Matthew Leyden(1904 – December 23, 1975) was a Scotland-born Canadian formerice hockeyexecutive and administrator, with theOntario Hockey Association(OHA). He managed theOshawa Generalsfrom 1937 to 1953, and built the team which won seven consecutive OHA championships, and threeMemorial Cups.He is the namesake of both theMatt Leyden Trophy,and theLeyden Trophy.
Matt Leyden | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1904 Hawick,Scotland |
| Died | December 23, 1975 (aged 71) Oshawa,Ontario |
| Nationality | Scottish / Canadian |
| Occupation(s) | Ice hockey executive Oshawa Generals manager |
Career
editLeyden was born in 1904, and was the first of three boys to parents Robert and Margaret Leyden.[1]He immigrated with his family toOshawa,Ontario, fromHawick,Scotland, in 1914 at age 10.[2]
Leyden managed the Oshawa Majors from 1928 to 1937, and theOshawa Generalsfrom 1937 to 1953.[3]Leyden established the Generals dynasty from 1937 to 1944, winning seven consecutiveJ. Ross Robertson Cupsunder his leadership. The Generals also won threeMemorial Cups,in 1939, 1940, and 1944.[4][5]As of the2017 Memorial Cup,Leyden remains one of only three general managers to assemble three Memorial Cup winning teams; the others areWarren Rychelof theWindsor Spitfires,and Bob Brown of theKamloops Blazers.[6]
Leyden was also involved with men's box lacrosse. He managed the Oshawa team to the 1929Mann Cuptitle,[7]and was an active member ofOshawa Green Gaelsfrom 1964 to 1971.[2]Leyden served on theCanadian Amateur Hockey Associationexecutive, while he was president of theOntario Hockey Association(OHA) from 1965 to 1967.[8]Leyden and CAHA presidentArt Potterspoke at the1965 Memorial Cupbanquet and gave similar views on the state ofminor ice hockeyin Canada, and noted the booming growth in participation in the game, but that boys lost interest in their late teenage years after having played organized hockey for 10 years. Leyden felt that Ontario was on the right course with the established of multiple tiers injunior ice hockeyto keep the players involved.[9]He was succeeded byJack Devineas OHA president.[8]
Leyden died December 23, 1975, in Oshawa. He was interred at Mount Lawn Cemetery inWhitby, Ontario.[3]He was regarded byHap Emmsas a close friend, an honorable person, and someone who should have been enshrined in theHockey Hall of Fame.[7]
Honours
edit
Leyden received the Ontario Hockey Association gold stick award for dedication and service to the sport in 1956,[3][10]and was made a lifetime member in 1972.[11]TheOntario Hockey Leaguehas awardedMatt Leyden Trophyannually since 1972, for the OHL Coach of the Year.[12]In 1973, Leyden received the CAHA Order of Merit.[13]In 1975, the Ontario Hockey League split into east and west division, creating the Leyden division for the eastern teams. TheLeyden Trophywas awarded to the winner of the Leyden division until 1994–95, when the league realigned into three divisions. It is now awarded to the regular season champion of the East division. Oshawa Minor Hockey introduced the Matt Leyden Memorial Award in 1976, as the organization's outstanding player award.[14]Leyden was inducted into the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.[2]
References
edit- ^"Matthew Leyden in the 1921 Census".Ancestry.ca.RetrievedDecember 25,2017.
- ^abc"Inductees, page 13".Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame.RetrievedDecember 25,2017.
- ^abc"Oshawa's Mr. Hockey, Matt Leyden Dies".Oshawa Times.Oshawa, Ontario. December 24, 1975. p. 1.
- ^Lapp, Richard M.; Macaulay, Alec (1997),The Memorial Cup,Madeira Park, British Columbia: Harbour Publishing, pp. 61, 65–68, 74, 135, 143,ISBN1-55017-170-4
- ^Brown, Babe; Attersley, Bobby (1978),A History of the Oshawa Generals,vol. One, Toronto, Ontario: Chimo, pp. 2, 38,ISBN0-920344-07-0
- ^"Hosts Win Mem Cup after first round OHL bounce".BC Hockey Hub.June 9, 2017.RetrievedDecember 25,2017.
- ^ab"Matt Leyden Synonymous With Oshawa Hockey".Oshawa Times.Oshawa, Ontario. December 24, 1975. p. 12.
- ^abYoung, Scott(1989).100 Years of Dropping the Puck.Toronto, Ontario: McClelland & Stewart Inc. pp.244, 292, 348.ISBN0-7710-9093-5.
- ^Overland, Wayne (May 8, 1965)."Minor Puck Message Good".Edmonton Journal.Edmonton, Alberta. p. 45.
- ^"Gold Stick".Ontario Hockey Association.RetrievedJune 26,2018.
- ^"OHA Life Members".Ontario Hockey Association.Archived fromthe originalon June 7, 2019.RetrievedDecember 25,2017.
- ^"OHL Awards".Ontario Hockey League.Canadian Hockey League.RetrievedDecember 24,2017.
- ^"Hockey Canada Order of Merit".Hockey Canada.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
- ^"Awards".Oshawa Minor Hockey.RetrievedDecember 25,2017.