and the Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club

by Thomas Stafford; Shea Kevin Smythe

If Ever A Name Were Synonymous With Hockey, It Would Be Smythe. The Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Conn Smythe, reigned as Leafs owner and president, which lasted numerous decades and Stanley Cups. The intent of Smythe's resignation and transfer of ownership in the early 60's was to see his grandson Tommy Smythe assume his destined role in Leaf history as owner. Tommy Smythe never inherited the Smythe dynasty. Even so, his fortunate years growing up, and associated with the organization awarded him a fascinating life, witnessing and participating in an inconceivable number of significant hockey events. He befriended many of the most famous and influential people from the NHL's past and present and candidly conveys these experiences and more, throughout this thoroughly heartfelt and pragmatic story. From his early years at the age of six as Leaf stick-boy, through the exciting seasons watching his family's Leafs dominate the NHL, to his eleven years managing the Memorial Cup winning Toronto Marlboros, the one constant in Tom's life has been hockey. As a child, he passionately learned the game from his grandfather Conn, then as an adult, applying his knowledge, spent years scouting for the Leafs, while continuing his association with the Marlboros. Tom has endured it all, his firing from the Leafs organization to his courageous battle with cancer. Now for the first time the Smythe story is being told. A moving, shocking and powerful look at one of Canada's most prominent hockey families.

Genres: Hockey, Sports

211 pages, Hardcover

First published October 22, 2000

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thomas Stafford Smythe is the grandson of Conn Smythe, and this memoir looks at Thomas' life growing up in the shadow of his grandfather and father, Stafford Smythe, who were both instrumental in building the Toronto Maple Leafs. Thomas was young throughout most of the Smythe era (born in 1946) but his familial connection makes for an intimate close look at the team and the history behind them. In a way it is also more a history of Maple Leaf Gardens, owing to Thomas' relationship with the building as manager of the junior Marlies and then the sports shop in the building.