Name: George "Chief" Armstrong Position: Centre Birthday: July 6, 1930- Shoots: Right Induction Category: Alumni Player/Coach Weight: 204 Induction Year: 2008 Height: 6ft 1in

Career Summary

George "Chief" Armstrong was born in Skead, Ontario on July 6, 1930. Born to Irish father and Algonguin mother, Armstrong spent his childhood in the small town of Falconbridge, Ontario where his father worked in the nickel mines. 

Armstrong joined the Toronto Marlboros during the 1948-49 season and played with the team full-time during the 1949-50 season.  During that season, he registered 64 goals in just 45 games and an additional 17 in the playoffs.  During the Allan Cup tournament, the Marlboros visited the Stoney Indian Reserve in Alberta where he was named “Big Chief Shoot the Puck” and was presented with a headdress.

After 2 years of play with the AHL farm team for the Marlboros in Pittsburg, Armstrong joined the Toronto Maple Leafs roster for the start of the 1952-53 season.  Although he was only an average player, Armstrong was made captain of the Leafs during the 1957-58 season; a role he kept until his retirement.

After retiring from hockey as a player, Armstrong coached the Toronto Marlboros to 2 Memorial Cups, winning the championship in 1972-73 and 1974-75.    In 1975, Armstrong was recognized for his career success by being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

In 1978, Armstrong left the Maple Leafs organization to become a scout for the Quebec Nordiques in 1978 were he raimed for 9 years before returning to the team as Assistant General Manager and a scout.  In 1988-89, Armstrong was made an interim coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs for the last 47 games of the season, before returning to his scouting role, covering the Ontario Hockey League.