25. Carl Brewer

When it comes to hockey players who stood firm on their principles, Carl Brewer might have stood the tallest.

Brewer debuted in 1958 and was second in Calder Trophy voting for the 1958/59 Season.  Showing grit on the defensive end and strong passing on the rush, Brewer quickly moved up to the upper-tier of blueliners in the NHL, earning three post-season All-Star Selections and anchoring them to three consecutive Stanley Cups (1962-64).  Like so many Maple Leafs, Brewer began to have issues with management, namely Head Coach Punch Imlach.

Brewer abruptly retired and regained his amateur status, playing for Team Canada in the 1967 World Championship.  He would also play and coach in Finland, and Brewer is credited with elevating their program.  He did come back to the NHL, playing for Detroit, St. Louis and Toronto of the WHA before retiring again in 1974.

He would make a comeback for the Maple Leafs in January of 1980 for 20 Games after not playing for over six years and retired for good at season's end.

After his playing career ended, Brewer suspected that a substantial portion of the NHL's pension funds had been siphoned away to league owners.  He was right, and $40 million was reimbursed, and Alan Eagleson, the Players' Association Executive Director, was charged with fraud and jailed. 

The work that Brewer did behind the scenes in hockey should never be forgotten.