Frank Sydney Mathers(March 29, 1924 – February 9, 2005) was a Canadian professionalice hockeyplayer during the 1940s and 1950s. He competed with theNational Hockey League'sToronto Maple Leafsand theAmerican Hockey League'sPittsburgh Hornetsand Hershey Bears. He is best known for his 35-year association with the Bears as a player, coach, GM, and President and was elected as a member of theHockey Hall of Famein the builder's category in 1992.
| Frank Mathers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hockey Hall of Fame,1992 (Builder) | |||
 Mathers with the Toronto Maple Leafs | |||
| Born |
March 29, 1924 Winnipeg,Manitoba,Canada | ||
| Died |
February 9, 2005(aged 80) Hershey,Pennsylvania,USA | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 182 lb (83 kg; 13 st 0 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Toronto Maple Leafs | ||
| Playing career | 1948–1962 | ||
One of the AHL's most accomplished players, Mathers stood as the all-time assist- and point-scoring leader among AHL defencemen upon his retirement as a player in 1962. He was selected to the AHL All-Star Team for five consecutive years. As a player or executive, he won eightCalder Cups—two as a player for Pittsburgh (1952 and 1955), two as a player/coach for Hershey (1958 and 1959), one as a coach for Hershey (1969), and three as a general manager for Hershey (1974, 1980 and 1988). In 1987, he was awarded theLester Patrick Trophyfor his lifelong commitment to hockey in the United States. Mathers retired from the Bears in 1991 after 35 years with the Hershey Bears (17 as a coach, with the first 6 as a player/coach, and 18 as general manager/team president). The Bears have retired number 3 in his honor.
He is one of few Honored Members of the Hockey Hall of Fame whose North American career was almost entirely outside of the NHL (having played just 23 NHL games), having been enshrined in 1992 in the builders' category. Mathers was also inducted as a charter member of the AHL Hall of Fame in 2006 in Winnipeg.
Early life
editMathers was born on March 29, 1924, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.[1]Growing up inWolseley, Winnipeg,Mathers played junior ice hockey for the Excelsiors Hockey Club and Winnipeg Rangers with whom he won a provincial bantam B and two midget championships and two juvenile titles.[2]While attendingGordon Bell High School,Mathers competed in the City High School football league.[3]At the start of the 1941 season, he led the team to a 31–0 win, the most decisive victory in the school's history.[4]The Winnipeg TribunereporterVince Leahdescribed Mathers as "a big, bulky, likeable kid, modest almost to a fault, extremely good-natured and best of all a true gentleman."[5]
While competing with the Rangers during the 1943–44 season, Mathers began to draw attention fromNational Hockey League(NHL) scouts. However, he enlisted in theRoyal Canadian Air Force(RCAF) and attendedSt. Patricks College.[6]During his time in the Air Force, Mathers was a fullback for theWinnipeg Blue BombersandOttawa Rough Ridersin theCanadian Football League.In 1942, at the age of 18, Mathers played for the Winnipeg RCAF Bombers in the first-ever non-civilian Grey Cup game, losing 8–5 to the Toronto RCAF Hurricanes. He eventually quit football to concentrate on hockey but rejoined the Blue Bombers in 1943 before transferring to the Ottawa Rough Riders.[7]Later, Mathers said he thought he played football better than hockey but chose hockey due to finances.[8]
Mathers was encouraged byToronto Maple LeafsownerConn Smytheto play for the Leafs instead of continuing his pursuit of a degree. Smythe told him he could earn around $100,000 with the Leafs, which could then pay for his dream of attending dentistry school. In response, Mathers told Maple Leafs executives he would only play for the team if it was certain he would make it to the professional level.[9]While playing for the Ottawa All-Stars during the 1946–47 season, he travelled with them to England for some exhibition games and was given a proposition to stay in the country. However, he turned it down and returned to North America.[10]Mathers eventually agreed to play with the Leafs after he was told he lacked sufficient credits to enroll at theUniversity of Ottawa.[6]
Career
edit
Mathers attended the Maple Leafs' training camp before their 1948–49 season and signed a three-year contract with the team. Although he committed to play in the professional league, he announced he would attend summer school either in Ottawa or Manitoba to complete his Bachelor of Science degree and enroll at a dentistry school.[6]After playing 15 games with the Maple Leafs, Mathers agreed to be re-assigned to theirAmerican Hockey League(AHL) affiliate, thePittsburgh Hornets,so he could continue to play ice hockey.[6]On December 3, 1948, Smythe officially re-assigned Mathers andLes Costelloto the Hornets.[11]After spending the season with the Hornets, Mathers attended the Leafs' training camp before the 1949–50 season where he subsequently fractured his toe.[12]
In 1952, Mathers announced he had plans to leave the AHL and settle down in Pittsburgh with his family. Although a friend said he had plans to pursue his dentistry degree, Mathers later announced he just wanted to find a stable job in Pittsburgh.[13]In 1954, Mathers and teammateGilles Mayerwere chosen for the American Hockey League's all-star team. He received 24 votes to beat outEmile Francisof theCleveland Barons.[14]The following year, he was the only unanimous choice for the 1954-55 American Hockey League all-star team.[15]
After announcing his plans for retirement and pursuit of his dentistry degree,Hershey BearspresidentJohn Sollenbergerconvinced Mathers to sign with the Bears as a player-coach. He took Mathers toHershey Park,where they rode rollercoasters while he pitched the team to him and his wife.[16]When he joined the Bears, they had missed the playoffs for two consecutive seasons. Upon taking over, the team qualified for the playoffs in 1957 and then earned back-to-backCalder Cupchampionships in 1958 and 1959.[17]During his tenure with the Bears, Mather led them to the playoffs 30 out of 35 years; resulting in six Calder Cup championships and five times runners-up.[18]In recognition of his efforts, he was the recipient of the 1987Lester Patrick Trophyfor his "contribution to ice hockey in the United States."[19]
Legacy
edit
In 1992, Mathers was inducted into the builders' category of theHockey Hall of Fame.[20]In 1994, Mathers was named an honorary life member of the AHL's Board of Governors and was the namesake of a league-wide trophy. In 1996, theFrank Mathers Trophywas awarded for the first time to the winner of the Eastern Conference regular season championship.[1]Following his death, the league inducted him into the AHL Hall of Fame[21]and the Bears retired number 3 in his honor.[22]
Mathers was inducted into theManitoba Sports Hall of Famein 2009.[23]
Career statistics
editRegular season and playoffs
edit| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1942–43 | Winnipeg Rangers | MJHL | 10 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1943–44 | Regina Commandos | RNDHL | 4 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 1943–44 | Regina Pats | M-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 1945–46 | Ottawa Senators | QSHL | 27 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | ||
| 1946–47 | Ottawa Senators | QSHL | 36 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 27 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 12 | ||
| 1947–48 | Ottawa Senators | QSHL | 58 | 16 | 32 | 48 | 48 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 12 | ||
| 1948–49 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 15 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1948–49 | Pittsburgh Hornets | AHL | 46 | 7 | 23 | 30 | 50 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1949–50 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1949–50 | Pittsburgh Hornets | AHL | 58 | 3 | 20 | 23 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1950–51 | Pittsburgh Hornets | AHL | 70 | 7 | 17 | 24 | 74 | 13 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 6 | ||
| 1951–52 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1951–52 | Pittsburgh Hornets | AHL | 66 | 5 | 43 | 48 | 59 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | ||
| 1952–53 | Pittsburgh Hornets | AHL | 55 | 8 | 26 | 34 | 46 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 18 | ||
| 1953–54 | Pittsburgh Hornets | AHL | 69 | 9 | 43 | 52 | 73 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 12 | ||
| 1954–55 | Pittsburgh Hornets | AHL | 62 | 10 | 30 | 40 | 38 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 1955–56 | Pittsburgh Hornets | AHL | 64 | 12 | 51 | 63 | 61 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 1956–57 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 49 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 51 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 1957–58 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 64 | 1 | 28 | 29 | 42 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4 | ||
| 1958–59 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 64 | 1 | 22 | 23 | 62 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1959–60 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 57 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1960–61 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 62 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 22 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 2 | ||
| 1961–62 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 13 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||
| AHL totals | 799 | 67 | 340 | 407 | 636 | 86 | 9 | 35 | 44 | 64 | ||||
| NHL totals | 23 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
References
edit- ^abSmith, Herb (February 17, 2005)."Hershey loses hockey legend".zwire.com.Hershey Chronicle. Archived fromthe originalon September 30, 2007.RetrievedJanuary 24,2021.
- ^Morgan, T. Kent (November 8, 2016)."Remembering Winnipeg's old outdoor rinks".Winnipeg Free Press.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021.
- ^"Mathers Too Much For Isaac Newton".The Winnipeg Tribune.October 4, 1941.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021– via newspapers.com.
- ^"Mathers Is Spark in 31–0 Victory".Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada:The Winnipeg Tribune.September 30, 1941.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021– via newspapers.com.
- ^Leah, Vince(October 1, 1941)."Typewriter profile of a schoolboy football hero".The Winnipeg Tribune.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021– via newspapers.com.
- ^abcdLanducci, Fred (January 16, 1949)."Hornet Rookie Plays in Winter And Will Study During Summer".The Pittsburgh Press.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021– via newspapers.com.
- ^Jordan, Jimmy (December 3, 1955)."Hockey, Football, Lacrosse, or What?".Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021– via newspapers.com.
- ^Jordan, Jimmy (November 28, 1973)."At Last, Mathers Gets Recognition From Sports World".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021– via newspapers.com.
- ^Buss, Johnny (September 28, 1948)."Frank Mathers, former local star athlete, has a difficult problem confronting him".The Winnipeg Tribune.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021– via newspapers.com.
- ^Fisher, Bud (December 1, 1951)."Hockey".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021– via newspapers.com.
- ^"Mathers, Costello Sent To Pittsburgh".The Winnipeg Tribune. December 3, 1948.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021– via newspapers.com.
- ^"Frank Mathers Fractures Toe".The Winnipeg Tribune. October 7, 1949.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021– via newspapers.com.
- ^"'No More Hockey' Frank Mathers Says ".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. September 30, 1952.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021– via newspapers.com.
- ^Jordan, Jimmy (April 28, 1954)."Two Hornets Picked On All-Star Team".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021– via newspapers.com.
- ^"Mathers tops AHL voting".The Province. April 22, 1955.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021– via newspapers.com.
- ^Sernoffsky, Dan (February 11, 2005)."Hershey loses a legend".Lebanon, Pennsylvania: The Daily News.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021– via newspapers.com.
- ^Sernoffsky, Dan (February 11, 2005)."Hockey loses a legend".The Daily News.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021– via newspapers.com.
- ^"For 35 years he was the man in Hershey, bar none".Sunday Times. March 10, 1991.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021– via newspapers.com.
- ^"Scoreboard".The Daily News. June 16, 1987.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021– via newspapers.com.
- ^Zeigler, Harold (September 22, 1992)."Maybe he'll be himself now that he's in 'Hall'".Lancaster New Era.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021– via newspapers.com.
- ^"2006 AHL Hall of Fame inductees named".theahl.com.January 4, 2006.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021.
- ^Sernoffsky, Dan (February 28, 2005)."Hershey honors Frank Mathers".York Daily Record.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021– via newspapers.com.
- ^"Frank Mathers".Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame - Honoured members database.Sport Manitoba.Retrieved10 November2021.
External links
edit
- Biographical information and career statistics fromNHL.com,orEliteprospects.com,orHockey-Reference.com,orThe Internet Hockey Database