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Constantine Falkland Cary “Conn” Smythe, MC, sports entrepreneur (born 1 February 1895 in Toronto, ON; died there 1 November 1980). Conn Smythe was a renowned sport entrepreneur who helped establish the Toronto Maple Leafs and build Maple Leaf Gardens.
Military Career
Conn Smythe fought in both the First and Second World Wars. He was awarded the Military Cross in the First World War. Later in the war, Smythe served with the Royal Flying Corp and his plane was shot down over Passchendaele. He was injured and was held as a prisoner of war for 14 months. After the Second World War started, Smythe yet again signed up for the armed forces. During his service in the Second World War, he was severely injured by shrapnel.
Career in Hockey
Conn Smythe’s reputation for hockey acumen derived from his success coaching the University of Toronto Varsity Grads to the Allan Cup in 1927. In 1926, he assembled the original New York Ranger team, who found success. In 1927, he and associates raised $160,000 and bought the Toronto St Pats. They changed the team's name to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Largely through his efforts, Maple Leaf Gardens was built in 1931. Smythe went on to coach the Maple Leafs to multiple Stanley Cups. He sold his controlling interest in the Gardens and the team in 1961 to his son Stafford and others.
In 1964, Maple Leaf Gardens Limited presented the first Conn Smythe Trophy. Now presented by the National Hockey League, it is awarded each year to the most valuable player in the playoffs. Smythe was an integral part of establishing the Hockey Hall of Fame in the early 1960s, and he was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1975. His autobiography, Conn Smythe: If you can't beat 'em in the alley, with Scott Young, appeared in 1981.
