McCormack, John Ronald (Goose)
It is with great sadness that the family of Johnny McCormack announces his passing after a brief illness, on Wednesday, February 22nd, 2017, at the age of 91years. Born in Edmonton Alberta, John found his way to St. Michaels by way of the Southern California Hockey League Hollywood Wolves. The St. Michaels Majors won the Memorial Cup in 1945. In those 9 playoff games Johnny had 10 goals and assisted on 11 others. After the playoffs, at 19, John enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy. Luckily, the war ended that same year. In 1948 John played 3 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs but spent the majority of the time with the Toronto Marlies. In 1949-50, the Marlies won the Allan Cup. John contributed 7 goals and 8 assists in the 13 playoff games. In 1950 while with the AHL Pittsburgh Hornets, John tried to add the Calder Cup to his resume but they lost to the Cleveland Barons in 7 games. John had 6 goals and 9 assists in the 13 playoff matches. John played with the Stanley Cup winning Toronto Maple Leafs in 1950-51. After the season he was sold to the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs went on to win the 1952-53 Stanley Cup putting his name on the cup a second time. This made him one of a select few with a Junior Hockey, Senior Hockey and NHL Championship. John graduated from the University of Toronto in 1949 and thought he would try the priesthood and entered St. Joseph’s Seminary in Edmonton. He discovered that the priesthood was not his calling and returned to play with the Leafs in 1950. In 1951 John married Margaret Anne Gordon, a recent nursing graduate from the Hospital for Sick Children. Conn Smythe, Leaf’s owner, generously provided a honeymoon to Pittsburgh for the couple. John played in the NHL for 8 seasons finishing his career with the Chicago Black Hawks. John went on to a successful business career mostly spent in the steel industry including starting his own business. While working, one of John’s greatest joys was playing with his pals for the NHL Oldtimers. Playing once or twice a week in small town Ontario for any charity that asked, the Oldtimers thrilled many kids and adults alike. Another favourite pastime for John was Blue Jays baseball. John supported minor league ball his whole life in both Edmonton and the Toronto Maple Leafs AAA club. Johnny gave up his Leaf season tickets and was one of the first in line to pick up Blue Jay seasons tickets. In later life, he enjoyed “doing the rounds” with Maggie delivering Meals on Wheels to many shut-in and elderly folks in the Oshawa area or washing dishes at St. Vincent de Paul. Johnny was loved by many and will be missed by all who knew him. John was predeceased by his wife, Margaret Anne McCormack (nee Gordon) and will be lovingly remembered as a great Dad by his children, Peter (Pam), Dan (Kathy) and Matthew. John will also be fondly remembered by his four grandchildren, Laura (John), Michael (Cydney), Bradley (Andrea) and Patrick. John was predeceased by his brother Daniel McCormack. The family sends special thanks the staff at Amica who were so good to him the past 4 years and to the Lakeridge Hospital Palliative Care staff for easing Dad’s transition. Visitation will be held at OSHAWA FUNERAL HOME, 847 King St. W., Oshawa on Sunday, February 26th from 3 – 5 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST CATHOLIC CHURCH (903 Giffard St., Whitby) on Monday, February 27th at 10:00 a.m. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, those who so desire may make memorial donations in memory of John to his favourite charities, the SickKids Foundation, 525 University Avenue, 14th Floor Toronto, Ontario Canada M5G 2L3 or The Scott Mission, 502 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2H1.