George Armstong (via Wikipedia)

George Armstrong, the four time Stanley Cup Champion Hall of Famer, and former Toronto Maple Leafs Captain, has passed away at the age of 90.

Mr. Armstrong was a Canadian whose heritage was part Irish and part Ojibway.  He would become one of the first hockey players of Indigenous descent and was nicknamed, the Chief.

Mr. Armstrong started out in hockey playing for the Stratford Kroehlers of the Ontario Hockey Association in 1947.  He was quickly promoted to the Toronto Marlboros the following year, where he would play until the 1950-1951 season when we was transferred to the Leaf’s American Hockey League team, the Pittsburgh Hornets.

He would eventually make it to the Leafs on a permanent basis in time for the 1952-1953 season, and would play for them for the rest of his career, retiring after the 1970-1971 season.

Mr. Armstrong was named Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1957, and would lead the team to their last four Stanley Cup titles: a dynasty from 1962 to 1964, and then during Centennial year in 1967.

He would earn seven All-Star team appearances.

After retiring as a player, Mr. Armstrong became the Head Coach of the Marlboros and lead them to two Memorial Cup wins in 1973 and 1975.  He would also briefly become the Maple Leaf’s Head Coach late in the 1988-1989 season.

He was elected to hockey’s Hall of Fame in 1975.  The Maple Leaf’s honoured his jersey, #10 in 1998, and officially retired the number in 2016.

Mr. Armstrong was married with four children.