Syl Apps
Encyclopedia
Charles Joseph Sylvanus Apps, CM
(January 18, 1915 – December 24, 1998) of Paris
, Ontario
, was a Canadian pole vault
er and professional hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs
from 1936 to 1948 and a Conservative
Member of Provincial Parliament in Ontario
.
Apps was a strong athlete, 6 feet tall, weighing 185 pounds, and won the gold medal at the 1934 British Empire Games
in the pole vault competition. Two years later he represented Canada at the 1936 Olympics
in Berlin
, Germany
, where he placed sixth in the pole vault event. After watching him play football
at McMaster University
, Conn Smythe
signed Apps to play hockey with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Apps played centre position
with the Toronto Maple Leafs for his entire professional hockey career. His jersey
number was 10. He was the winner of the first Calder Trophy in 1937, and the 1942 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
. Apps served as the Maple Leafs captain
during the first National Hockey League All-Star Game
October 13, 1947, at Maple Leaf Gardens
. He also played for an all-star team competing in Montreal
on October 29, 1939, to raise money for Babe Siebert
's family.
Apps was in the prime of his career when he joined the Canadian Army during WWII at the end of the 1943 season. He served two years until the war was over, whereupon he returned to captain the Leafs, winning 2 more Stanley Cups in 1947 and 1948.
Apps retired from the NHL at the age of 33 and took a marketing job with the Simpson's
department store. At the same time, he also served as the Ontario Athletic Commissioner.
. He was a candidate in the riding of Brant
for the National Government Party but lost to incumbent George Ernest Wood of the Liberals by 138 votes.
Apps was a Progressive Conservative
member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1963 to 1975. He represented the riding of Kingston
from 1963 to 1967 and Kingston and the Islands
from 1967 to 1975. He served as the Minister of Correctional Services from 1971 to 1974.
Apps died of suffering from a Heart Attack in 1998 and was buried in Cambridge, Ontario
.
and two years later Apps was made a Member of the Order of Canada
.
There are several institutions named for him, including the Syl and Molly Apps Research Centre in Kingston, Ontario
, and the Syl Apps Youth Centre in Oakville, Ontario
. The sports arena in his home town of Paris is named the Syl Apps Community Centre.
In 2001, Canada Post
included Apps in a series of NHL All-Star 47-cent postage stamp
s.
also played in the NHL. His granddaughter Gillian Apps
won the Gold medal in both the 2006 Winter Olympics
and 2010 Winter Olympics
for Canada's Women's Ice Hockey Team, and his grandson Syl Apps III
was a college hockey star at Princeton University
and played four years in the minor leagues. His grandson Darren Barber won a gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics in the Men's 8 in rowing.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(January 18, 1915 – December 24, 1998) of Paris
Paris, Ontario
Paris, Ontario is a community on the Grand River in Ontario, Canada. The town was established in 1850. In 1999, its town government was amalgamated into that of the County of Brant, Ontario, thus ending about 149 years as a separate incorporated municipality.-History:The town was first settled in...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, was a Canadian pole vault
Pole vault
Pole vaulting is a track and field event in which a person uses a long, flexible pole as an aid to leap over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the ancient Greeks, as well as the Cretans and Celts...
er and professional hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
from 1936 to 1948 and a Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
Member of Provincial Parliament in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
Athletic career
1934 British Empire Games
The 1934 British Empire Games were the second of what is now known as the Commonwealth Games. They were held at the White City Stadium in London, England from 4–11 August 1934, apart from the cycling at Fallowfield Stadium, Manchester, and the swimming, which took place at the Empire Pool in Wembley...
in the pole vault competition. Two years later he represented Canada at the 1936 Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, where he placed sixth in the pole vault event. After watching him play football
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
at McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
, Conn Smythe
Conn Smythe
Constantine Falkland Cary Smythe MC was a Canadian businessman, soldier and sportsman in ice hockey and horse racing. He is best known as the principal owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League from 1927 to 1961 and as the builder of Maple Leaf Gardens...
signed Apps to play hockey with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Apps played centre position
Centre (ice hockey)
The centre in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player...
with the Toronto Maple Leafs for his entire professional hockey career. His jersey
Hockey jersey
A hockey jersey, traditionally called a sweater , is a piece of clothing worn by hockey players to cover the upper part of their bodies. "Sweater" is the correct reference in Canada, despite the material...
number was 10. He was the winner of the first Calder Trophy in 1937, and the 1942 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, formerly known as the Lady Byng Trophy, is presented each year to the National Hockey League "player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability"...
. Apps served as the Maple Leafs captain
Captain (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, each team can designate an official captain for each game. The player serving as captain during the game wears a "C" on his or her jersey...
during the first National Hockey League All-Star Game
National Hockey League All-Star Game
The National Hockey League All-Star Game is an exhibition ice hockey game that is traditionally held at the midway point of the regular season of the National Hockey League , with many of the league's star players playing against each other...
October 13, 1947, at Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens is an indoor arena that was converted into a Loblawssupermarket and Ryerson University athletic centre in Toronto, on the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto's Garden District.One of the temples of hockey, it was home to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the...
. He also played for an all-star team competing in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
on October 29, 1939, to raise money for Babe Siebert
Babe Siebert
Albert Charles "Babe" Siebert was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger and defenceman who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Maroons, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens...
's family.
Apps was in the prime of his career when he joined the Canadian Army during WWII at the end of the 1943 season. He served two years until the war was over, whereupon he returned to captain the Leafs, winning 2 more Stanley Cups in 1947 and 1948.
Apps retired from the NHL at the age of 33 and took a marketing job with the Simpson's
Simpson's
The Robert Simpson Company, or Simpsons , was a Canadian department store chain, founded by Robert Simpson. The chain was eventually bought by the Hudson's Bay Company.- History :...
department store. At the same time, he also served as the Ontario Athletic Commissioner.
Politics
While still playing hockey, Apps ran for parliament in the 1940 federal electionCanadian federal election, 1940
The Canadian federal election of 1940 was the 19th general election in Canadian history. It was held March 26, 1940 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 19th Parliament of Canada...
. He was a candidate in the riding of Brant
Brant (electoral district)
Brant is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1904 to 1949 and since 1968.The federal riding was created in 1903. It consisted of Brant County excluding Brantford....
for the National Government Party but lost to incumbent George Ernest Wood of the Liberals by 138 votes.
Apps was a Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
from 1963 to 1975. He represented the riding of Kingston
Kingston (electoral district)
Kingston was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1925 and from 1953 to 1968. It was located in the province of Ontario. It was created by the British North America Act of 1867, and initially consisted of the city of Kingston, Ontario...
from 1963 to 1967 and Kingston and the Islands
Kingston and the Islands
Kingston and the Islands is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1968....
from 1967 to 1975. He served as the Minister of Correctional Services from 1971 to 1974.
Apps died of suffering from a Heart Attack in 1998 and was buried in Cambridge, Ontario
Cambridge, Ontario
Cambridge is a city located in Southern Ontario at the confluence of the Grand and Speed rivers in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It is an amalgamation of the City of Galt, the towns of Preston and Hespeler, and the hamlet of Blair.Galt covers the largest portion of...
.
Honours
In 1975 he was elected to Canada's Sports Hall of FameCanada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame is a hall of fame established in 1955 to "preserve the record of Canadian sports achievements and to promote a greater awareness of Canada's heritage of sport." It is located at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta...
and two years later Apps was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.
There are several institutions named for him, including the Syl and Molly Apps Research Centre in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
, and the Syl Apps Youth Centre in Oakville, Ontario
Oakville, Ontario
Oakville is a town in Halton Region, on Lake Ontario in Southern Ontario, Canada, and is part of the Greater Toronto Area. As of the 2006 census the population was 165,613.-History:In 1793, Dundas Street was surveyed for a military road...
. The sports arena in his home town of Paris is named the Syl Apps Community Centre.
In 2001, Canada Post
Canada Post
Canada Post Corporation, known more simply as Canada Post , is the Canadian crown corporation which functions as the country's primary postal operator...
included Apps in a series of NHL All-Star 47-cent postage stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
s.
Family
His son Syl Apps, Jr.Syl Apps, Jr.
Sylvanus Marshall Apps, Jr. is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins.-Playing career:...
also played in the NHL. His granddaughter Gillian Apps
Gillian Apps
Gillian Mary Apps is a women's ice hockey player. She is the granddaughter of Hockey Hall of Fame member Syl Apps and the daughter of former National Hockey League player Syl Apps, Jr...
won the Gold medal in both the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
and 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
for Canada's Women's Ice Hockey Team, and his grandson Syl Apps III
Syl Apps III
Syl Apps III is an ice hockey player, the grandson of Toronto Maple Leafs captain Syl Apps and the son of Pittsburgh Penguins player Syl Apps, Jr.-Playing career:...
was a college hockey star at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and played four years in the minor leagues. His grandson Darren Barber won a gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics in the Men's 8 in rowing.
NHL awards and achievements
- Calder Memorial TrophyCalder Memorial TrophyThe Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League." The Rookie of the Year trophy has been awarded 79 times since its creation for the 1936–37 NHL season...
winner in 19371936-37 NHL season-NHL awards:The "Rookie of the Year" award now had a trophy, the Calder Trophy, for the first time.-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes-Debuts:...
. - Selected to the NHL Second All-Star Team in 1938, 19411940-41 NHL season-NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes-Leading goaltenders:...
, and 1943. - Selected to the NHL First All-Star Team in 19391938-39 NHL seasonThe 1938–39 NHL season was the 22nd season of the National Hockey League . Seven teams each played 48 games. The Boston Bruins were the Stanley Cup winners as they beat the Toronto Maple Leafs four games to one in the final series.-League business:...
, and 19421941-42 NHL season-NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes-Leading goaltenders:...
. - Lady Byng Memorial TrophyLady Byng Memorial TrophyThe Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, formerly known as the Lady Byng Trophy, is presented each year to the National Hockey League "player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability"...
winner in 1942. - Stanley CupStanley CupThe 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...
champion in 19421942 Stanley Cup Finals-References & notes:...
, 19471947 Stanley Cup FinalsThe 1947 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the defending champion Montreal Canadiens. The Maple Leafs would win the series four games to two. This was the first all-Canadian finals in 12 years.-Paths to the final:...
, and 19481948 Stanley Cup FinalsThe 1948 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven series between the Detroit Red Wings and the defending champion Toronto Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs would win the series in four-straight games to win their second consecutive Stanley Cup.-Paths to the final:...
. - Inducted into the Hockey Hall of FameHockey Hall of FameThe 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 1961. - Inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of FameCanada's Sports Hall of FameCanada's Sports Hall of Fame is a hall of fame established in 1955 to "preserve the record of Canadian sports achievements and to promote a greater awareness of Canada's heritage of sport." It is located at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta...
in 1975. - In 1998, he was ranked number 33 on The Hockey NewsThe Hockey NewsThe Hockey News, commonly abbreviated to THN, is a North American ice hockey magazine published by Transcontinental. The Hockey News was founded in 1947 by Ken McKenzie and Bill Côté, and has since been the most recognized hockey publication in North America...
list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1930-31 | Paris Green | OHA-Jr. Ontario Hockey Association The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the... |
7 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1935-36 | Hamilton Tigers | OHA-Sr. | 19 | 22 | 16 | 38 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 4 | ||
| 1935-36 | Toronto Dominions | OHA-Sr. | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1935-36 1936 Allan Cup The 1936 Allan Cup the Canadian Senior ice hockey Grand Championship. The 1936 championship was the 29th time the Allan Cup had been awarded.-Playdowns:... |
Hamilton Tigers | A-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:... |
— | — | — | — | — | 4 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 2 | ||
| 1936–37 | Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 48 | 16 | 29 | 45 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1937–38 1937–38 NHL season -European tour:After the Stanley Cup final finished, the Detroit Red Wings and the Montreal Canadiens played a nine-game exhibition series in Europe, becoming the first NHL teams to play outside North America. Six games were played in England, three in France... |
Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 47 | 21 | 29 | 50 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 1938–39 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 44 | 15 | 25 | 40 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 2 | ||
| 1939–40 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 27 | 13 | 17 | 30 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 2 | ||
| 1940–41 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 41 | 20 | 24 | 44 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | ||
| 1941–42 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 38 | 18 | 23 | 41 | 0 | 13 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 2 | ||
| 1942–43 1942–43 NHL season -NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes-Leading goaltenders:... |
Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 29 | 23 | 17 | 40 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1945–46 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 40 | 24 | 16 | 40 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1946–47 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 54 | 25 | 24 | 49 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 1947–48 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 55 | 26 | 27 | 53 | 12 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0 | ||
| NHL totals | 423 | 201 | 231 | 432 | 56 | 67 | 25 | 29 | 54 | 8 | ||||