King Clancy

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Francis Michael "King" Clancy (born - February 25, 1903 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, died - November 10, 1986 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Contents 1 Playing career 2 Trivia 3 Awards & achievements 4 Career statistics

[edit] Playing career

The legendary King Clancy was known as much for his off-ice antics and his colourful personality as much as for his on-ice talent. Born in Ottawa, he was a fan favourite throughout his career as a player, coach, referee and team executive.

He began his NHL career playing for the Senators, where he would establish himself as among the league's top players and help the Senators to two Stanley Cup wins in 1923 and 1927. Although even by the standards of the day he was the smallest defenceman of his era, he was tough and fast and wouldn't back down - it was said that King Clancy started a hundred fights and never finished one.

During a March 31st, 1923 Stanley Cup game against the Edmonton Eskimos, Clancy became the first hockey player to play all six positions during one game. In the third period, goaltender Clint Benedict was given a two-minute penalty. At the time, goalies served their own penalties. Not wanting to leave the net open, Clancy played goal for the two minutes Benedict was gone.

In 1930, King Clancy went to the Maple Leafs as part of a then-unprecedented deal, with Toronto manager Conn Smythe trading two players and $35,000 for him. After the trade, King Clancy went on to help Toronto win the Stanley Cup in 1932.

Clancy retired from playing in 1936 as the NHL's career leading scorer on defence, and briefly coached the Montreal Maroons before beginning an 11-year stint as an NHL referee, never losing his colourful wit. He would later coach the Maple Leafs for three seasons before becoming their assistant general manager, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958. One of the best friends of longtime Leafs' owner Harold Ballard, Clancy would later become a vice president and goodwill ambassador for his club before his death in 1986.

In November, 1986, Clancy had an operation to remove his gall bladder. Infection from the gall bladder seeped into his body during the operation, and he went into septic shock. He died November 10th, 1986.

The King Clancy Memorial Trophy was named in his honour and is awarded annually to the player who, by example demonstrates leadership qualities on and off the ice and who has made exceptional humanitarian contributions in the community.

[edit] Trivia

Clancy's casket was draped by a blue and white flag that resembles the Canadian flag.
A Toronto Rock & Roll band (http://www.kingclancy.ca) bears his namesake.

[edit] Awards & achievements

• Played in 4 NHL All-Star games - 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934.
• Inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame - 1958
• Inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame - 1975
• In 1998, he was ranked number 52 on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.

[edit] Career statistics

				Regular Season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1921-22	Ottawa	NHL		24	4	6	10	21		2	0	0	0	2
1922-23	Ottawa	NHL		24	3	2	5	20		2	0	0	0	2
1923-24	Ottawa	NHL		24	8	8	16	26		2	0	0	0	6
1924-25	Ottawa	NHL		29	14	7	21	61		--	--	--	--	--
1925-26	Ottawa	NHL		35	8	4	12	80		2	1	0	1	8
1926-27	Ottawa	NHL		43	9	10	19	78		6	1	1	2	14
1927-28	Ottawa	NHL		39	8	7	15	73		2	0	0	0	6
1928-29	Ottawa	NHL		44	13	2	15	89		--	--	--	--	--
1929-30	Ottawa	NHL		44	17	23	40	83		2	0	1	1	2
1930-31	Toronto	NHL		44	7	14	21	63		2	1	0	1	0
1931-32	Toronto	NHL		48	10	9	19	61		7	2	1	3	14
1932-33	Toronto	NHL		48	13	12	25	79		9	0	3	3	14
1933-34	Toronto	NHL		46	11	17	28	62		3	0	0	0	8
1934-35	Toronto	NHL		47	5	16	21	53		7	1	0	1	8
1935-36	Toronto	NHL		47	5	10	15	61		9	2	2	4	10
1936-37	Toronto	NHL		6	1	0	1	4		--	--	--	--	--
NHL Totals				592	136	147	283	914		55	8	8	16	92

Preceded by: Tommy Gorman	Head Coaches of the Montreal Maroons 1937-1938	Succeeded by: Tommy Gorman
Preceded by: Joe Primeau	Head Coaches of the Toronto Maple Leafs 1953-1956	Succeeded by: Howie Meeker
Preceded by: John McLean	Head Coaches of the Toronto Maple Leafs 1972	Succeeded by: John McLean