George McNamara
Canadian defenceman, 1914 Stanley Cup champion, Hall of Fame inductee.
George Andrew McNamara (August 26, 1886 – March 10, 1952) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who won the Stanley Cup with the 1914 Toronto Blueshirts. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958. McNamara’s family moved to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, when he was young, and he learned hockey there. He turned professional in the 1906–1907 season with the Sault Ste. Marie Marlboros of the International Hockey League. George and his brother Howard, who also briefly played for the Marlboros, were called the "Dynamite Twins" for their punishing body checks. When the IHL folded in 1907, top Canadian players returned home, and McNamara—a big, rugged defenceman known as one of the best open-ice checkers of his era—was in high demand. He played for four clubs in four different leagues between 1908 and 1913. His professional career paused in 1916 when he enlisted in the Canadian Army during the First World War, alongside his brother Harold. He played for the 228th Battalion team in the National Hockey Association before the unit was ordered overseas in February 1917. McNamara helped organize the battalion’s hockey team and coached its junior affiliate. The 228th was later redesignated as the 6th Battalion of the Canadian Railway Troops, and McNamara served for the war’s duration. He was Mentioned in Dispatches, promoted to major, and discharged in March 1919. After returning to Canada, McNamara coached the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds—a team he is credited with naming, saying "a greyhound is faster than a wolf" in reference to rivals the Sudbury Wolves—and led them to the Allan Cup championship in 1924. He and his brother Howard founded the McNamara Construction Company, which became a prosperous firm. McNamara died in Miami, Florida, on March 10, 1952, and was posthumously inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame six years later.
Quick Facts
- Position
- Defence
- Shoots
- Left
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 1
- Weight Lb
- 220
- Birth Date
- 1886-08-26
- Birth Place
- Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada
- Death Date
- 1952-03-10
- Death Place
- Miami, Florida, U.S.
- Played For
- Toronto 228th Battalion / Toronto Ontarios / Toronto Blueshirts / Halifax Crescents / Waterloo Colts / Montreal Shamrocks / Cobalt Silver Kings / Sault Ste. Marie Marlboros
- Career Start
- 1907
- Career End
- 1917
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
McNamara learned hockey after his family moved to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. He made his professional debut with the Sault Ste. Marie Marlboros of the International Hockey League in 1906–1907. George and his brother Howard were known as the 'Dynamite Twins' for their bone-crushing body checks. After the IHL folded in 1907, McNamara played with four clubs in four leagues from 1908 to 1913. He was considered one of the best open ice checkers of his day and helped the Toronto Blueshirts win the 1914 Stanley Cup. His career was interrupted in 1916 when he enlisted in the Canadian Army during the First World War, along with brother Harold. He played for the 228th Battalion team in the National Hockey Association before being ordered overseas on February 10, 1917. He helped organize the Battalion's hockey team and coached the junior affiliate. The battalion was re-designated as the 6th Battalion of the Canadian Railway Troops. McNamara served for the duration of the war, was Mentioned in Dispatches, promoted to major, and discharged in March 1919.
Reader's Guide
After returning from service, McNamara became coach of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, a team he is credited with naming because 'a greyhound is faster than a wolf' in reference to the local rivals, the Sudbury Wolves. He led the Greyhounds to the Allan Cup championship in 1924. George and his brother Howard founded the McNamara Construction Company, which they developed into a prosperous firm. McNamara died in Miami, Florida on March 10, 1952, and was inducted posthumously into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958. His brothers Harold and Howard also played professional ice hockey. His career statistics are available through various online sources.
Did You Know?
- He served in the Canadian Army during the First World War and was promoted to major.
- He is credited with naming the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds because 'a greyhound is faster than a wolf'.
- He led the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds to the Allan Cup championship in 1924.
More in Hockey Hall of Fame Players, Part 2 1-24
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