Syl Apps

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Apps won the gold medal at the 1934 British Empire Games in the pole vault. He represented Canada at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, where he placed sixth in the pole vault. He played centre for the Maple Leafs, wore jersey number 10, won the first Calder Memorial Trophy in 1937, and the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 1942. He captained the Maple Leafs during the first NHL All-Star Game on October 13, 1947. He served in the Canadian Army from the end of the 1943 season until the war ended, then returned to captain the Leafs to Stanley Cup wins in 1947 and 1948. He retired at age 33 with 200 career goals. He was a Progressive Conservative MPP from 1963 to 1975, representing Kingston and later Kingston and the Islands, and served as Minister of Correctional Services from 1971 to 1974.

In Their Own Story

On October 13, 1947, Syl Apps stood as captain for the Maple Leafs during the first National Hockey League All-Star Game at Maple Leaf Gardens. Earlier that decade, on October 29, 1939, he played for an all-star team in Montreal to raise funds for Babe Siebert's family. The final weeks of his career were defined by determination; despite scoring 53 points in 55 games and setting a personal high in goals, he chose to leave the game at age 33 rather than play one more season without reaching his goal target. His post-hockey life included a marketing role with Simpson's department store and service as the Ontario Athletic Commissioner.

Reader's Guide

Apps was a strong athlete, six feet tall, weighing 185 pounds. He was known for his athleticism, character, skating and play-making abilities. Conn Smythe called him the greatest player in franchise history. Jack Adams said Apps was the greatest centre he had ever seen. Milt Schmidt called him the greatest player he ever played against. Apps was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1961, Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1975, and made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1977. His jersey number 10 was officially retired by the Maple Leafs on October 15, 2016.

Did You Know?

• Apps won the gold medal in pole vault at the 1934 British Empire Games, not the Olympics.
• He captained the Maple Leafs during the first NHL All-Star Game in 1947, not during the 1942 Stanley Cup win.
• Apps scored five goals in the final weekend of the 1947-48 season to reach 200 career goals.
• His granddaughter Gillian Apps won three Olympic gold medals in women's ice hockey.