The great Howie Meeker, an NHL legend both on the ice and in the broadcasting booth (along with his sidekick “Peter Puck”) was born on this date in 1923. Today on Art’s History, however, I’m celebrating a lesser-known part of the late Toronto Maple Leaf’s hockey career and legacy. When a by-election was called in the Ontario riding of Waterloo South in 1951, Canada’s federal Tory leader, George Drew, personally invited this Maple Leafs’ star to be his party’s candidate. I had the honour of interviewing Mr. Meeker in the 1990s for an article I wrote for the Toronto Star about this unique intersection of Canada’s national sport and politics. So, here’s to the memory of Howie Meeker on his birthday!

Source: CBC News November 04, 2022 09:40 UTC