Marriage And Hockey; The Plus And Minus

The news that Rangers defenseman Adam Fox got married during the summer got me thinking about a strange but true hockey-marriage story.

When Conn Smythe's Maple Leafs were winning four Stanley Cups in five years (1947-1951) Smythe ruled that no Toronto skater could tie the knot during the season.

The penalty? Well, guess what happened to center John "Goose" McCormack. A forward who was considered one of the NHL's best penalty-killers in the 1950-51 season, McCormack fell in love with a nurse.

That was okay but what followed was not okay; at least not with Smythe. Goose decided to get married in mid-season when he knew that his boss would be far away, vacationing in Florida.

After a Leafs practice, McCormack and his bride walked from the ice under teammates' celebratory hockey sticks. Globe and Mail photographer Nat Turofsky took many pictures which were splashed over the next day's papers.

It was a very festive occasion. The jocular McCormack was beloved by his teammates and the on-ice party was enjoyed by all.

Well, not exactly "All."

Unknown to everyone, Smythe had the Globe and Mail shipped to his Florida retreat and, sure enough, he boiled when he saw the wedding photo with Goose and his gal.

Guess what?

Smythe sent a wire to coach Hap Day that McCormack was immediately demoted to Pittsburgh of the AHL and that's where he finished the season.

Nor was that all. All because Johnny broke Conn's marriage rule, during the summer of 1951, Toronto's hockey boss sold Goose to the Montreal Canadiens – for cash!