With Remembrance Day coming soon, on November 11th, it brings thoughts to mind of all those who served and makes me grateful for their sacrifices. I am a veteran myself, and perhaps because of that, and my love of hockey, I have always felt a connection between sports and military service—the relationship between hockey and our country’s military dates back more than a century. For hockey fans in North America who follow junior hockey, there is the annual Memorial Cup championship tournament, awarded each year to the junior hockey champions of the Canadian Hockey League. It was first awarded in 1919, one year after the end of the First World War.
The Montreal Canadiens, with their long history, have been around for every major conflict Canada has been involved with since World War One. What many present-day hockey fans think of when it comes to the Habs and any conflicts, if they think of it at all, even around Remembrance Day, they think of athletes visiting soldiers overseas, maybe playing some ball hockey, or just shaking hands and taking selfies with the troops. The Canadiens’ history has been marked by more than that, it has had many serve in the Armed Forces, but also, the family with the closest ties, especially as owners of the great franchise, the Molson family have family who have served, and given the ultimate sacrifice to all Canadiens.
Fitting that this game between @TorontoArgos and @MTLAlouettes , two days before #RemembranceDay2024, is taking place at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium. @mcgillu grad, killed in action in Great War, 1917. #LestWeForget pic.twitter.com/nWjy2otYAD
— J.D.M. Stewart (@jdmstewart1) November 9, 2024
Also, there is the famous motto found on the Canadiens’ dressing room wall, and inside the collar of every Canadiens sweater, “To you from failing hands we throw the torch, be yours to hold it high.” this comes from the famous poem by Canadian medical officer Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae that is memorized by every school-aged child in Canada.
World War One
A member of the Canadiens’ first Stanley Cup-winning team in 1916, George “Goldie” Prodgers left Montreal after scoring the Cup-clinching goal and enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Once enlisted, he played for the Toronto 228th Battalion for the final NHA season (1916–17) before being shipped overseas. He returned to Canada after the war in 1919 but refused to report to Quebec (Bulldogs) which was assigned his playing rights in the new upstart league, the NHL. Instead, he was traded to the Toronto St-Pats.
World War Two
The Second World War was ongoing while Doug Harvey was completing high school, and in 1942, one month before his 18th birthday, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy. Because he was such a skilled defenseman, one whose style of play eventually paved the way for all puck-moving defensemen, Harvey was assigned to the Navy’s hockey team, which was used to boost public morale. However, he wanted to serve in an active role and requested a transfer to serve overseas. In 1944, he got his wish and was assigned to a defensively equipped merchant ship, which was a Merchant Vessel that provided the armaments needed to mount an adequate defence against enemy submarines and aircraft. He spent the remainder of the war becoming a veteran of the Battle of the Atlantic, the most crucial battle for victory in Europe. Harvey returned to hockey in 1946 and went on to have a stellar career, winning the Stanley Cup six times, five of those as a member of the Canadiens’ 1950’s Dynasty. He won the Norris Trophy seven times (in eight years from 1955 to 1962).
The NHL during the Second World War is filled with tragedies but also inspiring stories. It’s the end of the 1941-42 season. And World War 2 is raging in Europe and the Pacific. The Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens were facing off at the midway point of the season, and it was more than just a regular game. The Canadiens had just been pummeled by their bitter rivals, Boston, by a score of 8-1. Normally, you’d see players hang their heads and skate off the ice, or even try to fight their opponents. But on this night, something very different happened and led to one of the most iconic sportsmanship moments in professional sports. In this moment, one of the greatest lines the NHL had seen up to that point. Despite the crushing loss, the Canadiens carried the Bruins’ famous Kraut Line — Milt Schmidt, Woody Dumart and Bobby Bauer — off the Boston Garden ice while the crowd roared in approval and well wishes. These three stars had enlisted into the military and were heading off to fight fascism and tyranny. Thankfully, all three returned after the war and rejoined the Bruins.
In their last NHL game before heading off to serve for Canada in the Second World War, Bruins' Milt Schmidt, Woody Dumart, and Bobby Bauer were carried off the ice by their opponents, a remarkable show of respect and camaraderie #CanadaRemembers #LestWeForget pic.twitter.com/7JxRSvvWfq
— Mike Commito (@mikecommito) November 11, 2020
As for the Canadiens, eight players from the 1941-42 season, including six who played in that game, joined their nations’ Armed Forces in the following months. Pete Morin, Ken Reardon and John Quilty enlisted at the season’s end. Cliff Goupille, Tony Demers, and Terry Reardon joined early in the 1942-43 season, and Joe Benoît, Gordie Drillon and John Portland followed at the end of the season.
Present Day
Since those conflicts, there have been many current and former Montreal Canadiens visiting the troops at home and abroad to raise their spirits during times of conflict. Most recently, during the years Canada was involved in the Afghanistan War when many NHL Alumni would fly out and visit the troops with the Stanley Cup, and even play some hockey games. One of the big contributors to this endeavour is Chris Nilan. He spent countless hours travelling across Canada and overseas helping raise the spirits of members of the military. His father being a veteran of the American military and a Green Beret, gave Nilan a desire to help our service members.
Spending the day with my Dads Green Beret unit. Old Soldiers who will always be soldiers May God Bless all veterans and active duty soldiers Men and Women. pic.twitter.com/672QZ0FEEy
— Chris Nilan (@KnucklesNilan30) August 21, 2021
The Canadiens have deep ties with the military, from some of their players serving overseas to conducting morale tours with the troops to the fact that many service members are die-hard fans of the storied franchise. During times of conflict, hockey was a way for people to momentarily escape from those hardships. This week, when you watch a Habs game, please take a moment to think about, not just the on-ice heroes of yesterday and today, but also to take a few moments to ponder the sacrifices our service members and veterans who have striven to help our nation strive to live in peace and security.
