Phil Samis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Phil Samis |
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| Born | December 28, 1927 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
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| Died | January 11, 2022 (aged 94) Greater Napanee, Ontario, Canada |
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| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | ||
| Weight | 175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Toronto Maple Leafs | ||
| Playing career | 1946–1953 | ||
Philip Lawrence Samis (born December 28, 1927 – died January 11, 2022) was a talented defenceman in the NHL. He played for the famous Toronto Maple Leafs team. Phil Samis was also the very last player still alive from the Maple Leafs team that won the Stanley Cup in 1948.
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Phil Samis's Hockey Journey
Starting in Junior Hockey
Phil Samis began his hockey career playing for local teams in his hometown of Edmonton in 1943. The next year, he moved to Toronto to go to St. Michael's College School. There, he joined the St. Michael's Majors hockey team.
He helped his team win the Memorial Cup in 1945. This is a very important championship for junior hockey teams in Canada. During his time with the Majors, he played alongside future NHL stars like Les Costello and Gus Mortson. His coach was Joe Primeau, who later became a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. After playing for the Majors, Phil spent two more seasons with the Oshawa Generals.
Playing as a Professional
In 1948, Phil Samis became a professional hockey player. He signed a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs sent him to play for their minor league team, the Pittsburgh Hornets, in the AHL.
Later that spring, the Maple Leafs called him up to play in the NHL playoffs. He played five games and helped the Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup in 1948. This was a huge achievement for a young player!
After the playoffs, he went back to play for the Pittsburgh Hornets. He returned to the NHL briefly in 1950 for two games when another player was injured. For the rest of his career, he played in the AHL for the Pittsburgh Hornets and the Cleveland Barons. He even helped the Cleveland Barons win the Calder Cup in 1951, which is the championship trophy for the AHL. Phil Samis stopped playing hockey in 1953.
Life After Hockey
After retiring from hockey, Phil Samis decided to become a dentist. He studied at McGill University to achieve this goal. He passed away in Greater Napanee, Ontario, on January 11, 2022, at the age of 94.
Fun Facts About Phil Samis
- When he played for the Pittsburgh Hornets, Phil Samis wore uniform number 2.
- For the Toronto Maple Leafs, he wore uniform number 23.
