Major Conn Smythe: Hockey Leader and WWII Veteran of the Maple Leafs
The 1948 National Hockey Guide article discusses Major Conn Smythe, the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs and managing director of Maple Leaf Gardens. Smythe has a distinguished military background, having served in World War I as a member of the air force and being shot down behind enemy lines. During World War II, he organized the 30th Battery, contributing to the recruitment of 285 young athletes into service. His military service impacted his hockey career; after being seriously injured in Normandy in 1944, there were concerns about his recovery. The article highlights Smythe's deep involvement in hockey, noting his early participation at Jarvis Collegiate and the University of Toronto, where he captained the hockey team.