It was one of the quickest, yet more successful individual NHL careers, that included a strong rookie season from a former Toronto Maple Leafs’ goaltender. Born Tobias Francis McCool, he went by Frank during his playing days – and during the 1944-45 season he etched his name into hockey history.
A native of Calgary, Alberta, McCool jumped from Calgary to playing for Gonzaga University from 1940 to 1942. He enrolled in the army in 1942, but was discharged one season later as he was deemed medically unfit to serve.
In 1944-45, McCool returned, signing an NHL contract as a free agent with the Maple Leafs and he had one of the more storied seasons as a rookie goaltender in the league. With that, here’s a look back at McCool’s first season in the NHL.
Frank McCool’s Rookie Run With the Maple Leafs
It was Oct. 28, 1944, when McCool made his NHL debut against the New York Rangers. The 26-year-old was victorious in his NHL debut, winning 2-1 and setting the tone for the season ahead. McCool won his first six games in the NHL, while his team outscored their opponents 33-13 over that span.
He finished the regular season with a 24-22-4 record in 50 games for the Maple Leafs. He had four shutouts and a 3.22 goals against average (GAA) in his rookie season, leading the Maple Leafs into the postseason.
In the playoffs, McCool played 13 games with a record of 8-5-0. He finished with a 2.23 GAA and four shutouts as the Maple Leafs defeated the Detroit Red Wings in seven games to secure the Stanley Cup.
In doing so, McCool set a franchise record in shutouts during one postseason and an NHL record for most consecutive postseason shutouts – a feat that has since been tied, but not beat. Up until 2011, his nine goals against in the Stanley Cup Final also stood as a league record. That has since been beaten.
All in all, his rookie season and Stanley Cup run earned McCool rookie of the year honours as the Calder Trophy winner in 1944-45. He defeated four other players in the running, including Ken Smith, Ted Lindsay, Frank Eddolls, and Butch McDonald.
Frank McCool’s Shortened NHL Career
Having come off an outstanding rookie campaign, hopes were high for McCool and the Maple Leafs. However, McCool was diagnosed with severe ulcers just 22 games into the 1945-46 season and was forced to retire after playing parts of just two seasons.
His NHL career consisted of just 72 games over two seasons. He had a 34-31-7 record over that span with four shutouts and a 3.36 career GAA. While accomplished, his career was cut way too short.
He later passed away on May 20, 1973 at the age of 54 with his lone legacy being his rookie season with the Maple Leafs and an arena named after him back home in Calgary.
Once a rookie that took the Maple Leafs to the Stanley Cup, McCool never got a chance to fully playout his career in the NHL. Still, his name is forever etched in hockey history – both on the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year in 1944-45 and on the Stanley Cup ring from that same season.
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