Danny Lewicki
| Danny Lewicki | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1931 |
| Died | 2018 |
| Years in Thunder Bay | by 1948–at least 1948 |
Daniel Vladimir Lewicki (March 12, 1931 – September 25, 2018) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Black Hawks and New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 1950s and early 1960s. Before becoming a professional, Lewicki was at the center of a dispute over professional hockey signing practices., Lewicki is the only player to have won the Allan Cup, Memorial Cup and Stanley Cup while still a junior.[1]
Thunder Bay connections
Daniel Vladimir "Danny" Lewicki (March 12, 1931 – September 25, 2018) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player born in Fort William, one of eight children of Michael Lewicki and Anastasia (Chorna) Lewicki, both Ukrainian immigrants who met in Fort William. The family lived in the immigrant enclave near the docks known as the "Coal Docks", and after his parents separated when he was two, Lewicki lived with his mother, a sister, and a brother in a two-room shack. He learned to skate at age five and played shinny on outdoor rinks before joining the Bantam Elks at twelve, later playing for the North Star Bantams and Midgets. As a junior he played for the Columbus Juniors and led the Fort William league in scoring, and also suited up for the Fort William K of C in the Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League; he joined the Port Arthur West End Bruins for their run to the 1948 Memorial Cup, scoring the series-winning goal, before leaving Port Arthur to turn professional.
Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame
Danny Lewicki was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1989 as an athlete (ceremony date given as 23 September 1989), for hockey.[2]
Growing up in the east end of Fort William, Danny Lewicki developed his hockey skills at the outdoor North Star rink located near the Intercity overpass. During the late 1940s, he joined the Port Arthur West End Bruins in Port Arthur. He served as the leading scorer for the Bruins during their successful pursuit of the Memorial Cup in 1948.[2]
In 1950, he continued his success in amateur hockey by joining the Toronto Marlboros. As the team's top scorer, he helped the Marlboros capture the Allan Cup. Following this achievement, he transitioned to the professional ranks for the 1950-51 season, playing as a forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs. During his rookie year, the Leafs won the Stanley Cup. This victory made him the first player in the history of the sport to win the Memorial Cup, Allan Cup, and Stanley Cup while still eligible for junior competition.[2]
He moved from Toronto to the New York Rangers, where he played from 1954 to 1958. His most productive NHL season occurred in 1955, when he recorded 29 goals and 24 assists. That year, he was named to the NHL second All-Star team and finished as the runner-up for the Lady Byng Award.[2]
He concluded his tenure in the NHL as a member of the Chicago Black Hawks. Over the course of his major league career, he appeared in 461 games, totaling 105 goals and 135 assists. He then spent three seasons playing in the AHL for the Quebec Aces before retiring from professional competition in 1963. Following his retirement, he remained involved in the sport through his work with the NHL Oldtimers.[2]
Residence in the Thunder Bay area (by 1948–at least 1948) rests on the following dated evidence. Grew up in Fort William and played for the Port Arthur West End Bruins in 1948 before playing in Toronto in 1950.[2]
Achievements listed in the profile:
- Won the Memorial Cup with the Port Arthur West End Bruins in 1948
- Led the Port Arthur West End Bruins in scoring during the 1948 season
- Won the Allan Cup as the leading scorer for the Toronto Marlboros in 1950
- Won the Stanley Cup with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1951
- Became the first player to win the Memorial, Allan, and Stanley Cups while of junior age
- Named to the NHL second All-Star team in 1955
- Finished as runner-up for the Lady Byng Award in 1955
- Recorded a career-high 53 points during the 1954-55 season
- Played 461 career games in the National Hockey League[2]
References
- ↑ This article incorporates text from the Wikipedia article on Danny Lewicki, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Danny Lewicki", athlete profile, Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, https://www.nwosportshalloffame.com/athlete-profile/e6adf4d8-e46e-489e-8aa5-3906326ce0cf (accessed 31 October 2026). Archived copy on datum.locker.