Leafs 365 is a book with daily short stories on the history of the Maple Leafs.
Leafs 365 is a book with daily short stories on the history of the Maple Leafs.
When Mike Commito decided to write a third book, he knew it had to be Toronto Maple Leafs-related.
Leafs 365 is a book with daily stories throughout the Maple Leafs' everlasting history. Commito shares "the good, the bad, and the ugly," stemming from when they were called the Arenas and the St. Patricks, all the way to when they slayed their first-round demons against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Spring 2023.
"I think first and foremost, it's honestly because I'm a Leafs fan," Commito said of why writing this book was so entertaining.
"I knew that if we focused on the Leafs, it'd be a fun one for me to do because I can obviously go down memory lane and relive some of the moments I remember as a fan when I was a kid, and even some of the more recent stuff that's happened that I've been following."
Commito, the Director of Research and Innovation at Cambrian College in Sudbury, Ontario, began research and writing Leafs 365 in March 2022, and had the first draft finished just before Christmas of that same year.
The book highlights some of the most salient moments in the team's history that happened on a specific day, whether it's the Stanley Cup-winning team from 1967 or the tragic story of Brian Spencer and his father, Roy.
"I guess when they were playing on the West Coast, Brian was included in a Hockey Night in Canada interview, and I guess his dad had missed it because there was only one TV station in Prince George, British Columbia, so he never saw it. So he went to the TV station with a gun, and he threatened the staff and then the police were called, and he ended up dying in a firefight with the RCMP.
"And that was what happened to Brian's dad before he ended up getting two points that game with the Leafs. And then it turns out Brian himself had a pretty tragic story. He didn't stay in the league very long. He had some substance abuse issues. He also ended up dying in a drug deal gone wrong.
"So, the book does have kind of a lighthearted, I think, feel to it, so that one definitely kind of sticks out a bit just because it's definitely not a nice story. I think it's an important story... I kind of struggled [writing] that, but in the grand scheme of things, I think it's important that Leafs fans understand the good, the bad, and the ugly and I think Brian's story is important."
The book features some comedic moments, too, such as when, according to the book, Jim Pappin was awarded the game-winning goal to win the Stanley Cup in 1967.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Pyap77uGSU[/embed]
Pappin, who was up for a bonus if he won the playoff goal-scoring race, cut a deal with his linemate, Pete Stemkowski (who actually scored the goal), that if he were awarded the goal and received a bonus, he'd build a pool in his backyard, giving Stemkowski unlimited access to it.
The story ends by saying that Pappin won the goal-scoring title and that Stemkowski got to swim whenever he wanted.
There was also a story about the play-in series back in 2020 when the Maple Leafs were taking on the Columbus Blue Jackets. During Toronto's comeback game, Commito switched to Selling Sunset, missing part of the comeback from the Maple Leafs.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4vnDSRYWIw[/embed]
"I just figured it was not worth the frustration of watching that happen," he said. "I did catch the comeback, but I think as a Leafs fan, you get jaded sometimes, and even the best of us just need a timeout."
One story that stuck out most to me was one from 1961. Former Maple Leafs coach King Clancy would call Frank Mahovlich "Moses," like the biblical character. The reason was that Mahovlich could "lead the team of the wilderness."
With that said, I asked Commito who the Maple Leafs' current "Moses" would be.
"I think it would be (Auston) Matthews. His name lends itself nicely to a Moses," he admitted. "I think, certainly, he has helped lead the Leafs out of the wilderness when they drafted him in 2016. He hasn't quite led them out to the promised land the way that Mahovlich did back in the day.
"But I think, based on everything he's done, to rejuvenate this franchise after those doldrums and then coming into the rebuild period. I know he's already got some nicknames, but I think Moses would be fitting for him."
If you're a Maple Leafs fan, or a fan of hockey for that matter, I'd consider picking up the book, as it has countless stories that are unique and fascinating. You can find the book here.
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