On today’s date in 1938, Toronto hockey legend and Canadian senator Frank Mahovlich was born in Timmins, Ont.
The son of Croatian immigrants, Mahovlich lived in small towns across Ontario while being scouted by several National Hockey League (NHL) teams. After three years with Toronto’s minor-league affiliate, he joined the Toronto Maple Leafs full time for the 1957-58 season.
That year, Mahovlich beat Bobby Hull to win the Calder Trophy for top NHL rookie of the year.
Mahovlich also played for the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Toros and Birmingham Bulls throughout his career, during which time he became one of hockey’s greatest scorers. He led the Leafs in scoring every season from 1960-61 to 1965-66 and was the main offensive weapon for a dynasty that won the Stanley Cup in 1962, ’63, ’64 and ’67.
Altogether, Mahovlich was named to an NHL All-Star Team nine times.
Mahovlich is depicted alongside five NHL all-stars on a six-stamp souvenir sheet.
POST-LEAFS CAREER
In March 1968, Mahovlich was traded to the Detroit Red Wings, with whom he netted a career-high 49 goals in 1968-69.
Three years later, he was traded to the Montréal Canadiens and helped that team to a pair of Stanley Cups.
Altogether, he played on six Stanley Cup-winning teams before being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1981 and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.
In 1994, Mahovlich was made a member of the Order of Canada. Four years later, he was appointed to the Senate by then-prime minister Jean Chrétien and served in that capacity until 2013.
CANADA POST COMMEMORATION
In January 2003, Canada Post honoured Mahovlich on a six-stamp souvenir sheet (Scott #1972) featuring five other NHL all-stars.
Released to commemorate the 2003 NHL All-Star Game in Florida, the sheet depicts Mahovlich (SC #1972a) alongside five legendary hockey players (from SC #1972b-f), including Raymond Bourque, Serge Savard, Stan Mikita, Mike Bossy and Bill Durnan.
The 2003 NHL All-Stars set was designed by Stéphane Huot, of Montréal, and illustrated by Charles Vinh and computer artist Pierre Rousseau. Each player is shown in action with a formal portrait as part of the selvedge.