Frank Mahovlich, nicknamed "The Big M," had a remarkable hockey career spanning 22 seasons in the NHL and WHA. Born on January 10, 1938, in Timmins, Ontario, to Croatian immigrants, Mahovlich's journey took him from a mining town to the Hockey Hall of Fame. He played 1,418 professional games, showcasing his talent with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, and Montreal Canadiens in the NHL, and later with the Toronto Toros and Birmingham Bulls in the WHA.
Mahovlich began his NHL journey with the Toronto Maple Leafs, after being scouted from the Schumacher Lions. He was assigned to the Toronto St. Michael's Majors, where he honed his skills. In his first full NHL season in 1957, he scored 20 goals and 36 points, earning the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie, beating out fellow Hall of Famer Bobby Hull. This marked the beginning of a 16-season streak where he scored at least 20 goals. By 1962, he was recognized as a superstar, leading the Leafs to their first Stanley Cup in eleven years. The Leafs went on to win three more Stanley Cups during the 1960s.
In 1961, 1963, and 1973, Mahovlich was selected for the NHL First All-Star Team. He also played in the NHL All-Star Games in 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1974.
Despite his success, Mahovlich's time in Toronto wasn't without its challenges. In 1968, he was traded to Detroit, where he played for three years and set a record of 49 goals during the 1968-69 season. In 1971, he was traded to Montreal, where he equaled the record for playoff points. "The Big M" found himself at odds with management and fans at times, but he eventually settled in Montreal. While with the Canadiens, Mahovlich won two more Stanley Cups, bringing his total to six. In the fall of 1972, he was a member of Team Canada in the Summit Series versus the Soviet Union, contributing a goal and an assist in six games.
During the 1971-72 season, Mahovlich achieved a career-high of 96 points, closely followed by 93 points the subsequent season. In 1974, instead of signing a new contract with the Canadiens, Mahovlich joined the Toronto Toros of the World Hockey Association. After the franchise relocated and became the Birmingham Bulls, Mahovlich played 89 games, scoring 17 goals and 44 points. He played on a line with Dave Hanson, one of the Hanson Brothers from the movie "Slap Shot".
After an attempted comeback with the Red Wings, Mahovlich officially retired on October 7, 1979. His contributions to hockey were recognized with his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1981 and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. In 2017, he was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history.
Beyond hockey, Mahovlich served in the Canadian Senate from June 11, 1998, to January 10, 2013. Frank Mahovlich's impact extends beyond his on-ice achievements. He was awarded the Order of Canada on October 19, 1994, recognizing his sportsmanship and contributions to Canadian society.
