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December 11: On this day in 1931, Hall-of-Fame defenseman, Pierre Pilote was born in Kenogami, Quebec. Pilote was an All-Star with the Chicago Black Hawks in several seasons between 1955-56 and 1967-68 where he won a Cup in 1961 and the James Norris trophy in 1963, '64 and '65. In 1961, Pilote tied Gordie Howe for the playoff scoring lead with 15 points, thus becomming the first defenseman to lead the NHL playoffs in scoring. Pilote was obtained by the Leafs in May of 1968 for Jim Pappin.
December 11: On this day in 1934, Mike Nykoluk was born in Toronto, Ontario. Nykoluk played 32 games as a Leaf right-winger during the 1956-57 season. In that time, he had 3 goals and 1 assist. On January 10, 1981, Nykoluk became the Leafs' head coach for the next 280 games through 1983-84. His record as a coach was 89-144-47. In Mike Nykoluk's NHL career, he played for and coached only the Maple Leafs.
December 11: On this day in 1934, Leaf legend Charlie Conacher took the first penalty shot ever awarded to a Leaf player. It was against goalie Andy Aitkenhead of the New York Rangers. Conacher's attempt was unsuccessful. To 2007, Conacher remains the only Leaf to have been awarded as many as four penalty shots. He scored on one out of four.
December 11: On this day in 1973, ex-Leaf Ralph Intranuovo was born in East York, Ontario. Ralph was a Leaf for a brief 3 game stint in 1996 when he was claimed in the Waiver Draft from Edmonton on September 30th. As a Leaf, Intranuovo had just one point, an assist. A little over three weeks after becoming a Leaf, Intranuovo was back in Edmonton who picked him up - on waivers.
December 11: On this day in 1982, Leaf defenseman and former draft choice Fred Boimistruck played his final game in the NHL. His relatively short NHL career had begun the season before on a desperate Leaf team that placed unrealistic expectations on its young and developing players. Boimistruck's confidence quickly evaporated and after 83 games, all with the Leafs, his NHL days were over.
