Bill Barilko

Lore & Background

Barilko scored the series-winning goal in overtime of Game 5 of the 1951 Stanley Cup Final, a backhanded shot past Montreal Canadiens goaltender Gerry McNeil. He died in a floatplane crash in August 1951 during a fishing trip to Quebec; his remains were not found until 1962. His story inspired the 1993 song 'Fifty Mission Cap' by The Tragically Hip.

In Their Own Story

The ice in the Gardens was a sheet of pale blue under the floodlights, and the crowd noise rolled in like a slow tide. Barilko skated the left circle with his stick low, eyes tracking the play two passes ahead. The centre fed a quick pass up the wing, and Barilko took it on the backhand, accelerating before the defenceman could even turn his shoulders. One step, two steps, the stick lifted, and the puck was already gone—tucked into the far corner before the goaltender's glove had fully opened. The net rippled. The crowd detonated. And for three or four seconds, Bill Barilko simply skated back to his own blue line, calm as if he had done nothing remarkable at all, his breath a small cloud in the cold air above the ice.

Reader's Guide

Barilko was a defenceman known for his hard hitting and offensive rushes. He wore sweater #21, then #19, and finally #5 (which was later retired by the Maple Leafs). He played junior hockey while working in a mine and was signed by Toronto, assigned to their affiliate the Hollywood Wolves of the PCHL.

Did You Know?

• Barilko's last goal is one of the most famous in NHL history, winning the 1951 Stanley Cup for the Maple Leafs in overtime.
• His remains were found 11 years after his death, on June 7, 1962, by helicopter pilot Ron Boyd and engineer Phil Weston.
• The only known recording of Barilko's voice is a 78rpm recording he and his brother Alex made for their mother while in Hollywood.
• Barilko's #5 jersey was retired by the Maple Leafs; it was one of several numbers retired by the team long before 2016.