Maple Leafs support bid to have Sault-born Stanley Cup champion's name added to Walk of Fame

His background in hockey might not be as well-known to many around Sault Ste. Marie, but it’s certainly an impressive one.

Joe Klukay, born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, played over 500 games in the NHL and his hockey resume includes four Stanley Cup titles in five years with the Toronto Maple Leafs along with an Allan Cup, which signifies senior hockey supremacy, after his NHL career ended.

A pair locally are looking to get Klukay included in Sault Ste. Marie’s Walk of Fame and their recent nomination has the support of the Maple Leafs.

Gary Trembinski, who helped put together the nomination package in support of Klukay, said the idea of nominating Klukay started about four years ago after a conversation with John Manzo.

Trembinski admitted that at the time, he knew little of Klukay and his hockey background.

“I had kind of remembered that he played for the Maple Leafs, but I didn’t know that he had four Stanley Cups,” Trembinski said.

“There are a lot of things that he accomplished,” Trembinski also said.

Klukay joined the Maple Leafs during the 1942-43 season and suited up in a playoff game with the club.

A veteran of World War II, Klukay rejoined the Maple Leafs following the war, winning the first of his four Stanley Cups in 1947 in his first season back with the club.

He played five more seasons with the team before joining the Boston Bruins in 1952, playing two full seasons with the team before returning to the Maple Leafs part way through the 1954-55 season.

Named one of the Maple Leafs top 100 players of all time, the team was supportive of the nomination, submitting letters of support from people within the organization.

“As a proud member of the ever-growing Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds/Toronto Maple Leafs family, I can think of no greater candidate to join Ron Francis, as the second member of both teams to grace the Walk of Fame, than Joe Klukay,” Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said in his letter.

“Had Joe’s achievements come 30 or 40 years later, most every true Leafs fan would certainly know his name,” Toronto president Brendan Shanahan said in a support letter. “Joe is one of only 21 Maple Leafs players to have had his name engraved on the Stanley Cup on four occasions, and it was Joe’s game one overtime winner in the 1949 Stanley Cup versus Detroit, that set the tone for a series sweep and saw the Maple Leafs become the NHL’s first team to capture three Stanley Cups in a row. Certainly, an achievement worth remembering.”

Trembinski said the support received was special for the recently submitted nomination.

“It started from one to another to the next person,” Trembinski said.

“It was really wonderful,” Trembinski added. “And all of the inspiration came from all of the wonderful people coming forward. I would keep calling people and asking, ‘would you support this?’ All these guys pulled together.”