Syl Apps holding the Stanley Cup

An iconic photograph of Toronto Maple Leafs player Syl Apps (January 18, 1915 – December 24, 1998) holding the Stanley Cup in 1942 is displayed inside the old Maple Leaf Gardens.

Apps played his entire NHL career with Toronto (1936-48). Two years before joining the Maple Leafs, Apps won the pole vaulting gold medal in the British Empire Games. He placed 6th in the 1936 Olympic Games.

He immediately made an impact in the NHL and won the Calder Trophy (rookie of the year). In 1942, he won the Lady Byng Trophy, awarded for showing good sportsmanship. From 1943-45, he missed two seasons to serve in World War II with the Canadian Army.

Apps played on three Stanley Cup winning teams (1942, 47, 48) and scored 201 goals and 231 assists in 423 career games. He was inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1961.

The Stanley Cup is seen here before it was outfitted with a wider base in 1948.