Hap Day
Clarence Henry " Hap " Day ( born June 1, 1901 in Owen Sound, Ontario, † 17 February 1990 in St. Thomas, Ontario ) was a Canadian ice hockey player (defender) and coach, from 1959 to 1967 for the Toronto St. Patricks or Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Americans played in the National Hockey League.
Career
Days cheerful disposition won him already in his childhood nickname "Happy" one. Over the years, this was abbreviated as " Hap ". After he had learned to play hockey in his hometown of Owen Sound, he moved to Toronto to university to study pharmacy. He played for the University team and was considered one of the best players and skaters outside of the National Hockey League. On one of his games Querrie Charlie, the owner of the Toronto St. Patricks and Bert Corbeau, one of his former star players were present. Both were clear after the game that they had to win Day for their NHL team. Day wanted to concentrate on his studies, but was with a salary of $ 5,000 and a promise not to miss too many lectures, to be persuaded.
On December 10, 1924, he made his debut in the NHL. He played left wing in a storm series with Jack Adams and Babe Dye. After his first season, he moved to the defense. In his time, the St. Patrick's were renamed Maple Leafs and also the new owner Conn Smythe, he deposited his career aspirations with success. In the new loot Maple Leaf Gardens, the management offered him business premises, in which he opened his pharmacy. Since 1926 he was due to his leadership qualities to the team captain of the team. Except for an injury to the Achilles tendon in 1928, he was spared from serious injury. Together with the 1931 King Clancy committed, he formed one of the best defender duo of his time. In the 1931/32 season, the Maple Leafs had moved to the Maple Leaf Gardens. In the playoffs Day scored a decisive goal in the semi-final against the Montreal Maroons. His equalizer took the second game into overtime, in which the Leafs secured a place in the finals series. There, Day scored another three goals and won his first Stanley Cup with Toronto. His last active season, he played 1937/38, for the New York Americans.
It was followed by two years as a referee, before he returned to the Maple Leafs. Coach Dick Irvin had left Toronto towards Montreal and Conn Smythe did not hesitate, but took a day instantly as new head coach back to the franchise. In the following years he was the most successful coach in the NHL. In its first year, the Maple Leafs failed in the semifinals in seven games to the Boston Bruins. The following year, his team reached the finals, but after the first three games against the Detroit Red Wings were lost, the title seemed to miss again. With some changes in the squad Day brought his team back into the race. In one of the most spectacular final series for the Stanley Cup, the Maple Leafs as 1943 won the title. He repeated this success in 1945 and starting in 1947 three times in a row. After he stepped down in 1950 by the coach position, he became an assistant to general manager Conn Smythe. During this time, the Leafs brought in 1951 another Stanley Cup. In 1957 he took over for a year, the Office of the General Manager.
In 1961 he was honored with induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
NHL stats
Sporting successes
- Stanley Cup: 1932 ( as a player ); 1942, 1945, 1947, 1948 and 1949 (as coach )
- Memorial Cup: 1936 (as coach )
Personal Awards
- NHL Second All-Star Team: 1944 as coach
- Participate in the NHL All-Star Game: 1947, 1948 and 1949 (as coach )