IN SUPPORT OF THE VETERANS

 

The above poster was designed and created by Phil Samis in recognition and support of those in the Veterans' Wing of Sunnybrook Hospital.

Samis came from Edmonton, Alberta to Toronto in 1944 to play hockey at St. Michael's College School. He became a Memorial Cup champion with the St. Mike's Majors in 1945. His junior career came to close in 1947 with the Oshawa Generals. During his time with St. Mike's and Oshawa, Samis had the benefit of being coached by two former members of Toronto's famed Kid Line, Joe Primeau and Charlie Conacher.

The bulk of his time in pro hockey was spent in the American Hockey League with the Pittsburgh Hornets and Cleveland Barons. In Cleveland, Samis added the Calder Cup to his trophy case in 1951. One of his teammates with the Barons was future Toronto Maple Leaf icon Johnny Bower. 

When Leafs' defenceman, Gus Mortson, suffered a broken leg in game one of the 1948 Stanley Cup final, the Leafs turned to Samis as his replacement. Like Mortson, Samis played a physical game in Pittsburgh and filled the void. When Toronto was crowned Stanley Cup champs in 1948, Samis got his name on hockey's most famous trophy.

With the recent passing of Howie Meeker, Samis, at the age of 92, is now the oldest living former Toronto Maple Leaf.

 

 I got to know Samis at the Original Six Alumni lunches held in Toronto. The group of former players make an annual trip to Sunnybrook, and when Samis made his first visit to the facility, he wasn't about to go empty handed. Packed away in a box, Samis brought copies of his poster to Sunnybrook and made certain there was one for any veteran that desired to take one. And the message on the poster, especially on Remembrance Day, is one that should be hollered from the rooftops. The red text on the colourful poster reads: ThankYou! Thank You! All Veterans! For Making Canada Safe For Us To Do The Things We Do Today.

Lest We Forget.