Revealing the Toronto Maple Leafs Most Famous Celebrity Fans
By Jeff Borsuk
Justin Bieber
Justing Bieber is one of the most recognizable people on the planet. The singer, from Stratford, Ontario, is a lover of sports and a supporter of the Maple Leafs.
Bieber was famously discovered at age 13 when a talent manager accidentally opened a YouTube video of him covering a song. The young teenager was flown to Atlanta, Georgia to get his career started. There, he sang for Usher and recorded demo tapes.
That was 12 years ago. Since then, he exploded on the music scene. His debut album My World 2.0, was certified triple platinum in the United States. It featured seven songs that charted on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Bieber played hockey as a youngster. He laced up for the Stratford Warriors Atom Travel Team. His childhood Warriors jacket is actually on display in the “Steps to Stardom” exhibit as part of the Stratford Perth Museum.
Fame has its privileges. The Toronto Maple Leafs organization knew that Bieber was a fan and in 2011, invited the 17-year-old to skate with members of the team at the Air Canada Centre. He has been at the arena many times since. The superstar has been spotted at multiple Leafs games. Bieber was even seen making out with his wife, Hailey Baldwin in the crowd. It was a move that had Don Cherry cringing.
When Shawn Mendes was given the moniker of “Prince of Pop” by Observer Magazine, Bieber reached out to challenge his fellow Canadian musician for the title. His proposed method to settle the dispute was by getting on the ice and playing for it.
It would be fitting considering that Mendes himself is a Toronto Maple Leafs fan. Mendes was even given a custom jersey by Curtis Joseph at the 2018 season opener.