Frank Mahovlich

Francis William MahovlichCM(born January 10, 1938) is aCanadianformer professionalice hockeyplayer and a formerLiberal Senatorin theCanadian Senate.He played on sixStanley Cup-winning teams and is an inductee of theHockey Hall of Fame.In 2017 Mahovlich was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history.Mahovlich was inducted into theOntario Sports Hall of Famein 1999.His brotherPeteralso played in the NHL. His nickname is "The Big M".

Frank Mahovlich CM
Hockey Hall of Fame,1981
Mahovlich with theToronto Maple Leafsin the 1960s
Born	(1938-01-10)January 10, 1938 Timmins,Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Toronto Maple Leafs Detroit Red Wings Montreal Canadiens Toronto Toros Birmingham Bulls
National team	Canada
Playing career	1957–1978

Playing career

Mahovlich is the son ofCroatianimmigrants.He was scouted by severalNational Hockey Leagueteams while playing for the Schumacher Lions of theNorthern Ontario Hockey Association.He signed with theToronto Maple Leafs,who sent him to one of theirOntario Hockey Associationaffiliates, theToronto St. Michael's Majors.Mahovlich played there while attendingSt. Michael's College Schoolfrom 1954 to 1957. While at St. Michael's, he received instruction fromJoe Primeau,who Mahovlich would later call the best coach he ever had. Mahovlich received theRed Tilson Trophyas the top player in the OHA for the 1956–57 season, in which he scored 52 goals in 49 games.

He joined the Leafs in 1957 and was a 20-goal scorer in his first season, winning theCalder Memorial Trophyas rookie of the year in what was otherwise a rough season with the last-place Leafs. During the off-season, he took courses atAssumption UniversityinWindsor, Ontario.At the same time,Punch Imlachwas hired to run the Leafs and soon became head coach and general manager.

In the 1960–61 season, Imlach put Mahovlich on a line withRed KellyandBob Nevin.The three immediately clicked and were the team's top three scorers that year, led by Mahovlich's 48 goals—a Leaf record that would stand for 21 years. The following season, the Leafs won the Stanley Cup, and repeated as champions in 1963 and 1964. Mahovlich led the team in goals scored in all three seasons.

Initially, Mahovlich and Imlach got along well, but their relationship deteriorated after winning the 1962 Stanley Cup, particularly when Mahovlich's contract was up for renewal at the end of the 1962 season. He felt the Leafs gave him a low-ball offer and walked out on the team during training camp in September. Red Burnett at theToronto Stardescribed the situation as a "cold war" between Imlach and Mahovlich.

At that time, theNational Hockey League All-Star Gamewas played at the beginning of the season, and during a reception in Toronto attended by team executives in the days before the 1962 game,Chicago Black HawksownerJames D. Norrisoffered the Leafs $1 million for Mahovlich. He believed he had an agreement with Leafs co-ownerHarold Ballardand paid $1,000 as a deposit with the balance to be delivered by cheque the next morning. The next day, the Leafs gave Mahovlich the money he had been asking for and told the Black Hawks that their apparent agreement the night before had been a misunderstanding. The Leafs returned the $1,000 deposit. The Black Hawks accused the Leafs of reneging on a deal.Conn Smythe,at this point a minority shareholder in the Leafs, was adamant that the deal should be rejected. Mahovlich eventually spoke out publicly and reaffirmed his commitment to the Leafs.

Mahovlich also had a rocky relationship with fans atMaple Leaf Gardensand was often booed at home games. Imlach—who mispronounced Mahovlich's name for years—became a constant critic and, under pressure from fans and management, Mahovlich was admitted toToronto General Hospitalin November 1964, suffering from what was publicly described as "constant fatigue" but diagnosed as acutedepression.Mahovlich was flooded with well-wishes from fans during his time off. He returned to the lineup a month later and was still able to lead the Leafs in scoring in the 1964–65 season, despite missing 11 games. Mahovlich led the Leafs in scoring again in the 1965–66 season.

The Leafs won the Stanley Cup in the 1966–67 season, with Mahovlich having his lowest-scoring year in seven seasons. Early into the next season, Mahovlich was again admitted to hospital, although this time it was acknowledged publicly as depression and tension. "Mahovlich is a sensitive, easily-bruised individual," wroteMilt Dunnellin a page-one story in theToronto Star.

Mahovlich was part of a six-player blockbuster transaction in which he was traded along withPete StemkowskiandGarry Ungerfrom theMaple Leafsto theDetroit Red WingsforNorm Ullman,Paul HendersonandFloyd Smithon March 4, 1968. The Maple Leafs and Red Wings were in fifth and sixth place respectively at the bottom of theEast Divisionstandings. He had 19 goals and 17 assists in 50 games that season and was the leading goalscorer in Maple Leafs franchise history with 296 at the time of the deal.He joined a Red Wings team that also featured his younger brotherPete.He said in apress conferenceannouncing the trade, "Business is business and if I can't please them here, maybe I'll be able to please them there."

Mahovlich had a strong finish to the season with the Red Wings, and the following year put up his best point totals in eight seasons, playing on a line withGordie HoweandAlex Delvecchio,and setting his record for goals in a season with 49. Initially, one of his teammates on the Red Wings was his younger brother,Peter Mahovlich,who split his time between the Wings and their minor league affiliate.

In 1970–71, Red Wings general managerSid Abelwanted to get rid of coachNed Harknessand was overruled by team ownerBruce Norris.Once Harkness took over as general manager, he got rid of players he deemed a threat to him. On January 13, 1971, Mahovlich was traded to theMontreal CanadiensforMickey Redmond,Guy Charron,and Bill Collins. He was reunited with his brother, who had become a star player himself with the Canadiens. Mahovlich spent three-and-a-half seasons in Montreal, playing on the Stanley Cup-winning teams of 1971 and 1973. During the 1971–72 season, Mahovlich scored a career-high 96 points, which he nearly matched the following season with 93 points.

He also was a member ofTeam Canadafor the 1972Summit Seriesagainst theSoviet Union.In 1974, he left the NHL for theWorld Hockey Associationand represented Canada again at the1974 Summit Series.In the WHA, he played for theToronto Torosand theBirmingham Bullsuntil his retirement in 1979 at the age of 41. While with the Bulls, Mahovlich was placed on an unproductive line with enforcersFrank BeatonandDave Hanson,one of theHanson Brotherswho had been in the movieSlap Shot.According toJohn Brophy,when a reporter asked Mahovlich what was wrong, he replied, "I don't know, but I seem to play a lot better with Howe and Delvecchio."

He attempted an NHL comeback with the Detroit Red Wings in 1979, but it was unsuccessful, and he formally retired on October 7, 1979.

In an NHL documentary about the Stanley Cup, Mahovlich claimed credit for being the first player to hoist the Stanley Cup above his head. After the Leafs' victory in the 1962 Cup Finals, in the team locker room, Mahovlich said he held the Cup, felt how light it was, and hoisted it above his head, which was then photographed.

Awards and achievements

• Calder Memorial Trophywinner in1958.
• Played in1959,1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,and1974NHL All-Star Games.
• Selected to theNHL First All-Star Teamin1961,1963,and1973.
• Selected to theNHL Second All-Star Teamin1962,1964,1965,1966,1969,and1970.
• Stanley Cupchampion in1962,1963,1964,1967,1971and1973.
• Inducted into theHockey Hall of Famein 1981.
• Inducted intoCanada's Sports Hall of Famein 1990.
• In 1997, he was ranked number 26 onThe Hockey News'list of the100 Greatest Hockey Players.
• Inaugural inductee into theWorld Hockey Association Hall of Fameas a "Legends of the Game" in 2010
• Number (27) Retired by the Toronto Maple Leafs (shared with Darryl Sittler)
• In January 2017, Mahovlich was part of the first group of players to be named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1953–54	Toronto St. Michael's Majors	OHA-Jr.		1	0	1	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
1954–55	Toronto St. Michael's Majors	OHA-Jr.		25	12	11	23	18		—	—	—	—	—
1955–56	Toronto St. Michael's Majors	OHA-Jr.		30	24	26	50	55		8	5	5	10	24
1956–57	Toronto St. Michael's Majors	OHA-Jr.		49	52	36	88	122		4	2	7	9	14
1956–57	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		3	1	0	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
1957–58	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		67	20	16	36	67		—	—	—	—	—
1958–59	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		63	22	27	49	94		12	5	6	11	18
1959–60	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		70	18	21	39	61		10	3	1	4	27
1960–61	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		70	48	36	84	131		5	1	1	2	6
1961–62	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		70	33	38	71	87		12	6	6	12	29
1962–63	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		67	36	37	73	56		9	0	2	2	8
1963–64	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		70	26	29	55	66		14	4	11	15	20
1964–65	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		59	23	28	51	76		6	0	3	3	9
1965–66	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		68	32	24	56	68		4	1	0	1	10
1966–67	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		63	18	28	46	44		12	3	7	10	8
1967–68	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		50	19	17	36	30		—	—	—	—	—
1967–68	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		13	7	9	16	2		—	—	—	—	—
1968–69	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		76	49	29	78	38		—	—	—	—	—
1969–70	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		74	38	32	70	59		4	0	0	0	2
1970–71	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		35	14	18	32	30		—	—	—	—	—
1970–71	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		38	17	24	41	11		20	14	13	27	18
1971–72	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		76	43	53	96	36		6	3	2	5	2
1972–73	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		78	38	55	93	51		17	9	14	23	6
1973–74	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		71	31	49	80	47		6	1	2	3	0
1974–75	Toronto Toros	WHA		73	38	44	82	27		6	3	0	3	2
1975–76	Toronto Toros	WHA		75	34	55	89	14		—	—	—	—	—
1976–77	Birmingham Bulls	WHA		17	3	20	23	12		—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	Birmingham Bulls	WHA		72	14	24	38	22		3	1	1	2	0
NHL totals				1,181	533	570	1,103	1,056		137	51	67	118	163
WHA totals				237	89	143	232	75		9	4	1	5	2

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1972	Canada	SS		6	1	1	2	0
1974	Canada	SS		6	1	1	2	6
Senior totals				12	2	2	4	6

Post-playing career

Mahovlich was inducted into theHockey Hall of Famein 1981 andCanada's Sports Hall of Famein 1990. In 1994, he was made a Member of theOrder of Canada.

In 1997, Mahovlich was ranked number 26 onThe Hockey News'slist of the100 Greatest Hockey Players,the highest-ranking player who had spent at least a majority of his career with the Maple Leafs.

In 1998, Mahovlich was appointed to theSenate of Canadaby Prime MinisterJean Chrétien.He retired from the senate on January 10, 2013,at the mandatory retirement age of 75.

See also

• Lists of Canadian senators
• List of Ontario senators
• List of NHL statistical leaders
• List of NHL players with 1000 points
• Notable families in the NHL
• List of NHL players with 500 goals

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics fromNHL.com,orEliteprospects.com,orHockey-Reference.com,orLegends of Hockey,orThe Internet Hockey Database
• Frank Mahovlich – Parliament of Canada biography