Syl Apps LL, Team Calendar, U18 | Team #1 (Faux, A), U18, 2021-2022 (Paris Minor Hockey)

For many of our players this will be their final minor hockey tournament and what a great way to wrap up with a home tournament where most players started their hockey experience. I expect some solid competition including the 2 other Paris U18 teams and a lot of fun as we close out the 2021-2022 season at this historical event. 

Syl Apps was born in Paris and was a strong athlete. He won the gold medal at the 1934 British Empire Games in the pole vault competition. Two years later he represented Canada at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany, where he placed sixth in the pole vault event. After watching him play football at McMaster University, Conn Smythe signed Apps to play hockey with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Apps played centre with the Toronto Maple Leafs for his entire professional hockey career, jersey #10. He was the winner of the first Calder Memorial Trophy in 1937, and the 1942 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. Apps served as the Maple Leafs captain during the first National Hockey League All-Star Game October 13, 1947, at Maple Leaf Gardens.

Apps was in the prime of his career when he joined the Canadian Army during World War II at the end of the 1943 season. He served two years until the war was over, whereupon he returned to captain the Leafs, winning 2 more Stanley Cups in 1947 and 1948 (his first Stanley Cup win was in 1942).

Apps contemplated retirement following the 1947 Stanley Cup win, but returned in order to reach the 200 career goals milestone. With 196 career goals heading into the final weekend of the regular season, Apps scored 5 goals in the two weekend games to surpass his goal.