Billy McGimsie

Lore & Background

McGimsie was born in Woodville, Ontario, the second of three children. His family moved to Rat Portage, Ontario around 1882 or 1883, where he became interested in hockey at an early age. His first skates were stolen from his sister and were a style that clamped onto shoes; he wore them for years because his family could not afford newer ones. He played youth hockey with future Hall of Famers Si Griffis, Tommy Phillips, and Tom Hooper.

McGimsie joined the Rat Portage Thistles' intermediate team in 1901–02, scoring eight goals in four games. He quit school and paid a $2 fee to join the senior team the next season. He scored ten goals in four regular season games to help the Thistles win the Manitoba and North West Hockey Association championship. The team challenged the Ottawa Silver Seven for the Stanley Cup but lost. In 1904–05, McGimsie led the Manitoba Hockey League with 28 goals in 8 games, and the Thistles again challenged Ottawa but lost. In 1907, the Thistles defeated the Montreal Wanderers in a two-game series to win the Stanley Cup; McGimsie scored one goal in the second game. His career ended when he suffered a separated shoulder in an exhibition game in Ottawa.

Reader's Guide

McGimsie's significance lies in his role as a leading offensive player during the early years of organized hockey. He led the Manitoba and North West Hockey League in scoring with 28 goals in 8 games during the 1904–05 season, a remarkable feat for the era. His career culminated in winning the Stanley Cup with the Kenora Thistles in 1907, a team from the smallest town ever to capture the trophy. McGimsie's legacy is further cemented by his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1963, recognizing his contributions as an amateur player. After his playing career ended due to a separated shoulder, he briefly coached in Fort William, Ontario, for one season in 1910–11. Off the ice, he worked as a jeweller, moving frequently across western Canada before settling in Calgary, Alberta.

Did You Know?

• McGimsie's first pair of skates were stolen from his sister and were a clamp-on style he wore for years.
• He scored 28 goals in 8 games during the 1904–05 season, leading the Manitoba Hockey League.
• Kenora, with a population of about 4,000, became the smallest town to ever win the Stanley Cup in 1907.