NHL royalty honour George Armstrong in Sudbury, support charity

The love of hockey brought together NHL alumni in Greater Sudbury, not only honouring a Toronto Maple Leaf legend but also supporting a good cause.

During the official ceremony renaming the arena in Garson as the George Armstrong Community Centre and Arena, his nephew NHL Linesman Dan McCourt ensured facts were accurate about his uncle.

Armstrong passed away in 2021.

"He was born in Bowlands Bay, not Skead, his father was Scottish, not Irish, his mother was Algonquin from Kitigan Zibi, not Ojibway, Cree or Mohawk. He played for the Copper Cliff Redman, not the Prince Albert Raiders," McCourt told the crowd.

Joe Bowen, sports broadcaster and long-time voice of the Leafs, was the emcee for the event, while three former Maple Leaf captains – Darryl Sittler, Rick Vaive and Wendel Clark -- travelled to Sudbury to honour the ‘Chief,’ as Armstrong was known.

"I can see … why he was the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs — probably the greatest captain," Clark said.

“(Armstrong) got to win all those Stanley Cups. So hopefully he’s up there having a little talk with the big guy right now, figuring out what’s going on, (why He’s) taking his time."

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Clark, Sittler and Vaive were in Sudbury to take part in the annual Celebrity Hockey Classic for Easter Seals, a charity that helps children and youth with physical disabilities.

Easter Seals community development officer M.J. Pappin said the event is all about inclusion.

"George being one of the first Indigenous hockey players to play the game, we were also one of the first celebrity hockey events that hosted an all-Indigenous team," Pappin said.

"They’ve been a big part of this event when it first started and they’re here three years later… Hockey is a sport for everyone, especially growing up in northern Ontario."

Pappin is no stranger to the hockey world -- her father was Jim Pappin, a former Maple Leaf who played in the NHL with Armstrong.

Armstrong’s son, Brian, said his father didn’t like the spotlight but used his hockey status to help others.

"Giving back was always important to him and it was something that he kind of taught us,” he said.

"Even after I stopped playing, I coached ... I didn’t feel it was giving back, it was because I enjoyed it. But that’s the type of person he was."

Vaive told the crowd he first met Armstrong in the 1970s when he and Johnny Bower knocked on Vaive’s door in Prince Edward Island.

They were trying to recruit him for the Leafs farm team, the Toronto Marlies. Vaive ended up being traded to the Leafs in the 1980s.

He said that connection now allows him to still connect with fans, including those in Sudbury.

"The fans come out and they watch the games -- more so when alumni games are played," Vaive said.

"We’ve played up here, our Leaf alumni several times and the fans are fantastic. They come in between periods and get autographs and stuff. It’s a blast, it really is."

The three former Maple Leafs captains made the most of their time in Sudbury. They dropped the puck Friday night at the Sudbury Arena in the OHL matchup between the Wolves and the Sarnia Sting. Then they met with fans and signed autographs.