George McNamara
Encyclopedia
George Andrew McNamara (August 26, 1886 – March 10, 1952) was a Canadian
professional ice hockey
defenceman.
When George was a youngster, his family moved to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
and it was in the Soo that he first learned the game of hockey. McNamara made his professional hockey debut playing with The Sault Ste. Marie Marlboros
of the International Hockey League
during the 1906–1907 season.
George and his brother, Howard, also briefly a member of the Soo Marlboros, were known as the "Dynamite Twins" because of their bone-crunching body checks.
The International Hockey League folded in 1907 when a purely amateur game in Canada finally gave way to professional leagues and the top Canadian players were lured back to Canada to play. McNamara, a big, rugged defenceman was in high demand among Canadian professional clubs playing with four different clubs in four different leagues from 1908 to 1913.
Although he wasn't considered a major offensive threat he did score 15 goals in 16 games with the Waterloo Colts of the Ontario Professional Hockey League in 1910–11.
McNamara was one best open ice checkers of his day. He would help the Toronto Blueshirts
win the 1914 Stanley Cup
. His professional hockey career was interrupted when he joined the Canadian Army in World War I. He was a member of the 228th Battalion team that played in the National Hockey Association
before being ordered overseas on February 10, 1917.
After returning from the service, McNamara became the coach of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
and lead the team to the Allan Cup
championship in 1924.
McNamara was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
in 1958.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman.
When George was a youngster, his family moved to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie is a city on the St. Marys River in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada. It is the third largest city in Northern Ontario, after Sudbury and Thunder Bay, with a population of 74,948. The community was founded as a French religious mission: Sault either means "jump" or "rapids" in...
and it was in the Soo that he first learned the game of hockey. McNamara made his professional hockey debut playing with The Sault Ste. Marie Marlboros
Canadian Sault Hockey Club
The Sault Ste. Marie Marlboros, also known as the Canadian Soo and Soo Algonquins, was a professional ice hockey team from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada...
of the International Hockey League
International Professional Hockey League
The International Professional Hockey League was the first fully professional ice hockey league, operating from 1904 to 1907. It was formed by Jack 'Doc' Gibson, a dentist who played hockey throughout Ontario before settling in Houghton, Michigan. The IPHL was a five team circuit which included...
during the 1906–1907 season.
George and his brother, Howard, also briefly a member of the Soo Marlboros, were known as the "Dynamite Twins" because of their bone-crunching body checks.
The International Hockey League folded in 1907 when a purely amateur game in Canada finally gave way to professional leagues and the top Canadian players were lured back to Canada to play. McNamara, a big, rugged defenceman was in high demand among Canadian professional clubs playing with four different clubs in four different leagues from 1908 to 1913.
Although he wasn't considered a major offensive threat he did score 15 goals in 16 games with the Waterloo Colts of the Ontario Professional Hockey League in 1910–11.
McNamara was one best open ice checkers of his day. He would help the Toronto Blueshirts
Toronto Blueshirts
The Toronto Hockey Club, known as the Torontos and the Toronto Blue Shirts were a professional National Hockey Association team that played in Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
win the 1914 Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
. His professional hockey career was interrupted when he joined the Canadian Army in World War I. He was a member of the 228th Battalion team that played in the National Hockey Association
National Hockey Association
The National Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey organization with teams in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. It is the direct predecessor organization to today's National Hockey League...
before being ordered overseas on February 10, 1917.
After returning from the service, McNamara became the coach of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The Greyhounds play home games at the Essar Centre. The present team was founded in 1962 as a team in the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. The Greyhounds name has been used by several ice hockey...
and lead the team to the Allan Cup
Allan Cup
The Allan Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the national senior amateur men’s ice hockey champions of Canada. It has been competed for since 1909. The current champion is the Clarenville Caribous hockey club of Newfoundland and Labrador.-History:...
championship in 1924.
McNamara was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
in 1958.