Sport: Hockey

Eddie Litzenberger was born in 1932 in Neudorf, Saskatchewan. He played Junior Hockey with the Regina Pats, and was signed by the Montreal Canadiens in the early 50s.

He debuted with Montreal in 1954, and was selected as the NHL’s rookie of the year. He was soon traded to Chicago, where he was a 30-goal scorer for the Black Hawks three years running, making him one of the consistent top scorers in the league at the time.

While playing with the Black Hawks in 1955, he was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy.

In 1961, as Captain of the Hawks, Eddie led the club to a Stanley Cup victory, but was then quickly traded to Detroit, and then onto Toronto. As a Leaf, he played on three consecutive Stanley Cup teams, 1962, 1963 and 1964.

The right-winger, rounded out his NHL career with 178 goals and 238 assists for 416 points in 618 regular season NHL games.

He hung his skates in 1966, but went on to a successful business career in the Stock Market and later, a family owned construction company.

Eddie returned to Chicago in 1996 along with many of the 1961 Stanley Cup team to celebrate the 35th anniversary of their win.

His three children, sons Dean and John, and daughter Kelly, all attended Richview Collegiate. Ed and his wife Gayle have lived in Etobicoke for more than 45 years.

Dave Dryden was born in Hamilton. He was raised in Etobicoke, where he became actively involved in hockey and baseball. He played minor baseball in the early years of the Kingsway Baseball League, and assisted in coaching atom baseball and hockey with his father.

He played minor hockey with the KI/Y, T.H.L and King Clancy leagues before beginning his junior hockey career with St Mike’s and the Toronto Marlboroughs. He later played senior hockey with the Galt Hornets.

During his NHL career, Dave goal-tended for the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres and the Edmonton Oilers. He played for the Chicago Cougars and the Edmonton Oilers while in the W.H.A. It was in his last season in the W.H.A that he won the league’s Most Valuable Player award.

Dave was one of three goaltenders who transformed modern goaltending and pioneered the redesign of goaltending equipment which has generated the contemporary goaltending style.

Dennis grew up in Etobicoke where he started playing hockey at eight years of age. He began his OHA career with the Toronto Marlies and was later traded to the London Knights.

In the 1975-76 season he was drafted by the California Golden Seals, which after its demise, resurfaced as the Cleveland Barons. That club folded and was later absorbed by the Minnesota North Stars, Dennis included.

Dennis was later traded to the Washington Capitols and became one of the NHL’s top scorers. In his second full season with the club he scored 50 goals. The next year, 1981, he scored 60 goals and 76 assists for a total of 136 points. Today only eight players in history have equalled or surpassed his single season point totals.

Dennis finished his NHL career with the Minnesota North Stars in 1989, ending a stellar 16-year career.

Dennis has three children and lives with his wife, Kimberly, in Aspen, Colorado, where he works at the historic Hotel Jerome.

Born in Toronto in 1965, Peter Zezel was destined to excel at sports – but it wasn’t clear for a while whether that would be soccer or hockey!

Originally drafted by the Toronto Blizzard for his outstanding soccer skills, Peter eventually made the decision that would carve out his life’s path – he chose hockey.

He began his hockey career with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1984/85. Offensively gifted, he managed to set a Philadelphia rookie record for assists in his first year, and embraced the role of checking centre, relentless penalty killer and face-off specialist.

Four years after beginning his NHL career in Phylly, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues, where he played some of the best hockey of his life. Eventually, however, Zezel was traded back to his hometown, becoming one of the most popular Maple Leafs of the early 1990s.

A key contributor in Toronto’s playoff runs in 1993 and 1994, the team came within one game of the Stanley Cup. And while that would always be a disappointment, Peter’s gregarious, enthusiastic nature carried him through. After playing for several other teams in the league, Peter’s NHL career came to an abrupt end in 1998/99 when he returned to his hometown to be with his terminally ill niece.

He opened the Peter Zezel Hockey and Sports Camps in Etobicoke, which helped teach and improve the hockey and soccer skills of young players. Peter also made the time to coach AAA hockey for the Don Mills Flyers and he was a frequent guest on sports talk shows.

In the spring of 2009, at the age of 44, Peter lost his decade-long battle with Haemolytic anemia, but the effects of the enormous contributions he made to his community will continue to live on.

David was born in Etobicoke on May 15, 1964, and lived there with his parents and two brothers until 1981 when he was drafted by the Peterborough Petes of the O.H.L. He played there for 3 seasons enjoying a successful junior career.

In 1982, David was drafted 60th overall by the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League. In December of 1983 he played his first game with the Boston Bruins and from 1984 to 1988 David continued to play with the Bruins organization. He signed in 1988 as a free agent with the team he idolized as a child, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He wore the blue and white for 3 years, and in the ’90-’91 season led the NHL with 8 shorthanded goals. A feat which tied Dave Keons’ 21 year old Maple Leaf record. David moved back to Boston as a free agent and played the next 5 seasons with the Bruins.

In 1996, David signed as a Free Agent with the Dallas Stars where he played for 3 seasons. As a member of the Stars organization, he won his first Stanley Cup in the spring of 1999. In the fall of that year he signed with the Colorado Avalanche and played his final two seasons in the NHL.

In David’s final game of his career in June 2001 he lifted the Stanley Cup for the second time. At the conclusions of 18 seasons in the National Hockey League, David had played 961 regular season games and 118 playoff games.

David is grateful to all of the coaches and volunteers who made his Minor Hockey days so enjoyable. From his first days outdoors at the West Mall Arena with the Eringate Minor Hockey Association, through the West End AC’s to his three best years of minor hockey with the Royal York Rangers of the Etobicoke Hockey Association a passion for the game was fostered in David that remains with him to this day. He attributes his desire to help in Minor Hockey in his community to the wonderful start he had in Etobicoke.

Upon retirement from playing in 200 I, David began a new career as a Hockey Analyst with the NHL Network and TSN. David resides in Ennismore, Ontario with his wife of 18 years, Kathy and their two children, Jessica and Alec.

Colin Patterson, although most people know him as a truly remarkable hockey player, was equally skilled at lacrosse. He represented Canada in the world championships in Baltimore, winning a bronze medal. Lacrosse made him, he says, “a better hockey player”, since the game requires similar skills, hand/eye coordination and conditioning. But when the lacrosse season ended, he turned to hockey.

Colin was born in Rexdale, and played his minor hockey with the MTHL. He left organized hockey to play for his high school, Thistletown Collegiate Institute (T.C.I.) – the year of the teachers’ strike. Sports programs were suspended. While sitting at home with nothing to do, he was visited by the coach and the manager of the Etobicoke Canucks Midget A team, who talked him into playing with them. The best decision he made, he claims. The Etobicoke Hockey Association pulled him back into the game.

During his second year with the Royal York Royals Provincial Jr. A team, he was scouted by Clarkson University. In spite of offers from many other American universities, he chose Clarkson, a small and appealing school with interesting programs and excellent coaching. There he sharpened his skills and was welcomed by the town with open arms.

At Clarkson he was spotted by scouts from the Calgary Flames, who had come over to recruit a teammate. The Flames wanted him to sign with them, foregoing his final year of university, but he was reluctant to do that. They finally worked an agreement – he signed for the coming season, and they would pay for his final year. He completed it over three summers, earning a degree in marketing and management. At Calgary, the skills he perfected in lacrosse made him a superb defensive forward.

In 1989, Colin played on a line with Doug Gilmore and Joe Mullen, and won the Stanley Cup. That same year, he was a finalist for the Selke Trophy. He was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in 1991, and played with them for two seasons, followed by a year with HK Olimpija in Ljubjana, Slovenia, before retiring from hockey.

He was inducted into the Clarkson Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.

Colin is president of Just-In Case Ltd, a firm that designs and manufactures eco-friendly portable fire suppression equipment, to safeguard people who live or work more than ten minutes from emergency response. He lives in Calgary with his wife Sherri, daughters Stephanie and Michelle, and son Derek.

Bob Pulford has excelled at every aspect of hockey: Player, Coach, and General Manager.

Growing up in Weston he played a variety of sports – football for Weston Collegiate, lacrosse and hockey, as part of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. He also found time to graduate from McMaster University. From 1956 on when his playing career began, he collected 643 points (281 goals, 362 assists) in 1,079 games. During the Leaf’s glory-days in the sixties, Pulford earned four Stanley Cup rings. He was an outstanding penalty killer, registered four 20-or-more goal seasons and was an NHL All-Star six times. He ranks in the Maple Leafs’ Top Ten in goals, assists, points, and games played.

When he retired as a player, Pulford became Head Coach with the Los Angeles Kings. The team developed rapidly under his direction, and in the 1974-1975 season, posted a 42-17-21 record for 105 points. Pulford was named NHL “Coach of the Year.”

After five successful seasons in L.A., Pulford joined the Chicago Blackhawks as Head Coach and General Manager. He led the Blackhawks to a first place finish in the Division and was again named “Coach of the Year.” Twice he relinquished his coaching position to concentrate on management, only to assume it again in mid-season to revive a struggling Hawk team. Under Pulford the Blackhawks won eight division titles and made the Playoffs in 20 consecutive seasons. He posted a 361-325-136 record as an NHL Coach.

In 1990 the Blackhawks’ President, William Wirtz, appointed Bob Pulford Senior Vice President, giving him more input into the crucial areas of team business and marketing. Noted for his meticulous attention to detail, he has said that if he hadn’t had a hockey career, “I probably would have been a lawyer.” Then two seasons later, Pulford was once more called on to take over as General Manager.

Pulford played an extensive role in developing the National Hockey League’s early collective bargaining agreements. In 1967, he became the NHL’s first Player Union President. Today, he plays a key role as Alternate Governor for the team and sitting on the advisory committee to league ownership.

His accomplishments earned him election into the Hockey Hall of Fame on June 21, 1991.

Pulford is also credited with bringing more respect to hockey in the United States as Head Coach of Team USA during the 1976 Canada Cup.

In 1997, after 20 successful seasons in which the Blackhawks always made the playoffs, Pulford stepped down as General Manager. He stepped back twice more, however, between then and June, 2005, always returning to his role as Senior Vice President.

“Pully,” as he is often called, and his wife Roslyn have four children – Wanda, Rob, Lindsay and Jennifer and eight grandchildren. When he’s not involved with hockey, he can be found restoring old automobiles, a long-time hobby, playing golf or fishing.

Born in 1911, David Murray Dryden was the eldest of eight children raised on a Manitoba farm. He has been a sports lover all his life, starting with skating over ice-covered pastures of his family’s farm while dreaming of athletic glories. In those days, his skates were old rusty blades clamped to shoes or boots.

Murray and his wife Margaret moved to Etobicoke in 1948. With their three children, Dave, Ken and Judy, the family was active in both community and church life. Murray believed strongly in the importance of sports in the development of a child.

His company sponsored one of Dave’s hockey teams, and he and Dave coached and managed several of Ken’s teams in the Humber Valley League and Kingsway Baseball League.

Both Ken and Dave went on to successful goaltending careers in the National Hockey League. Murray wrote a weekly baseball update for the Etobicoke Guardian and later wrote three books including one about hockey entitled “Playing the Shots at Both Ends”.

In 1970, Murray and Margaret founded a unique, non-governmental organization for children – Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW). The $12.8 million raised by the organization has helped 522,600 children, their families, and the economies of 31 developing countries.

Murray and Margaret were inducted into the Etobicoke Hall of Fame in 1987. Murray has received many other honours including being made a Member of the Order of Canada.

Fifty-two years after arriving, Murray still lives in Etobicoke with his wife, Theda. Murray Dryden is a great believer in the importance of sports in Etobicoke.

Born April 15, 1929 in Toronto, Hugh Bolton was a gifted athlete excelling at baseball, football and hockey.

While attending Queen’s University, Bolton was enticed to join the Toronto Marlboros junior squad which, at the time was coached by Syl Apps. Bolton left Queen’s on the premise that he would be paid $5,000. Over time to help finance his education.

In 1950, he helped the Marlboros win an Allan Cup under the direction of Joe Primeau. After making the cut for the Toronto Maple Leafs he went to win a Stanley Cup in 1951 and was named to the NHL All Star team in 1956.

Bolton played all of his eight seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs for a total of 235 games from 1949-1957. Once retired from the NHL, Bolton played for the NHL Old Timers travelling to rural communities where he continued to show the love he had for the game of hockey. After his hockey career, Hugh became an educator teaching Physics and coaching football at Scarlett Heights Collegiate.

Hugh Bolton passed away October 17, 1999 but not without having a massive impact on many young people’s lives through his dedication to sports, education and Etobicoke.

Born in Kirkland Lake and now an Etobicoke resident, Dave Poulin held the Philadelphia Flyers record for a rookie season with 76 points and named Captain in the 1984/85 season.

During his thirteen year career in the NHL, Poulin made it to the Stanley Cup finals three times (85/86, 87/88 with the Flyers 89/90 with the Bruins). He was awarded the Frank J. Selke trophy for outstanding play in 1986 and named to the NHL All Star team in 1986 and 1988. Poulin also won the King Clancy Trophy in the 1992/1993 season which is given to a player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and who has made a significant humanitarian contribution to his community.

He is a Notre Dame alumnus where he coached from 1995-2004 before being hired by Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment as the General Manager of the Toronto Marlies for two years. From there, he was hired as VP of Hockey Operations for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Dave is highly regarded for his wealth of knowledge for hockey at many different levels as player, scout, coach, general manager, VP of hockey operations and is now a renowned sports analyst for TSN and Sportsnet.