Stafford Smythe
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C. Stafford Smythe (1921-October 13, 1971) was the son of Conn Smythe and president of Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. and the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team from 1961-1969 and from 1970 until his death.
In the late 1940s, Smythe was hired as coach of the Toronto Marlboros hockey team by president Harold Ballard. He was later promoted to managing director.
Smythe was chairman of the "Silver Seven" -- a group formed in 1957 to oversee hockey operations for the Maple Leafs. In 1958, they convinced Conn Smythe to hire Punch Imlach to run the Leafs hockey team while they focused on the business side.
In November 1961, along with partners Ballard and John Bassett -- both members of the Silver Seven -- Stafford Smythe bought control of the Maple Leafs from his father for $2.3 million and became team president.
The Leafs, who had gone 11 years without winning a Stanley Cup, won the trophy four times in their first six seasons under the new owners. Profitability was increased through expanded seating capacity at Maple Leaf Gardens and the sale of advertising to sponsors throughout the building.
Following an RCMP raid at the Gardens in 1968, Smythe was charged with income tax evasion and accused, along with Ballard, of illegally taking money from Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. to pay for renovations of their houses and other personal expenses. Just before the charges were laid, Bassett successfully argued to the board that Smythe and Ballard should be removed from their management positions at Maple Leaf Gardens. Following an 8-7 vote of the board of directors on June 26 1969, Smythe and Ballard were both fired, although they remained shareholders and directors. The move came just a couple of months after Smythe had fired Imlach after an unimpressive season from the Leafs.
Smythe and Ballard regained control of the board in 1970, leading to Bassett's resignation. Smythe was once again appointed president. Bassett sold his shares in Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. to Smythe and Ballard for $6 million in 1971. Ballard would be convicted of tax evasion, but Smythe died of a bleeding ulcer just before his trial was scheduled to begin. Ballard took control of the Leafs in 1972, winning a battle with members of Smythe's family for ownership of Smythe's shares.
The Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the MVP of the Memorial Cup tournament, is named in his honour.
