Remembrance Day: The Story Of Ottawa Hockey Legend Frank McGee

On Remembrance Day, as we honour Canadians who've served their country, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice, one of the names from Ottawa's long hockey history that deserves recognition is Frank McGee.

Born in Ottawa in 1882, McGee was the Daniel Alfredsson of his day, a pre-NHL superstar with the Ottawa Silver Seven. Despite losing the sight in one eye following a hockey injury as a teenager, he became one of the most prolific athletes this city has ever seen.

Playing for the Ottawa Hockey Club, later known as the Silver Seven, McGee helped the team win the Cup in 1903, 1904 and 1905. He was also a multi-sport star, playing for the Ottawa Rough Riders as a halfback and a quarterback.

His most famous hockey performance came in 1905, when he scored 14 goals in a 23–2 victory in a Stanley Cup challenge from the Dawson City Nuggets. 

McGee retired from hockey in 1906 at just 23 years old, having scored 63 goals in 22 Stanley Cup games. According to accounts from the time, it's believed he ended his hockey career because he had just gotten a promotion at his government job that required his full attention.

When the First World War began in 1914, McGee answered the call to serve Canada.

Despite being blind in one eye, he joined the Canadian military and eventually became a lieutenant with the 21st Battalion.

How he passed his military medical examination remains something of a mystery. According to one account, McGee fooled the examining doctor by switching hands rather than eyes when asked to cover each one during his vision test.

Another story is that the doctor recognized him as the hockey star he used to cheer for and excitedly decided to waive the exam since such a gifted athlete couldn't possibly have anything physically wrong with him.

McGee sailed for England in May 1915 and was subsequently deployed to France.

After suffering a knee injury during combat that December, McGee was sent back to England to recover. When he recovered, McGee was offered a desk job, but he preferred to return to the men he'd served alongside. He rejoined his battalion in August 1916.

A month later, he was killed in action at age 33 during the Battle of the Somme, near Courcelette, France. His body was never recovered. 

McGee was posthumously inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as part of its very first class in 1945. His name was then added to the Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame in 1966.

Today, according to CanadianEncyclopedia.ca, his name remains inscribed on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France, honouring those who died without a known grave, who sacrificed everything to keep their country and loved ones safe and free.

On Remembrance Day, that's the part of Captain Frank McGee's amazing story that matters most.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa