Francis "King" Clancy was a man who could do it all in the sport of ice
hockey: Player, Coach, Refree, Assistant General Manager and if you had
cut him, he would more than likely bleed Toronto Maple Leaf Blue.
Born in Ottawa, Ontario in on Ferbruary 25th, 1903, he started his
professional career with his hometown Ottawa Senators starting in the
1921-22 season and quickly became one of the best players in the
league.
While with the "Sens" from 1921-30, he became a solid defenseman on the
blue line, despite being only 5'7 and weighing only 155 pounds. He had
the capability of scoring goals in the double digits, which not too
many defensemen in his era could do and he helped lead the Senators to
2 Stanley Cup Championships in 1923 and 1927.
By 1930, Toronto Maple Leafs Manager Conn Smythe was building the Leafs
to bring the Stanley Cup to Toronto. He did this by getting Clancy for
astonishing price of $35,000 and two players. Smythe made what was said
as "the Best Deal In Hockey". Smythe raised the final $10,000 by going
to the racetrack and betting on a long-shot by the name of Rare Jewel.
The deal paid off in the end when The Leafs won the Stanley Cup in 1932
and Clancy was one of the keys to victory.
Throughout his playing career, Clancy was voted into the NHL first and
second teams twice. In addition, he played in two all star game
benefits; First for his teammate, Irvin "Ace" Bailey in 1934 and for
Howie Morenz's family in 1937.
After the 1936-37 season, Clancy retired from the Leafs and remained in
the game. First as a Head Coach for the Montreal Maroons in the 1937-38
season, then he became an NHL referee for the next 11 seasons, then he
would return to coaching the Cincinnati Mohawks and the Pittsburgh
Hornets of the American Hockey League and winning the Calder Cup in the
1951-52 season.
By 1953, he returned "home" to The Toronto Maple Leafs, where he served
as head coach, from 1953-56, as well as Assistant Coach from 1962-63
and 1967-69.
After the 1955-56 season, Clancy was moved to the front office, where
he served as Assistant General Manager and during that time the Leafs
won four more Stanley Cups.
In 1958, Clancy received the highest honor, when he was inducted into
the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Clancy remained loyal to the Leafs, despite the decline of the team
throughout the 70s and 80s, under the ownership of Harold Ballard. He
went behind the bench as interim coach in the 1971-72 season, when
Johnny McCllelan was hospitalized with ulcers and he became a Goodwill
Ambassador to the Leafs.
Clancy died in 1986 and in his honor, the National Hockey League has
awarded the King Clancy Memorial Trophy to a player for his charitable
community work.
