About Conn Smythe
Constantine Falkland Cary Smythe MC was a Canadian businessman, soldier and executive in ice hockey and horse racing. He was best known as the principal owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1927 to 1961 and as the builder of the Maple Leaf Gardens hockey arena. He first joined the Maple Leafs in 1927 when the Toronto NHL franchise was in financial trouble. Under the threat of being moved, he organized a partnership to buy the team and keep it in Toronto. It was at his instigation that the team became known as the Maple Leaf club. He would remain involved with the franchise until the 1960s. The club was very successful during his ownership and his name appears on the Stanley Cup eight times. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder. In his honour, the Gardens gave the NHL the Conn Smythe Trophy, given to the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Smythe's first home was 51 McMillan Street, now known as Mutual Street, not far from the future site of Maple Leaf Gardens. One of the horses he bred was Wonder Where which won Canadian Horse of the Year.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.