Toronto Maple Leafs legends and current stars 'wow' military veterans at Sunnybrook
· Toronto Sun
Former Toronto Maple Leafs captain and alumnus Darryl Sittler was more than thrilled to visit with veterans at Sunnybrook hospital on Remembrance Week.
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Some of the current Toronto Maple Leafs – rookie Gavin McKenna, William Nylander and Zack MacEwen – answered questions from the veterans in attendance along with alumni members and former captains Sittler and Mats Sundin at their meet-and-greet Friday afternoon.
Sittler, now 76, was born in 1950 and clearly had a better comprehension of the times and veterans than the younger players on hand.
“Its very important for all of us to be here,” Sittler said. “The Leafs had a long-standing tradition with the (Canadian) Armed Forces with Conn Smythe back in 1927.”
“When I came on with the Leafs in the 1970s, this was one of the things we did with our relationship,” he explained.
Sittler said he learned from other Leafs legends like Johnny Bower and George Armstrong, but it was also great to see the new youngsters like McKenna show up Friday.
“It gives the guys a chance to meet the guys they watched on TV and admired to play,” said Sittler. “And obviously I admire the people that served for our country.”
“And continue to serve for our country today,” he added.
‘Wow, what a treat’
After a gab session of questions and answers, the Leafs group was acknowledged by veteran Len Kubas, now 88, who served as a flying officer and navigator with the Royal Canadian Air Force starting his career back in 1954 during the Cold War.
“W-O-W. Wow, what a treat,” said Kubas. “Me, a guy who grew up in Winnipeg. Being here with the world’s famous best hockey players, is just beyond belief.”
The players posed for photos with veteran Eric Alexander who gave them a big thumbs up after after being presented with an autographed Maple Leafs jersey with the name “Sunnybrook” and emblazoned with the number 26 and fully autographed by this year’s entire team.
The players then went around the room mingling with over 50 veterans and family members, signing postcard-sized prints of themselves before doing one-on-one chats.
Durwin Dingle, who is originally from Saskatchewan and turns 100 next year – coinciding with the Leafs 100 anniversary, sat front row with his good friend Stephanie Gagne taking it all in as Sittler strode over to talk about old-time hockey, golf, beer and Scotch.
Dingle confessed that growing up in the Prairies he was more a Chicago Blackhawks fan, but he was wearing his blue and white jersey Friday.
Maple Leaf ‘a badge of honour’ on team uniform
The hockey club has a strong connection with the military since officially becoming the Toronto Maple Leafs under Conn Smythe, who served in the First World War and Second World War.
Smythe incorporated the Maple Leaf into the team uniform after the Arenas and St. Pat’s as a “badge of honour.”
Just this past week, on Wednesday, Maple Leafs alumnists Al Iafrate and Shayne Corson were in attendance at a ceremony to unveil a life-sized statue honouring the memory of First World War Canadian flying ace Lt.-Col. William Barker at Scrivener Square across from the Summerhill LCBO.
That TTC station was formerly the North Toronto train station.
Sunnybrook’s K-Wing, as it is known, opened as a veteran’s hospital over 75 years ago and provides care for over 120 veterans from the Second World War, Korean War and the Cold War.