S Line
Encyclopedia
The S Line was an early National Hockey League
forward line that played for the now-defunct Montreal Maroons
. It was a highly potent line back in its glory years in the "Crazy Twenties"
, just when the NHL was beginning and developing.
The S Line's sobriquet
was a pun on its components' surname
s — manning left wing for the Maroons
then was Babe Siebert
— at centre was Nels Stewart
— and on right wing was Hooley Smith
.
All the same, the trio was a perfect match for each other. Smith kicked off in 1922 with the brand-new Maroons and three years later, Siebert and Stewart were signed. At the time Smith was struggling — but when his new linemates caught him, he sped right up. Siebert got a good start off to his career.
But their centreman, Stewart, overshadowed them. Although only Bert Corbeau
's 121 penalty minutes beat "Old Poison" for the NHL lead in that category — by two — the new line was a TNT combo. Stewart lived up to his nickname in helping the Maroons win the Stanley Cup
— he scored the winning goal in each of the Maroons' victories over the Victoria Cougars
. He led the league with 34 goals — a truly outstanding feat — and 42 scoring points. Many believe that had the Conn Smythe Trophy
existed in 1926, Stewart would have won the award for Most Valuable Playoff Performer as well as the Hart Memorial Trophy
, now, specifically, for the NHL's regular season MVP
— but none of the "S Line's" members lived to see it first awarded in 1965.
, his wingers faltered. The Crazy Twenties
were over, as was the S Line's glory age. While "Old Poison" still consistently scored and played aggressively, it did not easily help the Maroons back to Lord Stanley's Mug
, and Smith and Siebert were not getting on the scoreboard as often now, in the "Hungry Thirties"
that the Great Depression
caused. It was particularly bad for some teams, and the Maroons were one of them.
The old saying "You have to be cruel to be kind" proved true as for 1930–31, Smith and Siebert went across Montreal
to the Maroons' largely French rivals, the defending Cup Champions, the Canadiens
. The next year, Stewart went to the Boston Bruins
. The Maroons' second and final Cup came against the Toronto Maple Leafs
in 1935.
In 1957, at 54, Stewart was found dead — presumably of a heart
attack.
In 1963, Smith was 61 when he died of cancer
.
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
forward line that played for the now-defunct 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...
. It was a highly potent line back in its glory years in the "Crazy Twenties"
1920s
File:1920s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: Third Tipperary Brigade Flying Column No. 2 under Sean Hogan during the Irish Civil War; Prohibition agents destroying barrels of alcohol in accordance to the 18th amendment, which made alcoholic beverages illegal throughout the entire decade; In...
, just when the NHL was beginning and developing.
The S Line's sobriquet
Sobriquet
A sobriquet is a nickname, sometimes assumed, but often given by another. It is usually a familiar name, distinct from a pseudonym assumed as a disguise, but a nickname which is familiar enough such that it can be used in place of a real name without the need of explanation...
was a pun on its components' surname
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
s — manning left wing for the 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...
then was Babe Siebert
Babe Siebert
Albert Charles "Babe" Siebert was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger and defenceman who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Maroons, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens...
— at centre was Nels Stewart
Nels Stewart
Robert Nelson "Old Poison" Stewart was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the Montreal Maroons, New York Americans and Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League...
— and on right wing was 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...
.
Glory Days
Stewart once confessed that Siebert and Smith "did most of the digging [for the puck] work. They knew I was out there waiting, and if they freed the puck, I'd do the rest."All the same, the trio was a perfect match for each other. Smith kicked off in 1922 with the brand-new Maroons and three years later, Siebert and Stewart were signed. At the time Smith was struggling — but when his new linemates caught him, he sped right up. Siebert got a good start off to his career.
But their centreman, Stewart, overshadowed them. Although only Bert Corbeau
Bert Corbeau
Bertram Orian "Pig Iron" Corbeau was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens, Hamilton Tigers, Toronto St. Pats, and Toronto Maple Leafs. He was a member of the Montreal Canadiens first Stanley Cup championship...
's 121 penalty minutes beat "Old Poison" for the NHL lead in that category — by two — the new line was a TNT combo. Stewart lived up to his nickname in helping the Maroons win 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...
— he scored the winning goal in each of the Maroons' victories over the Victoria Cougars
Victoria Cougars
The Victoria Cougars were a major league professional ice hockey team that played in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association from 1922 to 1924, and in the Western Hockey League from 1924 to 1926...
. He led the league with 34 goals — a truly outstanding feat — and 42 scoring points. Many believe that had the Conn Smythe Trophy
Conn Smythe Trophy
The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded 46 times to 40 players since the 1964–65 NHL season...
existed in 1926, Stewart would have won the award for Most Valuable Playoff Performer as well as the Hart Memorial Trophy
Hart Memorial Trophy
The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, the "oldest and most prestigious individual award in hockey", is awarded annually to the "player adjudged most valuable to his team" in the National Hockey League . The Hart Memorial Trophy has been awarded 86 times to 53 different...
, now, specifically, for the NHL's regular season MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
— but none of the "S Line's" members lived to see it first awarded in 1965.
Breakup
1930 was to turn out sour. While that year Stewart scored his personal highs in goals and points with 39 and 55, respectively, and earned his second Hart TrophyHart Memorial Trophy
The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, the "oldest and most prestigious individual award in hockey", is awarded annually to the "player adjudged most valuable to his team" in the National Hockey League . The Hart Memorial Trophy has been awarded 86 times to 53 different...
, his wingers faltered. The Crazy Twenties
1920s
File:1920s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: Third Tipperary Brigade Flying Column No. 2 under Sean Hogan during the Irish Civil War; Prohibition agents destroying barrels of alcohol in accordance to the 18th amendment, which made alcoholic beverages illegal throughout the entire decade; In...
were over, as was the S Line's glory age. While "Old Poison" still consistently scored and played aggressively, it did not easily help the Maroons back to Lord Stanley's Mug
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...
, and Smith and Siebert were not getting on the scoreboard as often now, in the "Hungry Thirties"
1930s
File:1930s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: Dorothea Lange's photo of the homeless Florence Thompson show the effects of the Great Depression; Due to the economic collapse, the farms become dry and the Dust Bowl spreads through America; The Battle of Wuhan during the Second Sino-Japanese...
that the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
caused. It was particularly bad for some teams, and the Maroons were one of them.
The old saying "You have to be cruel to be kind" proved true as for 1930–31, Smith and Siebert went across Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
to the Maroons' largely French rivals, the defending Cup Champions, the 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 ...
. The next year, Stewart went to the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
. The Maroons' second and final Cup came against the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in 1935.
Deaths
Siebert died first of the S Line — he drowned in 1939 shortly after being hired as Habs coach at 35. The Maroons had folded the previous year.In 1957, at 54, Stewart was found dead — presumably of a heart
Heart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
attack.
In 1963, Smith was 61 when he died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
.