Club 1974:
Toronto Toros

 
Frank Mahovlich
# 27, Team CANADA 1974

Club: Toronto Toros
Position: LW  Shoots: Left
Height: 6-00 Weight: 205
Born: 1/10/1938 in Timmins, Ontario

Frank Mahovlich the legendary "Big M" was one of the most famous hockey players of the 1960's and early 70's. An elegant skater, with a tremendous scoring touch, Frank had the ability to seize control of a game almost single-handed, and turn it around. Frank won the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year in 1957-58 and was one of the most dominate players in the game for over a decade.

Despite his sheer brilliance Frank was still, in the eyes of many, an underachieving player. He was a very emotionally sensitive man who became easily depressed when things were not going well, and frequently clashed with his Toronto coach Punch Imlach. In 1967-68 Imlach tired of Mahovlich's moody ways shipped the "Big M" to Detroit. The trade seemed to revitalize Frank who began to score again at a torrid pace. Late in the 1970-71 season Frank was sent on to Montreal who were looking for a wily veteran for their Stanley Cup run of that year. Frank played brilliantly in the 1971 playoffs leading Montreal to a surprising Stanley Cup championship.

In 1972 Frank was one of the first players Harry Sinden picked for Team Canada. Frank would prove to be perhaps Team Canada's biggest disappointment. In 6 games (Sinden took him out of the lineup for games 6, and 7) Frank scored only once and added one assist. Frank was very politically aware and held strong anti-Communist views. These feelings seemed to be distracting to him in the series and he was never a factor for Team Canada.

Frank left Montreal in the summer of 1974 signing with the WHA Toronto Toros. Despite his poor play in 1972 Billy Harris didn't hesitate to select his old Maple Leaf teammate for Team Canada 74. Frank went into the series determined to make up for his poor play of two years before. He had an outstanding training camp and opened the series playing on a line with Ralph Backstrom, and Gordie Howe. In game 1 Frank played brilliantly, and in the final seconds of the game, with the score tied 3-3 Howe sent Mahovlich in alone on Soviet goalie Valislav Tretiak. Frank just missed scoring what would have been the winning goal. For game 2 he was moved to a line with Serge Bernier and Rejean Houle and played almost indifferently. Harris sat him out for game 3 and moved him back into the lineup for game 4. Frank responded with a goal and assist in that contest. The "Big M" then came up with outstanding games for Canada in Finland (2 goals) and Sweden (1 goal.) In the Swedish game Frank potted the game winner for Team Canada. The talk among Canadians was that Frank was finally untracked Internationally. However, Canadian hockey fans were disappointed. After his brilliant performance in Scandinavia, Frank's play dropped dramatically in games 5 and 6. In a must win situation in game 7 Harris didn't even play him. Mahovlich returned for game 8 and again disappointed with his play. He would finish the Summit with 1 goal and 1 assist in 6 games.

 

CAREER HIGHLIGTS:

- Played in the professional hockey leagues: 1955-78
- Pro hockey clubs:
NHL: Toronto, Detroit, Montreal; WHA:Toronto, Birmingham
- Stanley Cups (6): 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1971, 1973
- NHL awards:
Calder Memorial Trophy 1958
NHL All Star (1st Team) 1961, 1963, 1973
NHL All Star (2nd Team) 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1970
- Hockey Hall of Fame: 1981

PERFORMANCE IN THE 1974 SUMMIT

THE SUMMIT IN 1974:
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