Frank Mahovlich
The Big M: six-time Stanley Cup champion and Hockey Hall of Famer
Francis William Mahovlich (muh-HOV-litch; born January 10, 1938) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and a former Liberal Senator in the Canadian Senate. He played on six Stanley Cup-winning teams and is an inductee of the Hockey Hall of Fame. In 2017 Mahovlich was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history. Mahovlich was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1999. His brother Peter also played in the NHL. His nickname is "The Big M".
Quick Facts
- Position
- Left Winger
- Nationality
- Canadian
- Primary affiliation
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Detroit Red Wings
- Montreal Canadiens (NHL); Toronto Toros
- Birmingham Bulls (WHA)
- Known for
- Elite speed
- one-on-one scoring
- top-line offence
- Playing style
- Fast
- skilled
- aggressive forechecker
- Venue
- Maple Leaf Gardens, Olympia Stadium, Montreal Forum, etc.
Lore & Background
Mahovlich is the son of Croatian immigrants. He was scouted by several NHL teams while playing for the Schumacher Lions of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. He signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who sent him to the Toronto St. Michael's Majors. He played there while attending St. Michael's College School from 1954 to 1957.
He received the Red Tilson Trophy as the top player in the OHA for the 1956–57 season. He joined the Leafs in 1957 and won the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year. In the 1960–61 season, he scored 48 goals—a Leaf record that would stand for 21 years. He won the Stanley Cup with the Leafs in 1962, 1963, 1964, and 1967.
He was traded to the Detroit Red Wings on March 4, 1968, and later to the Montreal Canadiens on January 13, 1971. He won the Stanley Cup with the Canadiens in 1971 and 1973. He left the NHL for the WHA in 1974, playing for the Toronto Toros and Birmingham Bulls until his retirement in 1979. He never played for the Los Angeles Kings.
Reader's Guide
Mahovlich played his entire NHL career for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, and Montreal Canadiens. He played in the WHA for the Toronto Toros and Birmingham Bulls from 1974 to 1979.
Did You Know?
- Mahovlich was a 20-goal scorer in his first NHL season and won the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year.
- Mahovlich was part of a six-player blockbuster trade from the Maple Leafs to the Detroit Red Wings on March 4, 1968.
- He set an all-time post-season goal scoring record in 1971 while with the Montreal Canadiens.
- Mahovlich claimed credit for being the first player to hoist the Stanley Cup above his head after the Leafs' 1962 victory.
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