Dunc Munro
Encyclopedia
Duncan Brown Munro (January 19, 1901 – January 3, 1958) was a Canadian
Olympic
ice hockey
player who played with and coached the Montreal Maroons
. He was born in Moray, Scotland
. When he was still a child his family moved to Toronto, where he learned to play hockey. In his youth Munro also excelled in track events as a runner. He attended the University of Toronto
, where he played on the hockey team that won the first Memorial Cup
.
Before the NHL, he played for the Toronto Granites
, a team that featured future Hockey Hall of Fame
r Hooley Smith
. This team won the gold medal
in the 1924 Winter Olympics
. Team Captain Munro scored 18 goals in the Olympic tournament, which saw the Canadians outscore their combined opponents by a total of 110 to 3. As a result of the team's winning the gold medal, there was a scramble to sign players from this elite squad and Munro was quickly snatched up by the newly formed Montreal Maroons.
The Montreal Maroons won the Stanley Cup
in their inaugural season. The Maroons had a strong defense, led by the team's captain Munro and featuring Red Dutton
and Reg Noble
. They gave up few chances to opposition marksmen. The Maroons went on to make the finals in 1928, but lost to the New York Rangers
.
The following season Munro suffered a heart attack
that hospitalized him, and while in hospital contracted pneumonia. His absence was felt and the Maroons tumbled to the bottom of the Canadian Division of the NHL. It was said of the players of the Maroons that they were as interested in the stock market as they were in hockey and Munro was amongst the most avid of the speculators. He had signed a huge contract (for the times) and was a shrewd investor, but ultimately lost a fortune when the Stock Market crashed.
Munro recovered his health in time for the 1929–30 season and was named player-coach upon his return. He took the Maroons from worst to first in the Canadian Division that year. The following year the Maroons signed practically the entire Montreal A.A.A. Allan Cup
team and the team sagged, and before the season ended, he was fired as coach, replaced by George "Buck" Boucher. He played his last season with the Montreal Canadiens
in 1931–32.
Having suffered several heart attacks over the years, Dunc Munro died in Toronto on January 4, 1958 at age 56.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player who played with and coached the Montreal Maroons
Montreal Maroons
The Montreal Maroons was a professional men's ice hockey team in the National Hockey League . They played in the NHL from 1924 to 1938, winning the Stanley Cup in 1926 and 1935...
. He was born in Moray, Scotland
Moray
Moray is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of the country, with coastline on the Moray Firth, and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland.- History :...
. When he was still a child his family moved to Toronto, where he learned to play hockey. In his youth Munro also excelled in track events as a runner. He attended the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, where he played on the hockey team that won the first Memorial Cup
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
.
Before the NHL, he played for the Toronto Granites
Toronto Granites
The Toronto Granites were an amateur senior ice hockey team from Toronto, Ontario. The Granites were Allan Cup champions in 1922 and 1923. They were chosen to represent Canada at the 1924 Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France...
, a team that featured future Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
r Hooley Smith
Hooley Smith
Reginald "Hooley" Smith was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Maroons, Boston Bruins and New York Americans. He won the Stanley Cup twice, with Ottawa and Montreal...
. This team won the gold medal
Ice hockey at the 1924 Winter Olympics
At the 1924 Winter Olympics, an ice hockey tournament was contested. The competition was held from Monday, January 28, 1924 to Sunday, February 3, 1924. Canada defended their championship from the 1920 Summer Olympics...
in the 1924 Winter Olympics
1924 Winter Olympics
The 1924 Winter Olympics, officially known as the I Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was held in 1924 in Chamonix, France...
. Team Captain Munro scored 18 goals in the Olympic tournament, which saw the Canadians outscore their combined opponents by a total of 110 to 3. As a result of the team's winning the gold medal, there was a scramble to sign players from this elite squad and Munro was quickly snatched up by the newly formed Montreal Maroons.
The Montreal Maroons won the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
in their inaugural season. The Maroons had a strong defense, led by the team's captain Munro and featuring Red Dutton
Red Dutton
Norman Alexander "Mervyn" "Red" Dutton was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, coach and executive. He played for the Calgary Tigers of the Western Canada Hockey League and the Montreal Maroons and New York Americans of the National Hockey League...
and Reg Noble
Reg Noble
Edward Reginald Noble of Collingwood, Ontario) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward and defenceman who played 17 professional seasons in the National Hockey Association and National Hockey League for the Toronto Blueshirts, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto St. Pats, Montreal Maroons,...
. They gave up few chances to opposition marksmen. The Maroons went on to make the finals in 1928, but lost to the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
.
The following season Munro suffered a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
that hospitalized him, and while in hospital contracted pneumonia. His absence was felt and the Maroons tumbled to the bottom of the Canadian Division of the NHL. It was said of the players of the Maroons that they were as interested in the stock market as they were in hockey and Munro was amongst the most avid of the speculators. He had signed a huge contract (for the times) and was a shrewd investor, but ultimately lost a fortune when the Stock Market crashed.
Munro recovered his health in time for the 1929–30 season and was named player-coach upon his return. He took the Maroons from worst to first in the Canadian Division that year. The following year the Maroons signed practically the entire Montreal A.A.A. Allan Cup
Allan Cup
The Allan Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the national senior amateur men’s ice hockey champions of Canada. It has been competed for since 1909. The current champion is the Clarenville Caribous hockey club of Newfoundland and Labrador.-History:...
team and the team sagged, and before the season ended, he was fired as coach, replaced by George "Buck" Boucher. He played his last season with the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
in 1931–32.
Having suffered several heart attacks over the years, Dunc Munro died in Toronto on January 4, 1958 at age 56.