Reg Sinclair

Did You Know?

• Sinclair was the youngest of Elizabeth and James Sinclair's four children and grew up in Montreal.
• He served with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War between 1943 and 1945.
• He earned a degree in commerce from McGill University in 1949.

Playing career

Reg Sinclair first made a name for himself at McGill University, where he played five seasons as a right wing and centre for the Redmen. He scored 53 goals in 52 games, led the team in scoring twice, and served as captain in 1948–49. In a game against the University of Montreal Carabins on February 25, 1949, he racked up ten points—three goals and seven assists—a school single-game record he still shares. That season, he led the Senior Intercollegiate Hockey League in scoring with 35 points in 12 games and was named its most valuable player.

He moved to the Quebec Senior Hockey League’s Sherbrooke Saints for 1949–50, putting up 46 points in 56 regular-season games. In the playoffs, he led the QSHL with 30 points in 22 games as the Saints reached the Eastern Canada Final for the 1950 Allan Cup, where they fell to the Toronto Marlboros. His strong play caught the attention of the NHL’s New York Rangers, who signed him after tough negotiations with general manager Frank Boucher. Sinclair landed a two-year deal worth $25,000 plus a $10,000 signing bonus, making him the highest-paid player on the team.

He was the only rookie to make the Rangers out of training camp in 1950–51. His 39 points led all NHL first-year players and tied for the team lead. He played in the 1951 All-Star Game and lost the Calder Trophy vote to Terry Sawchuk. The next season, he was again an all-star, scoring 20 goals. He nearly retired to pursue business, but the Detroit Red Wings, needing a scorer after Sid Abel’s retirement, made a strong offer. On August 18, 1952, Detroit acquired Sinclair, John Morrison, and cash, sending defenceman Leo Reise, Jr. to New York. In 1952–53, Sinclair scored 23 points for the Red Wings and played his first three NHL playoff games, scoring one goal. Then he stunned the organization by quitting hockey.

Personal life

Sinclair had worked for Pepsi during hockey off-seasons and joined the company full-time after quitting hockey, starting at $275 per month. He rose to vice president of Pepsi International by 1965, later moved to Columbus, Georgia to work for Royal Crown Cola, and returned to Canada as president and partner in Maritime Beverages in Saint John, New Brunswick. He met his wife Ronnie while training in Calgary with the Air Force; they had three children: Jim, Colleen and Linda. He was a founding member of the Montreal Canadiens oldtimers, the only player invited who had never played with the Canadiens. He served as President of the Saint John Board of Trade and on the board of the Halifax Children's Hospital. He died on November 14, 2013, at Quispamsis, New Brunswick.