Hockey great Dave Keon has number 9 retired

# 193. Gerry Willan... "I truly don't believe the cup will return until Dave does."
# 216. John Trost... From the Toronto Telegram circa 1970 ....... "how do you get the leafs started ?" Turn the KEON !!
# 299. Barry Plashka - I'm a Habs fan, but Keon's why I like hockey .
# 309. James P. McFadden - My favourite player - ever! His hockey card was one of the few that never went in my bicycle spokes!
# 426. Kevin Trevor-Wilson I just rec'd my Hockey News this week and got to thinking about the wonderful years at MLG sitting in the corner Blues watching Dave. I copied all his skating moves and had a backhand like no other teammate in my playing days. One of my greatest thrills was the time I was playing in the Ontario Father/Son Golf tournament and was playing right behind Dave and his son. I couldnt believe my eyes. I always had my Dave Keon jersey on for the games I went to at MLG. Each Christmas , if I needed a larger size , Dad would purchase at Doug Lauries. I sure do miss those wonderful times. I would cry like a baby if the time came that Dave's number would be retired and he would step out on the ice to receive what has Leaf fans have been storing up to bestow upon him for years. What a wonderful idea this page is.
# 447. Alisdair Mackay - The only person to skate as good as Keon was his shadow. He was very skilled in many aspects of the game.
# 474. Keon Bishop - Dave Keon was the best leaf player ever and I'm proud 2 be named after him.
# 1405. Steve Reid - I have been following this story for quite some time. I recall, as I am sure many young boys from the Ballard era remember, that those were the toughest years being a Leaf fan. I would always get teased for supporting the Leafs due to the fact Ballard was a Mickey Mouse owner ( no insult to Mickey intended). I was too young to to recall the great momments of Dave's career with the Leafs, but my Father and his friends would speak at great length about his heroics. I will gladly endorse this petition with one caveat. Mr Keon, if you truly are the hero that everyone speaks so highly of, I think that you should demonstrate the behaviour that all heroes are known for: bravery! It is very easy to be stubborn and to hold a grudge. It is the Greater man that can forgive. I hope that as you have grown older, you have the ability to forgive so that your many adoring fans can celebrate with you the many accomplishments that you acheived. Do you really want to be remembered as the man that couldn't forgive? Steve Reid

Here you go Dave. Other great reasons to have your number retired -- and I do mean retired forever !!
# 282. David McCarthy - I was named after Dave Keon....
# 337. Laura J. Spencer - Dave Keon was our family idol in the 1960's and we still talk about him today! My 10 yr old daughter just started to play hockey this year in the "Tim Horton" league and I have nicknamed her "Keon". After I explained his legacy to her, she smiles broadly as she steps out on to the ice! Best wishes Mr. Keon xo
# 906. Jennifer Johnson... "My son is only 5, but wanted to be #14 because his Uncle is. We always tell him what a great and honourable player Dave Keon was, and my son said he wants to be #14 too. Please Dave, generations of fans still idolize what you stood for, so please honour us with your presence at centre ice for The Maple Leafs once again!"
# 1388. Fernie DaSilva - I'll never forget the sad day at Maple Leaf Gardens when I was competing in the elementary school Maple Leaf Track and Field games. It was just anounced that the Leafs signed Borge Salming and Inge Hammerstrom. I bumped into Dave Keon and asked for his autograph. He explained that he was too sad to sign anything, and promptly left the gardens. That night my dad told me that Dave Keon was no longer a Leaf. That was a very sad moment for all Leaf fans, including a young 13 year old who didn't understand the politics of the sporting industry. You could see the sadness in Mr. Keon's eyes that day.
# 1538. Dar Cullihall - Growing up down here in Rocky Harbour, NL in 1967, we didn't have television, but, oh, how I remember listening to that final series between the Montreal Canadians and The Toronto Maple Leafs on our old, Rogers Majestic radio! Ours was a house divided: three of my brothers cheering for the Montreal Canadians while two of my sisters and myself cheering for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The joy, the joy when Toronto finally won that fourth game, winning the series and the stanley cup in six games. Alas, there have been moments of joy since, but not many. I remember Dave Keon so well! I had a Toronto Maple Leaf jersey with the number 14 taped on the back and my every move on the old frozen marsh was, in the mind of a youth, a Dave Keon move, especially that backhand he liked to use so much. It makes me so proud, now that I'm 55 years old, to see action being taken to have Dave Keon return to his rightful place among the Maple Leaf 'family'. I'm delighted to sign the petition.

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In the minds of many, Keon is the best player ever to wear the Maple Leaf. An entire generation of Leafs fans is aching to tell him that in some sort of ceremonial way. It would have been perfect at the closing of Maple Leaf Gardens last year. Or the opening of the Air Canada Centre. Or as part of the NHL all-star game festivities.
A quarter century has gone by since Keon's messy breakup with the Leafs and their cantankerous owner, Harold Ballard. If ever a player deserved to wear a Maple Leaf on his chest from start to finish of his career, it was Keon, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner when Toronto won the Stanley Cup in 1967.
But when the World Hockey Association came calling, Ballard would not respond to the challenge and his final link to the glory days of the 1960s left town.
"I had a business deal with the Leafs that didn't work out so I had to go and work someplace else," Keon said. "Which I did. I had to move on with my life."
Ballard is long gone. Most of Keon's old teammates, shunned during that distasteful era in Leafs history, have made their peace with the organization. But not Keon-and NOT his FANS !!

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Dave--please call the Maple Leaf organization and tell them you are considering plans to have your number recognized. Do it for your family-do it for your future generations and their pride in their relation to YOU.
Like I said Dave !

YOUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES THAT SIGNED THE PETITION

# 92. Doreen Korman and Harry Korman - I have known Dave Keon since our youth in Rouyn Noranda and we have been season ticket holders of the Maple Leafs for 30 years.
# 111. John Kernaghan (Hamilton Spectator) - Must hell freeze over before this happens.
# 160. Gary Parkinson - I grew up In scarborough where the Keons lived.I went to school with Dave Jr. to St. Martin De Porres. I too always wanted to have #14 and when I did not get it well I chose #4 the best I could do. Everyone in Toronto knows Dave deserves to have his # high above in the rafters. His son Dave works in the ACC and Tim the other son you know would love to have this honor. Do the Keons proud and honor him in the way Ballard never did. -Whitby Ontario.
# 201. Callum Wilkie - My PaPa has the greatest stories about Davy Keon as he played with him in his young years in Noranda, Que. Please come back to us.
# 202. S. Wilkie (nee: Ouimet) - I've seen his signature on my parents marriage certificate, sat throught his and my dad's newspaper clippings of their days in Noranda, we know he is the greatest.
# 255. Klym Bolechowsky - Dave Keon is my grandmother's cousin
# 420. Laura Nemett - "Dave Keon is my grandpa. I am proud of him!!!"
# 464. Jake Iunghuhn - my dad goes fishing with DAVE KEON and my dad says he is the coolest guy ever. I dont know him but I want to know him sssssoooooo badly, I hope Dave's number gets retired because dave is my NEW and BIGGEST hero...GO DAVE...and the leafs.
# 518. Dave Kennedy - My uncle, Vince Thompson coached Mr Keon in Noranda for years and was the man who scouted him to the Leafs organization. I have heard many stories of his sportsmanship and outstanding play. I think the retireing of his #14 would be great for the Leafs by bringing back memmories of class, grit , and an outstanding players style who helped to hold Lord Stanleys Cup as a satr in 1967 the last time the leafs won the cup. A new rink, new mangment, new system and the memmories of #14 would bring back some much needed class and sportsmanship to the NHL and sportsworld in general let the kids know heroes of old could be people to respect and look up to.
# 585. Steven Keon... "Some things are truly deserved."
# 627. Holly Keon - "As a longtime Leafs fan and a member of his family, it would mean a great deal to all of us if the Toronto Maple Leafs adopted the tradition of retiring numbers."
# 625. Eldyne Miller - "Great job for so many years, Cousin Dave!"
# 635. Rick Keon - "Let's make the legacy official."
# 646. Lynsey Keon - "Dave Keon is my Great Grampa's First Cousin."
# 691. Dillon McGee - "Dave was a highly skilled player and one of the best Leafs ever. We have the same great-great grandfather, John Sloan who was also Tod Sloan's great grandfather."
# 725. Bernie Morton - My grandparents Arseneau lived next door to the Keon's when I was young and I grew up with him as my hockey idol. Only now do I recognize how lucky I was to visit his home frequently, play steeet hockey with him and his kids, and be offered the Keon memorabilia that he gave. Hang #14 in the rafters!
# 727. Brian Watters - "I am several years younger than my "cuz" and fondly remember his visits to my home when I was a young teenager. I never turned out to be much of a hockey player but always admired his skills and watched all the Leaf games evey chance I got just to watch Davey. Many years have passed and I have not seen him since the late 1960's and I understand he is living in West Palm Beach. Would sure like to pay him a visit and remenisce. He was and always will be a real classy guy and a true gentleman. B.W."
# 793. Steve Hawkins - "Cause he's my uncle."
# 820. Mike Clifford - My dad grew up with Dave in Noranda and when I started playing hockey I was awed by him, he was my hero and I always wore number 14 because I wanted to play like him. He was the greatest Leaf to ever put on the jersey, his number deserves to be in the rafters and his name associated with greatness forever.
# 895. Wil Tighe - "I'm a third cousin of Dave"
# 904. Ted Kennedy ( Is this the former leaf great Ted Kennedy? )
# 937. Wayne Knox - I lived with Dave @ St. Mike's.... he was an even better person than he was a hockey player !!!
# 1058. Christine Hillman - I think that my Uncle Dave would have no doubt whatsover to have his number retired, he represented a big part of the Maple Leafs hey day and wore his captaincy proudly..Matt Stajan may be a good player but no one else wears number 14 as well as my uncle did!
# 1228. Mike Strobel(Toronto Sun) - let's bring davey boy in from the cold.
# 1343. John A. Lentowicz I was born in Noranda Quebec, which coincidentally is the birth place of Dave Keon. His then Father in law-Ernie Hillman was my Dad's Mine Captain at the Waite Amulet Mines. Dave's mother taught my brother in school. I am a passionate Leaf fan today as a result of Dave Keon. My son is also a Leaf fan today and he always hears me tell stories about what a great backhand shot he had, and how he is the greatest Leaf ever to put on a Leaf uniform. All of my Leaf sweaters have number 14 on them, and they always will.
# 1720. Mary Catherine Jerome -Mcleod - I went to school with Davey in Noranda and Marilyn Oshea and I were just reminiscing about you and what a terrific testimony you are to the home town. Ever hear from the Rudds?

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Send Dave a letter: DAVE KEON 115 Brackenwood Road Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418-9065 USA Thank you FANS for your support for what I believed was a worthy endeavour. All the Best!!... Bill Pauhl

The Maple Leafs retire the number of a player only when his career is ended prematurely due to death or injury. The first Leaf to have his number retired was Irvine "Ace" Bailey (# 6). During a game at the Boston Garden in December 1933, Bailey was hit by Bruins defenseman Eddie Shore, arguably the fierecest player in the game at the time. Bailey was sent airborne and landed his head on the ice. He had a cut in his scalp that required sixteen stitches to close and remained in hospital for five weeks, seemingly with his life in the balance. Bailey eventually recovered but his hockey career was over. He went on to become the assistant penalty timekeeper at Maple Leaf Gardens for nearly fifty years. Ace Bailey was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975. Bill Barilko's # 5 was the team's second number to be permanently retired after the defenseman died in plane crash only four months after scoring the winning goal in the 1951 Stanley Cup playoffs. A number that is retired can no longer be assigned to any other player. An honoured number may still be worn on an active player's jersey. Twelve Maple Leafs have proudly had their numbers honoured and their respective banners raised to the rafters at Maple Leaf Gardens during an induction ceremony into the Leafs Honour Roll. When a player's number is honoured, the active Leaf who has been assigned that number wears a special Leaf shoulder logo on his jersey. The Maple Leaf outline remains the same, but differs in that the name of the player whose number is honoured is inscribed into the crest of the maple leaf. The special crest is worn only for the duration of the season in which the honoured player is inducted into the Leafs Honour Roll. Retired Numbers 5- Bill Barilko 1946-1951 6- Irvine "Ace" Bailey 1927-1934 Honoured Numbers 1 - Walter "Turk" Broda 1936-43,45-52 & Johnny Bower 1958-70 7 - Francis "King" Clancy 1930-37 & Tim Horton 1949-79 9 - Ted Kennedy 1942-55,56-57 Charlie Conacher 1929-38 10 - Syl Apps 1936-48 George Armstrong 1949-71 27 - Frank Mahovlich 1956-68 & Darryl Sittler 1970-82 I took the liberty but it may just be a matter of time before this actually happens! Jumping ahead about seven years. Well it finally happened I wish Dave had invited me to the ceremony. Home| Other Stuff|Links| News About Dave Keon|About Dave Keon| Something About Me|Stats|Media Coverage Calder Trophy|ConSmythe Trophy|Lady Byng Trophy|Stanley Cup Trophy