The Ultimate Toronto Maple Leafs New Year’s Day Trivia

The Answer to Question 6

C – 1926

The Toronto Maple Leafs organization played its inaugural season in 1917. They were known at the time as the Toronto Arenas because they were owned by the Toronto Arena Company. Ahead of the 1919-20 season, the team was sold, with the majority stake picked up by Charles Querrie for $5000. The organization was now on its second name. They became known as the Toronto St. Patricks.

It was as the St. Pats that they played their first game on New Year’s Day, 1926. It was a good day on Mutual Street in the Big Smoke. The St. Pats put up three points while the Senators were unable to score, securing the win and shutout for goalie John Ross Roach.

Question 7

Which moment in Maple Leafs’ history became known as the “New Year’s Massacre”?

a) On New Year’s Day in 1988, Maple Leafs owner, Harold Ballard, was just released from the hospital after suffering a mild heart attack. His first act was to ask General Manager Gerry McNamara to resign. When McNamara refused, Ballard fired him.

b) On Jan. 1, 2006, the Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager, John Ferguson Jr. made the trade that still haunts fans. He sent Tuukka Rask to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Andrew Raycroft.

c) On New Year’s Day in 2000, the Buffalo Sabres demolished the Maple Leafs in a game. The final score was 8-1 in favor of the Sabres.

d) On Jan. 1, 1948, the ownership team of Maple Leaf Gardens, the former home arena of the organization, informed the Toronto Huskies that they were no longer welcome to play their games in the facility. As a result, the Huskies were dropped from the Basketball Association of America (The league that later became the NBA) after just one season.

e) On New Year’s Day in 2015, Phil Kessel ate 16 hotdogs as a part of a charity event.