John David D’Amico

John David D’Amico made his mark as an NHL linesman renowned for passionate dedication, strong skating and immense physical strength – qualities which gained him the enduring admiration of everyone in his profession.

Born in Toronto in 1937, John was a typical Canadian boy, spending his free time playing lots of baseball and hockey. But after moving up to Junior B hockey, he knew he could go no further. It was time to get real, and John got a job in construction. He couldn’t stay away from the game he loved though, and began officiating church hockey. One thing led to another, and as he worked the line for an NHL exhibition game in Kitchener, he was offered a pro contract.

In 1964, at the age of 27, John began his NHL career as a referee. But after just 22 games he became a linesman because he was more comfortable helping players than judging them. When he retired he was the last of the Original Six officials.

That same year John moved his young family into Etobicoke, where he remained for 23 years. When hockey season concluded every year, John would go back to working in Etobicoke, first for Pepsi Cola and then for Apex Forwarding. John continued to work hard in the off-season, using his name and position to do countless hours of charity work.

D’Amico’s career as an NHL linesman included 1,689 regular season games, 247playoff games, 52 Stanley Cup final games and six international hockey series.

During 1986-87, D’Amico weaned himself off the job he loved so much to become a supervisor of NHL officials. But he couldn’t quite give up his skates. One night in March 1988, he was watching the Leafs on TV when one of the linesmen had to leave the game. In a flash, John grabbed his skates and headed over to Maple Leaf Gardens to replace him!

John D’Amico was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993. He was diagnosed with leukemia in 2004 and succumbed to his illness in May, 2005.

He leaves his wife Dorothy, sons Angelo (who was also an NHL official), Jeff, Anthony and daughter Tina, as well as grandchildren Ashley, Reece, Emma, Elise and John David. John’s spirit is kept alive through Hustle For A Cure – The John D’Amico Fund, which was created to bring much needed awareness toward the fight against pediatric blood cancers.

Rod Toner

In 1953, three fathers in the Humber Valley area of Etobicoke wanted to enable their 7 and 8 year old sons to play hockey. Stafford Smythe, whose father Conn Smythe was one of hockey’s elder statesmen and President of the Toronto Maple Leafs, naturally wanted his son Tommy to be able to play. His good friend, well-known sportsman Jack Stafford Jr., wanted the same opportunity for 7 year-old son John. Ray Picard, father of 7 year-old Alan, was talked into getting involved as well, and the three men began plans to form a Humber Valley hockey team.

A notice was put up at Humber Valley Village School on Hartfield Road, and the following Saturday Lambton Park’s outdoor rink overflowed with interested parents and children. The Humber Valley Hockey League was born.

Two teams were formed the first year- the Hornets, coached by Jack Stafford, and the Redmen, led by Ray Picard – and they played as Atoms in the Toronto Hockey League, the forerunner of the GTHL. At the time, Atoms were players aged 10 and under. Their first game, at the old Ravina rink in the Annette/High Park area, ended in a scoreless tie. By the end of the first season, the Hornets and Redmen were tied for 3rd place in the league, forcing a sudden-death playoff which the Hornets won 3-0.

At the banquet ending the first season, the guest speaker was none other than retired Leaf goaltender Turk Broda. In only its 2nd year, Humber Valley fielded an unbelievable 12 teams in the THL. At the Atom level, the Elfs, Frys, Imps, Shrimps, Squirts and Tom Thumbs carried the Humber Valley colours.

The Hornets and Redmen played in the Pee Wee division, while the Jets, Kings and Rams made up the league’s Minor Bantam entry. The Aces were the first Bantam team for Humber Valley. For the first time, Humber Valley entered teams in the King Clancy series, a post-season THL tournament.

As in any year, the success of this second season was the result of the hard work on many people, a few of whom deserve special mention, such as: Jack Coulter, Murray Dryden, Russ Hicks, Ross Johnstone, Pat Patterson, Bill Sanagan, Harry Stayley and George Williams Jr.

In year 3, the enthusiasm and coaching efforts of the Humber Valley parents paid off with 2 championships. Humber Valley’s Squirts won the THL Atom championship during the regular season, and the White Shirts – an All-Star team made up of players from all the house league Atoms – took the King Clancy championship. But the real excitement of the 3rd year occurred at the Tyke level, which then included all players under 9 years old. The final game of the Easter Timmy Tyke Tournament saw the Humber Valley Tykes squaring off against their Scarborough counterparts. After regulation play the score was tied 1-1. Two 5 minute overtime periods failed to break the deadlock, forcing a shoot-off which was won by Bruce Dempster, who counted for both Humber Valley’s goals. The tournament MVP was Tim Ecclestone – later to become an NHL star – whose father Bill coached the team with Doug King.

During these beginning years, games and practices were held on the ice surfaces of Ravina, Lambton Park and Anglesey Park – the first community outdoor artificial rinks in the Metropolitan Toronto area. Parents at this time not only coached and managed their children’s teams, but also officiated in the house league programs.

By the 4th season, the league had grown to 18 teams from Atom to Minor Midget. At the end of the year Humber Valley, Queensway, Alderwood and Northern Etobicoke entered teams in a tournament held by the newly- formed Etobicoke Hockey Association, with the stated purpose of determining an all-Etobicoke champion. During its first few years of existence the league blossomed and grew under the Presidencies of co-founders Stafford Smythe and Jack Stafford Jr., both of whom had the ability to draw many other volunteer parents to work with them in making the league a success. Since those early days, Humber Valley has enjoyed a reputation as an outstanding amateur hockey organization, and all the league executives, team officials and players who have been active in the association since then owe a huge debt of gratitude to Stafford, Jack and their contemporaries.

Hank Goldup

Hank Goldup is probably best recognized in sports circles for his involvement with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but that is not the extent of his contributions. He played six years with the NHL, three with the Leafs and two with the New York Rangers.

Goldup helped the Leafs win the 1942 Stanley Cup in one of the great comebacks in the history of the league.

His 202 game career included 63 goals and 80 assists, but his involvement in sports did not end with his retirement from the NHL.

What followed was 15 years of instructing Toronto youngsters on the finer points of the game in a coaching capacity in the THL or at hockey schools.

Competitive amateur golf followed as Goldup made his mark in the Etobicoke community playing out of Markland Woods.

Gerry O’Flaherty

Gerry O’Flaherty’s journey from playing youth hockey in Etobicoke to a successful career in the NHL is a testament to his determination and passion for the game. Despite not being the most standout player in his high school days, O’Flaherty’s relentless drive and commitment propelled him to a distinguished career in professional hockey.

Born in Pittsburgh in 1950, O’Flaherty’s family relocated to Toronto when he was just three weeks old. Growing up in Etobicoke, he immersed himself in various sports, including hockey, baseball, and golf. While he excelled in multiple sports, it was on the ice where he truly thrived, playing for local teams like Michael Power and Queensway.

O’Flaherty’s talent and work ethic didn’t go unnoticed, and he caught the attention of scouts while playing Junior hockey in Kitchener. His impressive performance led to his selection by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft, fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming a professional hockey player.

Although O’Flaherty’s NHL career began with the Maple Leafs, he found his true calling with the Vancouver Canucks, where he spent the majority of his six-season tenure. During his time in Vancouver, O’Flaherty established himself as a reliable forward, recording impressive stats and making significant contributions to the team.

Beyond his on-ice achievements, O’Flaherty also represented the United States in the inaugural Canada Cup tournament in 1976, showcasing his talent on an international stage.

After retiring from playing, O’Flaherty transitioned into scouting, where he continued to make valuable contributions to the sport. His scouting career with teams like the Montreal Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning allowed him to stay connected to the game he loves while sharing his expertise with future generations of players.

O’Flaherty’s induction into the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame alongside his father serves as a fitting tribute to his remarkable career and the lasting impact his family has had on the sport of hockey.

Gerry Meehan

First drafted by Toronto in 1963, the retired NHL left winger went on to play for the Maple Leafs, the Philadelphia Flyers, the Buffalo Sabres, the Vancouver Canucks, the Atlanta Flames, and the Washington Capitals, serving as captain for both the Sabres and Capitals.

Over his playing career, Meehan scored 423 points in 670 regular season games, but he also made a name for himself after his on-ice retirement. In 1984, the Sabres made Meehan the first former team member to serve as assistant general manager.

He was promoted to general manager during the 1986-87 season and brought in a number of star players over the course of his tenure in the position, including Pierre Turgeon, Alexander Mogilny, Dale Hawerchuk, Pat LaFontaine, and Dominik Hašek.

Frank Bonello

Frank Bonello has lived and loved the game of hockey for over 60 years. Growing up in the west end of Toronto, Frank began to play hockey at the age of 12 with the St. Cecelia’s Pee Wees. His talents were quickly recognized and he was scouted by DeLaSalle High School.

Frank was an outstanding amateur hockey player who played on several Ontario team including the Toronto Marlboro Midgets, the Unionville Jets OHA Junior “B” team, and then the Galt Black Hawks. It was while he was playing Senior “A” hockey in Chatham that he met his wife Carol, and they were married in 1954.

He later joined the Whitby Dunlops who won Canadian Allan Cup Senior “A” and Provincial Senior “B” championships in Ontario, and most notably represented Canada in 1958 at the World Amateur Hockey Championships in Oslo Norway, where they won the championship.

For the past 40 years, he has significantly built the game through his dedication to coaching and managing. In the 60s, Frank gained coaching and managerial experience at the Junior “A” and “B” levels with the Markham Waxers, which concluded in an OHA Junior “B” league championship in 1969.

In the 70s, his long and successful career began with the Toronto Marlboros, where he held roles as Coach, Manager, Governor and CEO of the franchise. During his association with the club, the Marlboros twice won the Memorial Cup.

Since 1988, Frank has been working with the National Hockey League, as the Director of Central Scouting for the NHL, a role that allows all teams in the league to capitalize on his many fine talents on knowledge.

Frank and his wife have one daughter and one granddaughter, and are long time residents of Etobicoke.

Mark Napier

Former NHL player Mark Napier began his career with the Toronto Marlies, winning the Memorial Cup in 1975. His professional career began in the WHA with the Toronto Toros in 1975 where he won Rookie of the Year award.

Mark played 6 years with the Montreal Canadiens, winning the Stanley Cup before being traded to the Minnesota North Stars for a year.

After two and a half years playing for the Edmonton Oilers and another Stanley Cup in 1985, Mark spent two and a half years with the Buffalo Sabres.

He played in Europe in the Italian league. He led the league in scoring while playing in Milano for two years, winning the Italian championship both years.

Mark lent his time coaching the Humber Valley Midget A A team and was appointed first head coach of the Toronto St Michael’s Majors OHL Junior A team.

Gerry Organ

Gerry Organ was born in 1944 in Cheltenham, England. He emigrated with his parents and four siblings to Canada when he was 12 years old, as his father had taken a job working on the legendary Avro Arrow.

The family settled on Swordbill Drive in Etobicoke and Gerry attended Scarlett Heights Collegiate. He left school before completing grade 13 because he had been told he would never make it to university. But after four years in the working world, he decided to “prove them wrong”, and went back to Scarlett Heights to get his grade 13 diploma.

At age 21, Gerry was so much older than the other students that on the first day of school, they kept directing him to the teachers’ staff room.

Gerry worked night and day to understand things like the “new math”, and after receiving his diploma he got accepted to the University of Guelph. At U of G, Gerry studied Human Kinetics and played football “without distinction” (as he humbly describes it) for the mighty Guelph Gryphons. Despite his downplayment of his university football skills, Gerry was named to the All-Canadian team in 1969.

If he calls his university football career somewhat inauspicious, things changed once Gerry joined the Ottawa Rough Riders as a placekicker. During his illustrious CFL career, which ran from 1971-1983, Gerry became Rough Rider MVP in ’71 and ’72, a CFL All-Star in ‘73 and again in 1982, a Grey Cup Champion in ’73 and ’76, and he was presented with the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian Award in 1973. A year after he left the Rough Riders, Gerry had the honour of seeing his number (#71) retired on ‘Gerry Organ Day’ at Lansdowne Park!

Gerry is currently the Director of National Initiatives at One Way Ministries in Toronto. His continuing love for the game is demonstrated through his website – www.EXCFL.ca – which was created for those CFL veterans that remember the glory days, and can still see well enough to read online! He has been married to Lore for 40 years, has two married children and five grandchildren. He resides in King City.

Frank Orr

Frank Orr spent 37 years as a sports reporter and columnist with the Toronto Star, covering all sports from college football to horse racing. His major beats were hockey from junior to the National Hockey League and world championships; auto racing, both Canadian and international competitions, and figure skating (12 world and Olympic championships).

Born and raised on a farm near the Ontario village of Hillsburgh, Frank was a radio announcer with stations in Chatham and Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. He was sports editor of the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder and Guelph Mercury, joining the Star in 1961.

Frank covered the Maple Leafs and NHL through much of his Star-time, including the four Leaf Stanley Cup titles in the 1960s. A highlight was the trail-blazing 1972 Summit Series between Team Canada and the national team of the old Soviet Union.

He also attended several world hockey championships in the ’70s and ’80s (no Canadian victories) and covered four Canadian triumphs in the world junior championships.

In a golden era of Canadian figure skating, Frank wrote “world champ” nine times – four men’s titles by Kurt Browning, three by Elvis Stojko, one, plus an Olympic silver, by Brian Orser, a world pairs crown by Isabelle Brasseur and Lloyd Eisler.

Frank has written or co-authored more than 30 books and contributed to 60 other books. The recently released The Dominators was co-authored by Frank and his Etobicoke neighbor George Tracz PhD.

In 1989, Frank was inducted into the media section of the Hockey Hall Of Fame and in 2003, he received the sports journalism lifetime achievement award of Sports Media Canada.

Frank and his wife Shirley, a health sciences college professor and consultant, have lived in Etobicoke lor 40 years.

West Mall Minor Hockey Association

Founded in 1962 by the then Cloverdale Merchants Association. Home games commenced playing at an outdoor rink at the base of Shaver Avenue in Central Etobicoke until the mid 1960’s then relocated to the outdoor rink at Burnhamthorpe and the West Mall hence the name that remains till this day. When the indoor rink Etobicoke Centennial opened in 1968 this became the permanent home for games and the outdoor rink was kept for practice currently for the House League.

West Mall played initially in the EHA with a strong House League of over 700 players and today’s version of A rep hockey against other Etobicoke based organizations like Royal York, Alderwood, Faustina, Martingrove, North Etobicoke, St Benedict’s etc. In the City amalgamation of hockey, West Mall joined the MTHL which later grew to the GTHL which the league is a member. Initially the Rep teams played in green and gold as the Wolves until the 1990’s when the Rep teams became the Lightning with blue, silver and white and the league was granted AA status in some divisions and even had a Juvenile AAA team.

The elected Boards of Directors have always been a stable group and although the current group averages 20 plus years of service per person many who had the opportunity to work with the founding fathers of the club, Bernie Ginger, Ralph Currie, Harold Birch and Charlie Cromwell to name a few. Where the pride and values established continues.

West Mall as an organization participates in many community based fund raisers such as an annual food bank drive at Christmas, individual teams often participate in community based programs an example being this year’s Pee Wee A team which won the Chevrolet Good Deed Cup for their work in supporting the Parkdale Community Food Bank

For over 20 years West Mall further supports our players long term growth by offering up to 4 Scholarships for Post Secondary education for both House League and Rep players each year. Each players who qualifies is awarded $500.00.

West Mall has also waived existing House League players’ registration fees upon family tragedy (example death of a parent) in order to lessen the burden.