Turk Broda

Turk Broda: Hall of Fame goaltender who backstopped the Maple Leafs to five Stanley Cups.

Walter Edward "Turk" Broda (May 15, 1914 — October 17, 1972) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach. A goaltender, Broda played his entire career for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1936 and 1951, taking a hiatus from 1943 to 1946 to fight in the Second World War.

Quick Facts

Hall of Fame: 1967
Born: 15 May 1914
Birthplace: Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
Died: 17 October 1972
Place of death: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Position: Goaltender
Catches: Left
Played for: Toronto Maple Leafs

Lore & Background

Broda was born in Brandon, Manitoba to a Ukrainian family. He acquired the nickname "Turkey Egg" during his school days because of his many freckles, which soon became "Turk." He started his playing career with the Brandon Athletics and Brandon Native Sons, later playing for the Winnipeg Monarchs, Detroit Farm Crest, and Toronto St. Michael's Majors. In 1933–34, the Detroit Red Wings invited him to training camp, but he began his professional career with the Detroit Olympics.

In 1933, he also appeared in goal for the Riding Mountain Relief Camp All-Stars. He was acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1935–36 for $7,500. Broda won his first Vezina Trophy in 1940–41 with a GAA of 2.00 and was named to the NHL First All-Star Team. The following season he backstopped the Leafs to the Stanley Cup, recording a shutout and an 8–5 record.

During World War II, he joined the Canadian Army in 1942–43, was stationed in England entertaining troops, and was honourably discharged in 1945. He returned to the Leafs in 1945–46 and helped them win Stanley Cups in 1947, 1948, 1949, and 1951. He added another Vezina Trophy and First All-Star Team selection in 1948. He was the first goaltender to reach 300 wins, doing so in 1950.

The "Battle of the Bulge" was a dispute with owner Conn Smythe about Broda losing weight; Broda lost enough weight to keep his job, though he later admitted the scales were rigged. After retiring in 1951–52, he coached the Ottawa Senators in the Quebec Hockey League and the Toronto Marlboros, leading the Marlboros to back-to-back Memorial Cup championships in 1955 and 1956. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1967 and the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 1983. In 2017, he was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history.

Reader's Guide

Broda is remembered as a key goaltender in the Toronto Maple Leafs' dynasty, winning five Stanley Cups (1942, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1951). He won the Vezina Trophy twice (1941, 1948) and was a two-time NHL First All-Star Team selection. He recorded 13 shutouts and a GAA of 1.98 in the playoffs. His #1 jersey has been retired by the Maple Leafs.

Did You Know?

Broda was born in Brandon, Manitoba to a Ukrainian family, though he is sometimes mistakenly referred to as Polish.
The 'Battle of the Bulge' was a public dispute with owner Conn Smythe over Broda's weight; Broda later admitted the scales were rigged in his favour.