Eddie Shack
A beloved hockey folk hero whose wild, mustachioed energy and clutch playoff goals made him a symbol of Toronto's 1960s Stanley Cup dynasty.
1937–2020 (age 83)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: February 11·The Silent Generation
Biography
Eddie Shack carved out a unique space in hockey history not as its most skilled player, but as its most unforgettable character. Born in Sudbury, Ontario, to Ukrainian immigrants, he brought a raw, rambunctious style to the ice that earned him nicknames like 'The Entertainer.' While he played for six NHL teams, his heart belonged to the Toronto Maple Leafs, where his chaotic rushes and infectious personality made him a fan favorite. Shack's true value shone in the playoffs; his relentless forechecking and timely scoring were key ingredients in four Stanley Cup victories for the Leafs in the 1960s. After his playing days, his fame was cemented by a catchy novelty song, 'Clear the Track, Here Comes Shack,' and a successful donut shop franchise, proving his appeal extended far beyond the rink.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Eddie was born in 1937, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Eddie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1937
#1 Movie
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Best Picture
The Life of Emile Zola
Eddie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1937Born
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1942Started school
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1950Became a teenager
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1953Could drive
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1955Could vote
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1958Turned 21
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1967Turned 30
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 40
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 50
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 60
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 70
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 80
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2020Died at 83
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
Key Achievements
- Won the Stanley Cup four times with the Toronto Maple Leafs (1962, 1963, 1964, 1967).
- Scored 239 goals and 465 points over a 17-season NHL career with six different teams.
- His popularity inspired the 1966 novelty hit song 'Clear the Track, Here Comes Shack' by Douglas Rankine.
- Became a successful entrepreneur with the 'Eddie Shack's No. 4 Donuts' chain in Ontario.
Did You Know?
His distinctive, large nose was the source of another of his nicknames: 'The Nose.'
He was the subject of a famous 1966 Sports Illustrated cover story titled 'I'm the Greatest, Aren't I?'
He once scored a playoff overtime goal for the Maple Leafs while playing on a broken ankle.
He briefly owned a junior hockey team, the Niagara Falls Flyers.
“I'm the greatest, aren't I?”
