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Ambrose O'Brien

Considered one of the game’s early promoters, Ambrose O’Brien was actually a decent player himself. With his playing days over, O’Brien did his best to get his beloved town of Renfrew into the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association. When that failed, he essentially started up a rival National Hockey Association which had an immediate impact. Perhaps more importantly, he founded the Montreal Canadians which would become the most vital professional team in history. To many people (including us) that alone makes him a Hockey Hall of Fame inductee.

Alf Smith

As the eldest of the Smith family of Hockey players from Ottawa, Alf Smith had a bit of a rough road to the Hall of Fame. Smith started his career in the 1890’s but was declared ineligible for amateur contests and did not play in what was likely his prime. He would however reclaim his eligibility and had his most famed years as the Player/Coach of the Ottawa Silver Seven where he averaged two goals a game and led his team to three consecutive Stanley Cups.

Syl Apps

A career Centre for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Syl Apps won a large share of hardware for the Buds. Considered by his peers, his fans and his employers to be one of the classiest guys in the sport, Apps was also a very skilled player. He would twice lead the NHL in assists and retired with a point per game average. He won the first ever Calder Trophy in1937 as the Rookie of the Year, and won the Lady Byng in 1942 and three Stanley Cups. Apps would go down as one of the best captains the Toronto Maple Leafs ever had.

Percy LeSueur

Initially a Right Winger, Percy LeSueur achieved his greatest success in organized hockey as a Goaltender. LaSueur was not just a student of the net, but a teacher as well. He wrote a manual on the position while in his prime and led Ottawa to two Stanley Cups. While playing, he created the gauntlet style glove and the style of net used in hockey from 1912 to 1925. “Peerless” Percy may not have been the best Goalie of his time, but his innovations aided the game and for his overall contributions to goaltending makes his induction to the Hockey Hall of Fame was warranted.