A Tribute to Bill Barilko and the Toronto Maple Leafs
| Kevin Shea's fourth book - Barilko - Without A Trace is now available through Fenn Publishing. |
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Related Links: Toronto Sun Toronto Star The Globe and Mail Metro News Canadian Press |
| Kevin Shea's fourth book - Barilko - Without A Trace is now available through Fenn Publishing. |
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Related Links: Toronto Sun Toronto Star The Globe and Mail Metro News Canadian Press |
Bill Barilko scored arguably the most famous goal in Maple Leaf history in Game
Five of the 1951 Stanley Cup Final. This overtime marker against
Montreal's Gerry McNeil clinched the seventh championship in franchise history. Sadly, it would be the last triumph
for Barilko. Later that summer, he disappeared in a plane crash north of Cochrane, Ontario. In an ironic twist of
fate, the Maple Leafs did not win another Stanley Cup until 1962, the same year that his remains were finally found.
Barilko's number 5 jersey remains one of only two numbers to be permanently retired by the Leafs. The legacy of Barilko's famous goal is forever immortalized in the Tragically Hip song Fifty Mission Cap, from their 1992 release Fully Completely.
What is a Fifty Mission Cap? Click here for the answer!
Disclaimer: This page is not endorsed by nor affiliated with the Toronto Maple Leafs or the NHL
Bill Barilko's Career Statistics:Born: March 25, 1927 - Timmins, Ontario Died: Aug. 26, 1951 Height: 5'11", Weight: 184 lbs. Position: Defence, Shoots: Right Stanley Cups: 4 (1947, 1948, 1949, 1951) The 1951 Barilko Overtime Goal as described by Jack Batten in his book entitled "The Leafs", Key Porter Books Limited, 1994: ISBN 1-55013-561-9 The Barilko goal came early in the first overtime period of the fifth game in the 1950-51 final against Montreal. The time was just short of the three- minute mark. Gardner, Meeker and Watson came on as forwards for the Leafs, Barilko and Boesch on defence. The puck was in the Montreal zone. Meeker had put it there. Meeker, always a player of hustle and speed, chased after the puck behind the Montreal net and to the right of the goalie, Gerry McNeil. Tom Johnson, Monteral's tall defenceman, fought Meeker for the puck. Meeker won. He popped it in front. Harry Watson, to McNeil's left, took a crack at the puck. Nobody's certain whether Watson's shot forced McNeil to make a save or whether the puck bounced off a post or off another Montreal player. What is sure is that, in the next millisecond, McNeil went down, diving to the left corner of the net, while the puck caromed in the opposite direction, in front of the goal to the right side. It was at this point that Bill Barilko seized the moment. He was never noted as an offensive opportunist, not a goal scorer, twenty-six of them in 252 league games, five in 47 playoff games. He wasn't supposed to score, or to crash the net. He was supposed to bodycheck guys into oblivion. But this time, Barilko came in a storming rush all the way from his spot at the left blueine. He had his eye on the caroming puck. He and the puck met exactly at the top of the left face-off circle. Barilko's stick swept at the puck. In the days before slapshots, this might be called a modified swingshot. Gerry McNeil was still down in the Montreal net, trying to raise his bum off the ice, trying to get his right hand, the one holding the goalie stick, in the way of Barilko's on-coming shot. McNeil was too little and too late. The puck whipped into the corner of the net to his upper right. Barilko, meanwhile, continued on his headlong rush and appeared to catch the skate of his teammate Cal Gardner, who was crossing from left to right in front of the net. For an instant, Barilko was entirely airborne, both skates off the ice, both gloves preparing to stave off the downward thump. Not that Barilko cared about a hard landing, not right then. His eyes and mind were on the goal he'd scored, the one that had just meant another Stanley Cup for Toronto. 
The Disappearance
Player Quotes about Barilko
"He gave the game all he had....(Barilko) reached the top by hard work."
-Gerry McNeil, Montreal goalie who surrendered the OT goal.
"When Bill was on the ice, he was fearless. If the accident hadn't
happened, he would have been one of the greatest." -Max Bentley
"Bill Barilko." -Turk Broda, when asked on a nationwide TV interview
on Dec. 27, 1967, to name the greatest defenseman who ever played in front
of him.
In the history of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the 1951 Stanley Cup Final
has been the only series in which every game was decided in overtime.
"He was very tough and aggressive and his spirit and hard hitting made him
a valuable player for the Leafs. He always managed to get a piece of you
as you went by and he left many a bump on plenty of players. I suppose
the two most clear memories I have of him are the overtime goal and
his heavy checking." -Maurice Richard
"...when it came to body-checking and going down to block shots on his
goal, Barilko had no peer during my time." -Ted Kennedy
Game Summary - April 21, 1951
First Period:
No Scoring
Penalties:
Dawes MTL (slashing) 0:27, Barilko TOR (charging) 16:04
Second Period:
1. Montreal, Maurice Richard (Bud MacPherson) - 8:44
2. Toronto, Tod Sloan (Ted Kennedy) - 12:00
Penalties:
None
Third Period:
3. Montreal, Paul Meger (Doug Harvey)- 4:47
4. Toronto, Tod Sloan (Max Bentley, Sid Smith)- 19:29
Penalites:
Barilko TOR (roughing), Johnson MTL (roughing), Reay MTL (misconduct) 10:36
Overtime:
5. Toronto, Bill Barilko (Harry Watson, Howie Meeker) - 2:53
Penalties:
None
Goalies Time GA ENG DEC
MTL McNeil 62:53 3 0 L
TOR Rollins 62:23(*) 2 0 W
(*) - unofficial estimate, left net for extra skater late in 3rd period.
Power Plays: MTL 0/1, TOR 0/1
The Roster of the 1950-51 Toronto Maple Leafs, Stanley Cup Champions.
Turk Broda, Al Rollins, Jim Thomson, Gus Mortson, Bill Barilko,
Bill Juzda, Fern Flaman, Hugh Bolton, Ted Kennedy, Sid Smith,
Tod Sloan, Cal Gardner, Howie Meeker, Harry Watson, Max Bentley,
Joe Klukay, Danny Lewicki, Ray Timgren, Fleming Mackell, Johnny McCormack,
Bob Hassard, Conn Smythe (manager), Joe Primeau (coach), Tim Daily (trainer)
Date Score OT Scorer Time
April 11 Montreal 2 at Toronto 3 Sid Smith 5:51
April 14 Montreal 3 at Toronto 2 Maurice Richard 2:55
April 17 Toronto 2 at Montreal 1 Ted Kennedy 4:47
April 19 Toronto 3 at Montreal 2 Harry Watson 5:15
April 21 Montreal 2 at Toronto 3 Bill Barilko 2:53
Scoring Statistics
TORONTO GP G A P PIM MONTREAL GP G A P PIM
Tod Sloan 5 3 4 7 7 Maurice Richard 5 5 2 7 4
Sid Smith 5 5 1 6 0 Billy Reay 5 1 2 3 10
Ted Kennedy 5 2 4 6 2 Doug Harvey 5 0 3 3 2
Max Bentley 5 0 4 4 2 Paul Mansick 5 2 0 2 4
Harry Watson 5 1 2 3 4 Paul Meger 5 1 1 2 2
Howie Meeker 5 1 1 2 10 Bert Olmstead 5 0 2 2 7
Bill Barilko 5 1 0 1 6 Elmer Lach 5 1 0 1 2
Gus Mortson 5 0 1 1 0 Butch Bouchard 5 0 1 1 0
Danny Lewicki 3 0 0 0 0 Bud MacPherson 5 0 1 1 4
Fern Flaman 3 0 0 0 6 Ross Lowe 1 0 0 0 0
Ray Timgren 5 0 0 0 0 Eddie Mazur 1 0 0 0 2
Joe Klukay 5 0 0 0 0 Calum MacKay 5 0 0 0 0
Cal Gardner 5 0 0 0 0 Tom Johnson 5 0 0 0 2
Bull Juzda 5 0 0 0 2 Kenny Mosdell 5 0 0 0 2
Fleming Mackell 5 0 0 0 2 Floyd Curry 5 0 0 0 2
Jim Thomson 5 0 0 0 4 Bernie Geoffrion 5 0 0 0 4
Goaltender Statistics
GP W L MIN GA SO AVG GP W L MIN GA SO AVG
Al Rollins 3 3 0 193 5 0 1.55 Gerry McNeil 5 1 4 322 13 0 2.42
Turk Broda 2 1 1 129 5 0 2.33
Year Ser. Win W L GF GA Stanley Cup Final
---------------------------------------------
1918 NHLF* Tor 1 1 10 7 Toronto Arenas def. Vancouver Millionaires 4-1
1925 NHLF**Mtl 0 2 2 5 Montreal Canadiens def. Victoria Cougars 4-0
1944 SF Mtl 1 4 6 23 Montreal def. Chicago 4-0
1945 SF Tor 4 2 15 21 Toronto def. Detroit 4-3
1947 F Tor 4 2 13 13 Ted Kennedy scores Cup-winning goal
1951 F Tor 4 1 13 10 Bill Barilko scores Cup-winning goal in OT
1959 F Mtl 1 4 12 18 Montreal becomes first team to win 4 straight Cups
1960 F Mtl 0 4 5 15 Mtl's 5th straight Cup; M. Richard's last game.
1963 SF Tor 4 1 14 6 Toronto def. Detroit 4-1
1964 SF Tor 4 3 17 14 Toronto def. Detroit 4-3
1965 SF Mtl 2 4 14 17 Montreal def. Chicago 4-3
1966 SF Mtl 0 4 6 15 Montreal def. Detroit 4-2
1967 F Tor 4 2 17 16 Dave Keon wins Conn Smythe Trophy
1978 SF Mtl 0 4 6 16 Montreal def. Boston 4-2
1979 QF Mtl 0 4 10 19 Montreal def. NY Rangers 4-1
* - (Toronto Arenas, total-goals series)
** - (Toronto St. Patricks, total-goals series)
Toronto's Playoff Totals vs. Montreal:
15 Series (7 wins, 8 losses)
71 Games Played (29 wins, 42 losses, .408 pct, 160 GF, 215 GA)
Toronto's Final Series Totals vs. Montreal:
5 Series (3 wins, 2 losses)
27 Games Played (13 wins, 13 losses, .500 pct, 60 GF, 72 GA)
10. October 21, 1995: Montreal 4, Toronto 3
Post Savard era begins in Montreal with last-second come-from-behind win.
9. January 9, 1993: Toronto 5, Montreal 4
Pat Burns' return to Montreal turns new page in Leafs history book.
8. March 31, 1945: Toronto 3, Montreal 2
Despite finishing 28 points behind Mtl, Leafs bounce Habs from playoffs.
7. April 13, 1965: Montreal 4, Toronto 3 (OT)
Claude Provost and the Habs end the Leafs' three-year Stanley Cup reign.
6. April 21, 1979: Montreal 4. Toronto 3 (2OT)
Cam Connor's only playoff goal as a Hab ends double-OT marathon.
5. April 9, 1964: Toronto 3, Montreal 1
Dave Keon single-handedly lifts Leafs into Cup finals with hat trick.
4. April 14, 1960: Montreal 4, Toronto 0
Canadiens put final flourish on greatest dynasty in NHL history.
3. May 2, 1967: Toronto 3, Montreal 1
George Armstrong's empty-net goal seals Leafs' last Cup victory.
2. March 23, 1944: Montreal 5, Toronto 1
Maurice Richard scores all five goals and is named 1st, 2nd and 3rd star.
1. April 21, 1951: Toronto 3, Montreal 2 (OT)
Bill Barilko's last NHL goal delivers Cup to Toronto.
Source: "Forever Rivals" by James Duplacey and Charles Wilkins; Companion
Edition to the CBC Documentary; published by Random House of Canada.
No Peace for Barilko?
The Toronto Maple Leafs year-by-year record and playoff results from 1951-
1962, the period in which Bill Barilko's remains were left undiscovered.
(All seasons had a 70-game schedule)
Season W L T GF GA Pts Fin Cup Leafs' Result
------- ---------------------------------------------
1950-51 41 16 3 212 138 95 2nd Tor Won Stanley Cup vs. Montreal 4-1
Barilko scores winning goal in OT.
(Aug.'51:Barilko disappears during
flight over Northern Ontario)
--
1951-52 29 25 16 168 157 74 3rd Det Lost Semi-Final to Detroit 4-0
1952-53 27 30 13 156 167 67 5th Mtl Failed to qualify for playoffs
1953-54 32 24 14 152 131 78 3rd Det Lost Semi-Final to Detroit 4-1
1954-55 24 24 22 147 135 70 3rd Det Lost Semi-Final to Detroit 4-0
1955-56 24 33 13 153 181 61 4th Mtl Lost Semi-Final to Detroit 4-1
1956-57 21 34 15 174 192 57 5th Mtl Failed to qualify for playoffs
1957-58 21 38 11 192 226 53 6th Mtl Failed to qualify for playoffs
1958-59 27 32 11 189 201 65 4th Mtl Lost Final to Montreal 4-1
1959-60 35 26 9 199 195 79 2nd Mtl Lost Final to Montreal 4-0
1960-61 39 19 12 234 176 90 2nd Chi Lost Semi-Final to Detroit 4-1
--
1961-62 37 22 11 232 180 85 2nd Tor Won Stanley Cup vs. Chicago 4-2
(Barilko's remains are discovered)
Leafs' stats for the ten seasons in which Bill Barilko's disappearance
remained a mystery:
-------------------
Combined regular season record: 279 wins, 285 losses, 136 ties (.496 pct)
Combined playoff record: 12 wins, 33 losses, in seven appearances (.267 pct)
Failed to qualify for playoffs: 3 times
Toronto Maple Leafs Playoff Series Winning Goals scored in overtime
Games
Date Ser. Score Scorer Time W-L
Apr. 3/33 SF Boston 0 at Toronto 1 Ken Doraty 104:46 3-2
Mar. 30/35 SF Boston 1 at Toronto 2 Pep Kelly 1:36 3-1
Mar. 29/38 SF Toronto 3 at Boston 2 Gord Drillon 10:04 2-1
Apr. 1/39 SF Detroit 4 at Toronto 5 Gord Drillon 5:42 2-1
Apr. 21/51 F Montreal 2 at Toronto 3 Bill Barilko 2:53 4-1
Apr. 29/78 SF Toronto 2 at NY Islanders 1 Lanny McDonald 4:13 4-3
May 1/93 DSF Toronto 4 at Detroit 3 Nikolai Borschevsky 2:35 4-3
May 17/99 CSF Toronto 4 at Pittsburgh 3 Garry Valk 1:57 4-2
Toronto Maple Leafs Stanley Cup Winning Goals
Games
Year Score Scorer Period Time W-L
1932 NY Rangers 4 at Toronto 6 Ace Bailey 3rd 15:07 3-0
1942 Detroit 1 at Toronto 3 Pete Langelle 3rd 9:48 4-3
1945 Toronto 2 at Detroit 1 Babe Pratt 3rd 12:14 4-3
1947 Montreal 1 at Toronto 2 Ted Kennedy 3rd 14:39 4-2
1948 Toronto 7 at Detroit 2 Harry Watson 1st 11:13 4-0
1949 Detroit 1 at Toronto 3 Cal Gardner 2nd 19:45 4-0
1951 Montreal 1 at Toronto 2 Bill Barilko OT 2:53 4-1
1962 Toronto 2 at Chicago 1 Dick Duff 3rd 14:14 4-2
1963 Detroit 1 at Toronto 3 Eddie Shack 3rd 13:28 4-1
1964 Detroit 0 at Toronto 4 Andy Bathgate 1st 3:04 4-3
1967 Montreal 1 at Toronto 3 Jim Pappin 2nd 19:24 4-2
NHL Stanley Cup Winning Goals scored in overtime
Games
Date Score Scorer Time W-L
Apr. 13/33 NY Rangers 1 at Toronto 0 Bill Cook 7:34 4-0
Apr. 10/34 Detroit 0 at Chicago 1 Mush March 30:05 4-0
Apr. 13/40 NY Rangers 3 at Toronto 2 Bryan Hextall 2:07 4-2
Apr. 13/44 Chicago 4 at Montreal 5 Toe Blake 9:12 4-1
Apr. 23/50 NY Rangers 3 at Detroit 4 Pete Babando 28:31 4-3
Apr. 21/51 Montreal 2 at Toronto 3 Bill Barilko 2:53 4-1
Apr. 16/53 Boston 0 at Montreal 1 Elmer Lach 1:22 4-1
Apr. 16/54 Montreal 1 at Detroit 2 Tony Leswick 4:29 4-3
May 5/66 Montreal 3 at Detroit 2 Henri Richard 2:20 4-2
May 10/70 Boston 4 at St.Louis 3 Bobby Orr 0:40 4-0
May 14/77 Montreal 2 at Boston 1 Jacques Lemaire 4:32 4-0
May 24/80 Philadelphia 4 at NY Islanders 5 Bob Nystrom 7:11 4-2
Jun. 10/96 Colorado 1 at Florida 0 Uwe Krupp 44:31 4-0
Jun. 19/99 Dallas 2 at Buffalo 1 Brett Hull 54:51 4-2
Jun. 10/00 New Jersey 2 at Dallas 1 Jason Arnott 28:20 4-2
Jun. 9/10 Chicago 4 at Philadelphia 3 Patrick Kane 4:06 4-2
Toronto Maple Leafs Retired and Honoured Numbers - The Leafs Honour Roll
The Toronto Maple Leafs proudly hang the retired and honoured numbers of
their most celebrated players from the rafters of Maple Leaf Gardens. The
retired numbers are presented in the Leafs' road uniform colours, namely
white trim on a blue background. Alternatively, the honoured numbers are
presented in the colours of the Leafs' home uniform, blue trim on a white
background.
The Maple Leafs retire the number of a player only when his career is ended
prematurely due to death or injury. The first Leaf to have his number
retired was Irvine "Ace" Bailey (#6). During a game at the Boston Garden
in December 1933, Bailey was hit by Bruins defenseman Eddie Shore, arguably
the fierecest player in the game at the time. Bailey was sent airborne
and landed his head on the ice. He had a cut in his scalp that required
sixteen stitches to close and remained in hospital for five weeks, seemingly
with his life in the balance. Bailey eventually recovered but his hockey
career was over. He went on to become the assistant penalty timekeeper at
Maple Leaf Gardens for nearly fifty years. Ace Bailey was elected to the
Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975.
Bill Barilko's #5 was the team's second number to be permanently retired
after the defenseman died in plane crash only four months after scoring the
winning goal in the 1951 Stanley Cup playoffs.
A number that is retired can no longer be assigned to any other player. An
honoured number may still be worn on an active player's jersey. Six Maple
Leafs have proudly had their numbers honoured and their respective banners
raised to the rafters at Maple Leaf Gardens during an induction ceremony into
the Leafs Honour Roll. When a player's number is honoured, the active Leaf
who has been assigned that number wears a special Leaf shoulder logo on his
jersey. The Maple Leaf outline remains the same, but differs in that the name
of the player whose number is honoured is inscribed into the crest of the
maple leaf. The special crest is worn only for the duration of the season in
which the honoured player is inducted into the Leafs Honour Roll.
Photos - Courtesy of Michael Oesch, reprinted with permission (Click thumbnail to view image at full size)
Retired Numbers
5- Bill Barilko 1946-1951
6- Irvine "Ace" Bailey 1927-1934
Honoured Numbers
1 - Walter "Turk" Broda 1936-43,45-52 &
Johnny Bower 1958-70
7 - Francis "King" Clancy 1930-37 &
Tim Horton 1949-79
9 - Ted Kennedy 1942-55,56-57
Charlie Conacher 1929-38
10 - Syl Apps 1936-48
George Armstrong 1949-50,51-71
27 - Frank Mahovlich 1956-68
Darryl Sittler 1971-89
The Tragically Hip Discography
All releases available on MCA Records
(Self-titled EP), 1987
Up To Here, 1989
Road Apples, 1991
Fully Completely, 1992
Day For Night, 1994
Trouble at the Henhouse, 1996
Live Between Us, 1997
Phantom Power, 1998
Music @ Work, 2000
In Violet Light, 2002
In Between Evolution, 2004
World Container, 2006
We Are The Same, 2009
Fully Completely Track List
1. Courage (for Hugh MacLennan)
2. Looking for a Place to Happen
3. At the Hundredth Meridian
4. Pigeon Camera
5. Lionized
6. Locked in the Trunk of a Car
7. We'll Go Too
8. Fully Completely
9. Fifty Mission Cap
10. Wheat Kings
11. The Wherewithall
12. Eldorado
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Credits
"I stole this from a hockey card..." and the following highly recommended
sources of reference:
