In 1953, three fathers in the Humber Valley area of Etobicoke wanted to enable their 7 and 8 year old sons to play hockey. Stafford Smythe, whose father Conn Smythe was one of hockey's elder statesmen and President of the Toronto Maple Leafs, naturally wanted his son Tommy to be able to play. His good friend, well-known sportsman Jack Stafford Jr., wanted the same opportunity for 7 year old son John. Ray Picard, father of 7 year old Alan, was talked into getting involved as well, and the three men began plans to form a Humber Valley hockey team.

A notice was put up at Humber Valley Village School on Hartfield Road, and the following Saturday Lambton Park's outdoor rink overflowed with interested parents and children. The Humber Valley Hockey League was born.

Two teams were formed the first year- the Hornets, coached by Jack Stafford, and the Redmen, led by Ray Picard - and they played as Atoms in the Toronto Hockey League, the forerunner of the GTHL. At the time, Atoms were players aged 10 and under. Their first game, at the old Ravina rink in the Annette/High Park area, ended in a scoreless tie. By the end of the first season, the Hornets and Redmen were tied for 3rd place in the league, forcing a sudden-death playoff which the Hornets won 3-0. At the banquet ending the first season, the guest speaker was none other than retired Leaf goaltender Turk Broda.

In only its 2nd year, Humber Valley fielded an unbelievable 12 teams in the THL. At the Atom level, the Elfs, Frys, Imps, Shrimps, Squirts and Tom Thumbs carried the Humber Valley colours. The Hornets and Redmen played in the Pee Wee division, while the Jets, Kings and Rams made up the league's Minor Bantam entry. The Aces were the first Bantam team for Humber Valley. For the first time, Humber Valley entered teams in the Kin Clancy series, a post-season THL tournament.

As in any year, the success of this second season was the result of the hard work on many people, a few of whom deserve special mention, such as: Jack Coulter, Murray Dryden, Russ Hicks, Ross Johnstone, Pat Patterson, Bill Sanagan, Harry Stayley and George Williams Jr.

In year 3, the enthusiasm and coaching efforts of the Humber Valley parents paid off with 2 championships. Humber Valley's Squirts won the THL Atom championship during the regular season, and the White Shirts - an All-Star team made up of players from all the house league Atoms - took the King Clancy championship.

But the real excitement of the 3rd year occurred at the Tyke level, which then included all players under 9 years old. The final game of the Easter Timmy Tyke Tournament saw the Humber Valley Tykes squaring off against their Scarborough counterparts. After regulation play the score was tied 1-1. Two 5 minute overtime periods failed to break the deadlock, forcing a shoot-off which was won by Bruce Dempster, who counted for both Humber Valley's goals. The tournament MVP was Tim Ecclestone - later to become an NHL star - whose father Bill coached the team with Doug King.

During these beginning years, games and practices were held on the ice surfaces of Ravina, Lambton Park and Anglesey Park - the first community outdoor artificial rinks in the Metropolitan Toronto area. Parents at this time not only coached and managed their children's teams, but also officiated in the house league programs.

By the 4th season, the league had grown to 18 teams from Atom to Minor Midget. At the end of the year Humber Valley, Queensway, Alderwood and Northern Etobicoke entered teams in a tournament held by the newly-formed Etobicoke Hockey Association, with the stated purpose of determining an all-Etobicoke champion.

During its first few years of existence the league blossomed and grew under the Presidencies of co-founders Stafford Smythe and Jack Stafford Jr., both of whom had the ability to draw many other volunteer parents to work with them in making the league a success. Since those early days, Humber Valley has enjoyed a reputation as an outstanding amateur hockey organization, and all the league executives, team officials and players who have been active in the association since then owe a huge debt of gratitude to Stafford, Jack and their contemporaries.

Humber Valley's most famous player has to be Ken Dryden, the former goalie of the Montreal Canadiens. But his father Murray and brother Dave also were quite involved in the league in the early years.

Ken Dryden - 7 Years old

Ken was a member of the Islington Hornets, one of the league's first 2 teams, as a 7 year old. Right from the beginning, Ken's talents received rave notices. From the Toronto Star in 1955: "This game on Thursday night was a spine-tingler, with the Hornets gaining a 2-2 tie on the sensational acrobatic stopping of 7 year old Kenny Dryden, who made 37 saves while the University settlement goalie made 3". And remember, he was playing against older boys (under 11 years old)!

Murray has been a stalwart in the Humber Valley community for many years. He was active in hockey and baseball leagues, as a director of the Kingsway Kiwanis Club, and as a Sunday school teacher, elder and Steward in the Humber Valley United Church for many years. In our league, he helped coach and manage a number of the younger teams, and also was a director in the early years. Dave was 6 years older than Ken and his hockey career was already blossoming before the league began. But Dave spent a year or so coaching his brother's team, the Hornets, with his dad. Dave went on to play junior hockey at St. Michael's College and with the Toronto Marlboros; then played with Chicago and Buffalo in the N.H.L. and Edmonton in the WHA.

Ken was an All-Star in high school basketball at Etobicoke Collegiate, and also in the Kingsway baseball league as a pitcher and hitter.

Ken went to Cornell University in Ithaca, New York and again starred in one of the top teams in U.S. college hockey. His team won 67 games and lost 3 over several seasons and he is regarded as the best-ever college goalie. He was an All-American three times, and in 1969, was named the outstanding athlete at Cornell. Ken wanted to pursue a law career and so joined the Canadian National team in Winnipeg for the 1969-70 season. He signed a pro contract with Montreal in 1970, and after 1 year with the Montreal Voyageurs in the American Hockey League, he became the Canadien's #1 goalie in 1971, replacing Rogatien Vachon and Phil Myre. He won the Calder Trophy, as the league's outstanding rookie, and in the 1972-73 season (his 2nd), was selected on the 1st All-Star Team and won the Vezina Trophy. Quite a record! And, how can anyone forget Ken's performance in the final Canada-Russia game in 1972.

Ken's hero as he grew up was his brother Dave, who, being older and also a goalie, helped Ken learn the skills. In 1971, they met each other for the first time in the NHL, when they were opposing goalies in a Montreal/Buffalo game. Ken's sister, Judy, and mother, Margaret, shared the rest of the family's interest in sports. Education and participation in all aspects of life was a strong family belief, and both boys have demonstrated how well they met these challenges.

Humber Valley congratulates Ken and Dave on their past hockey success, and thanks all the Dryden family for their contributions to minor hockey and the community over the many years. A special good luck to Ken with his new position as President of the Toronto Maple Leafs!