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Maple Leafs legend Teeder Kennedy

Broadcast Date: Nov. 28, 1956

Teeder Kennedy spent his whole career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and helped them win five Stanley Cups. In 1956, he's retired, but the struggling Leafs want him back. As we hear in this interview from CBC Radio's Assignment, Teeder can't stay away, even though some critics are calling his decision "a big mistake". Kennedy tells reporter Ed Fitkin what he's doing to regain his skating form — and lose an unwanted 15 pounds.

Maple Leafs legend Teeder Kennedy

• Ted (Teeder) Kennedy was born in Port Colborne, Ont. in 1925. He got his nickname in childhood when friends had trouble pronouncing Theodore.

• His NHL rights were originally held by Montreal, but he was traded to Toronto and spent his career there beginning in 1943. He became team captain at 23.

• The center won the Stanley Cup with the Leafs in 1945, 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1951, a year he also won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player.

• Kennedy retired in 1955, but came back for 30 more games in 1956-57. He was inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1966.

• Teeder Kennedy died on Aug. 14, 2009 at age 83.

Maple Leafs legend Teeder Kennedy

Medium: Radio

Program: Assignment

Broadcast Date: Nov. 28, 1956

Guest(s): Teeder Kennedy

Reporter: Ed Fitkin

Duration: 7:44

Photo:

THE CANADIAN PRESS/The Welland Tribune-Handout

Last updated:
Aug. 14, 2009