10 THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Written By Arianne Tong

Maybe you’ve loved the Leafs for your whole life despite an insane recurring pattern of heartbreak, highs and lows…maybe you’re catching Leafmania as they inch closer to the 2023 cup…or maybe you just need some quick fun facts to pretend you’re a superfan at the next playoff party. Whatever your reasoning, we’ve got your back! Here are 20 fun facts about the Toronto Maple Leafs, followed by a short QE style quiz!

1
The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the "Original Six" teams in the NHL, founded in 1917.

OG Six in the 6ix 🤘🏻

2
The Maple Leafs were originally known as the
"Toronto Arenas"

They were originally going to be called the "Toronto Ravinas," (yikes) but team owner Eddie Livingstone changed the name to the "Arenas" at the last minute.The team was renamed the Toronto St. Patricks in 1919 in honour of St. Patrick's Day. They officially changed to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1927.

3
The Maple Leafs have the most players inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, with 65!

That’s a lot of talent, now if only we could get that many Stanley Cups we’d really have it all. Dare to dream!

4
The Maple Leafs' longest losing streak is 11 games, which they suffered in 1967.

Hey, sometimes you gotta crack a few eggs to make an omlet? They won the cup later that season!

5
The Maple Leafs' official mascot is Carlton the Bear!

He’s named after the intersection of Carlton and Yonge streets in Toronto!

6
Canadian author Margaret Atwood is a Maple Leafs fan, and once said in an interview that "the agony and the ecstasy" of being a fan is what draws her to the team.

Even fictional characters, like Terry Jeffords from Brooklyn Nine-Nine, have commented on this agony. In a 2018 episode of "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," where Terry laments that the team has "broken [his] heart every year since [he] was 7 years old."
Same, Terry. Same.

7
In 1959, the Maple Leafs became the first NHL team to use a Zamboni ice resurfacer.

Brains and brawn! Let’s move on to the next fact before we all get a zam-boner. 🥁💥

8
The Maple Leafs won their first Stanley Cup as the “Toronto Arenas” in 1918, despite only playing in the NHL for one season at the time.

It’s common for early achievers to experience burnout…but then we come back with a force beyond comprehension!
Tale as old as time!

9
The Maple Leafs have had several famous broadcasters over the years, including Foster Hewitt, Bob Cole, and Joe Bowen. However, one of the most famous Maple Leafs broadcasters of all time is actually a fictional character: Jim Hughson, the play-by-play announcer in the EA Sports NHL video games, has been called the "voice of the Maple Leafs" by fans.

EA Sports…it’s in the game!

10
one of the most surprising moments in Maple Leafs history came in 1943, when the team's head coach, Hap Day, was forced to suit up as a player due to a shortage of players during World War II. Day, who had retired as a player four years earlier, played two games for the Maple Leafs at the age of 38.

The epitome of “we’re all in this together”!

 

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS PICTURE QUIZ

ROUND 1

Guess the celebrity who is wearing TML gear.

ROUND 2

Unscramble the anagrams of TML captains!

  1. NEED KEY DENT

  2. MIND ASS NUT

  3. HAY PAD

  4. THOMAS NUT SWEAT

  5. NEW CLERK LAD

  6. DRUG LIMO UGO

  7. DIP HUE ON FAN

  8. EL DIRRRTY LAST

ROUND 3

Answer the question about the the Toronto Maple Leafs!

  1. Who scored the famous "Gretzky high stick" goal for the Maple Leafs in the 1993 playoffs?

  2. Which Maple Leafs player holds the record for most goals scored in a single season?

    A) Auston Matthews B) Rick Viave C) Joe Nieuwendyk C) Doug GIlmour

  3. Who holds the Maple Leafs record for most points in a single season?

    A) Mats Sundin B) Tomas Kaberle C) Tim Horton C) Darryl Sittler

  4. Name the Maple Leaf whose nickname was “The Eagle.”

  5. Which Leaf scored a hat trick on their first game with the Leafs in the 2016-17 season, later winning the Calder Trophy?

  6. Which Leaf has the record for most penalty minutes (2265) in the box?

  7. What are all 4 stadium names that have been home to the Leafs?

  8. Which NHL team have the Leafs squared off against the most - aka their biggest rival (of many)?

 
 
 

ANSWERS

ROUND 1

  1. Bianca Andresscu

  2. Chris Hadfeild

  3. Drake

  4. Edge

  5. Hayden Christensen

  6. Jim Carrey

  7. Mike Myers

  8. Shawn Mendes

ROUND 2

  1. TED KENNEDY

  2. MATS SUNDIN

  3. HAP DAY

  4. AUSTON MATTHEWS

  5. WENDEL CLARK

  6. DOUG GILMOUR

  7. DION PHANEUF

  8. DARRYL SITTLER

ROUND 3

  1. Doug Gilmour

  2. (B) Rick Viave

  3. (C) Darryl Sittler

  4. Ed Belfour

  5. Auston Matthews

  6. Tie Domi

  7. Arena Gardens, Maple Leaf Gardens, Air Canada Centre, Scotiabank Arena

  8. Montreal Canadiens

Arianne Tong
Previous

5 MUST-DO’S WHEN ORGANIZING A CORPORATE EVENT ✅
Next

what kind of mid-round showdowns can i add to my trivia experience?