by David McPherson
A builder, sportsman — and a man of many firsts — the legacy of Cecil “Cece” Hart on both the amateur and professional game are still felt. As Hanukkah approaches, learn more about this trailblazer who was the first Jewish head coach in the National Hockey League.
Cambridge, ON – Growing up in Quebec, Cecil Hart came from an esteemed, well-known family. His father David [Hart] was a prominent surgeon who, in 1923, donated the original Hart Trophy to the NHL to honor the league’s most valuable player. The family are also direct descendants of Aaron [Blake] Hart — considered Canada’s first Jewish settler.
Early Career
During his formative years, Cecil loved playing many sports, especially baseball. A born leader and community builder, in 1897, when he was only 14-years-old, Cecil started a baseball team (the Stars) that quickly dominated Montreal’s amateur leagues. In 1910, he became the secretary-treasurer of both the Montreal City Hockey League and the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association. While holding these positions, Cecil also managed the Stars’ baseball and hockey clubs for more than two decades (1900-1922). And, Hart even helped start a short-lived international amateur hockey series between the U.S. and Canada (the Art Ross Cup).
Going Pro: Les Canadiens and the Montreal Maroons
In 1921, Hart left the amateur ranks behind to help broker a deal for the sale of the Montreal Canadiens. The new owners appointed him a club director. Three years later, in efforts to appeal to the Anglophone community, the Montreal Maroons joined the NHL and Hart was appointed the new clubs’ manager. Three months later, however, he left the fledgling franchise after a dispute revolving a player and returned to Les Canadiens.
Cecil was named the team’s head coach at the start of the 1926-27 NHL season — the same year the franchise moved into its brand new arena, the Forum. During his tenure as the Canadiens’ bench boss, Cecil took a team that finished in last place the year before he took over leadership to a first or second-place finish in each of his first three seasons. During his sophomore season (1927-28), the Canadiens won 18 straight games; Cecil coached Montreal to back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 1930 and 1931 — the first time this feat was accomplished in franchise history. When he retired after the 1931 campaign, Les Canadiens were the league’s most dominant team.
Flash ahead to 1936. With the team losing, local sportswriters campaigned for Hart’s return. Cece heeded the call and coached Montreal back to top spot in its division, but health issues forced his retirement — this time for good — in the middle of the 1939 season. The Canadiens made the playoffs every year Hart coached and his regular-season record (196 wins to 125 losses) makes Cece the fifth-most winningest coach in the club’s history.
The Hart Memorial Trophy
Following Hart’s death in 1960, tributes flowed in from colleagues around the league. “Cecil Hart was always a hard manager to beat, but a better sportsman I could not have found to lose to,” said Lester Patrick of the New York Rangers. To honor his contributions to the game, the original Hart Trophy was retired to the newly created Hockey Hall of Fame and replaced with a new trophy — renamed the Hart Memorial Trophy — in honor of this hockey builder. And, in 1992, Cecil was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
Fast Facts:
Born: November 28, 1883 (Belford, Quebec)
Died: July 16, 1940
Coaching Record: 196 wins, 125 losses, 73 ties
Honors: International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame; Montreal Jewish Sports Hall of Fame; Hart Memorial Trophy named in his honor.
According to this article, there were 13 Jewish players that began the 2024-25 NHL season.
Do you know a Jewish hockey standout we should profile? If so, email us at [email protected]
About the Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) was founded on November 27, 1890, and is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior hockey in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is a Member Partner of the Ontario Hockey Federation which is one of thirteen Provincial and Regional Branches of Hockey Canada.
It is comprised of three Junior hockey leagues and two Senior hockey leagues: Junior A – Ontario Junior Hockey League; Junior B – Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League; Junior C – Provincial Junior Hockey League, Senior – Allan Cup Hockey (AAA) and Ontario Elite Hockey League (AA). For the 2023-24 season, these five leagues encompass 125 teams.
The objectives of the OHA are to foster and encourage the sport of amateur hockey, to conduct competition in the various categories established, to determine teams for entry into the inter-branch competitions that may be provided by Hockey Canada, and to provide for the affiliation of other hockey organizations.
The OHA provides administrative resources, coordinates programs, services and events for hockey participants and provides support to various Development Programs for coaches, officials, trainers and players, Safety and Risk Management Issues and offers resources for Harassment and Abuse education.
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For more information or to set up an interview, please contact:
Chris McCleary
General Manager, Operations & Marketing
Ontario Hockey Association
