Hockey World Mourns Former Maple Leafs Player and General Manager After Tragic Passing
Photo credit: Credit: Toronto Maple Leafs
A Former member of the Toronto Maple Leafs as a player and later executive has passed away.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced the passing of former General Manager Gerry McNamara.
According to Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun, McNamara passed away Friday night at the age of 90 after dealing with health issues.
McNamara was the General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs from from 1981-1988, having previously held scouting roles within the organization.
Prior to his executive career, McNamara had a playing career as a goaltender largely in the minors, but with seven NHL games in his career as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, starting and ending the decade with five games in 1960-61, and two in 1969-70.
McNamara retired from hockey in 1972, taking on a role as a specialty scout with the Leafs for next season assigned to scout events in Europe.
Gerry McNamara Found Success As Hockey Scout, Later Given Reigns As GM
As perhaps a lucky break, an injury to a player McNamara was meant to scout in Sweden led to him finding other hockey to watch. Happening to watch a game of Brynäs, McNamara was amazed at the talent of a young defenseman by the name of Börje Salming.
McNamara's recommendations on the Swedish defender was taken, and Salming along with teammate Inge Hammarström were brought over to the Toronto Maple Leafs as future key players in the organization.
As a productive and successful scout, McNamara was named the Leafs Director of Scouting for the 1979-80 season. After two seasons, McNamara was named General Manager.
The move came under the turbulent leadership of owner Harold Ballard, with McNamara practically replacing the legendary Punch Imlach, who was tossed aside due to worsening medical issues.
McNamara never found success as a manager on the ice, but had a major win in securing the first overall pick in 1985, selecting defenseman Wendel Clark, who the Leafs successfully managed to convert to forward.
In 1988, McNamara was fired as GM, although his fortunes would change quickly as he'd go on to win the Stanley Cup in 1989 with the Calgary Flames as a pro scout.
The McNamara name would continue in the Hockey world as all three would go into executive careers, including son John, a Pro Scout for the Carolina Hurricanes.
A third generation McNamara, Luke, is a forward in the Ontario Hockey League for the Windsor Spitfires.