GERRY MCNAMARA TALKS ABOUT JIM GREGORY

At the first Original Six Alumni lunch of 2020, former Toronto Maple Leaf GM, Gerry McNamara, spoke about his late friend, Jim Gregory, who passed away on October 30.

Thinking back on his pal, McNamara said, "We lost a good friend. Jim Gregory changed my life and for that I'm forever grateful. Jim, today, tomorrow, and the next day, until I'm gone, Jim Gregory was my hero. I think of him often."

Back in the 1960-61 season, McNamara, then playing for the Sudbury Wolves, was summoned by the Toronto Maple Leafs to fill in for an injured Johnny Bower. He was in goal for 5 games between February 15 and March 19, 1961. It wouldn't be his last time between the pipes for the Leafs.

"When I think of 1970, I was playing in Orillia, Ontario as an amateur. Jim asked me to come up with the Leafs and I got into a couple of games. I was selling insurance at the time." The two games McNamara mentioned took place on January 14 and 23, 1970. Here are the details from a previous story:

On January 14, 1970, the New York Rangers came to town and blasted the Leafs by a 7-1 score. McNamara replaced Bruce Gamble following the Rangers fifth goal at the 6:44 mark of the third period. Facing NHL shooters for the first time since March 1961, McNamara was beaten by Arnie Brown and Dave Balon.
His last appearance in the National Hockey League came on January 23, 1970, in Oakland. Once again, Bruce Gamble got the hook and McNamara played the final ten-minutes.

In his closing, McNamara, in a hushed tone, told the room, "I say God Bless Jim, and his soul, and hopefully, we'll meet again."

For more on the life and career of Gerry McNamara, here are links to a two-part series.

Gerry McNamara - Part One

Gerry McNamara - Part Two