Art Duncan

Captain William James Arthur Duncan (July 4, 1891 – April 13, 1975) was a Canadian aviator and a professional ice hockey player, coach, and general manager. In 1926 he served as the first team captain, head coach, and general manager of the Detroit Cougars of the National Hockey League (NHL).

He interrupted his sports career to serve in World War I, and became a fighter ace credited with 11 official aerial victories.

Early life and service

Born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Duncan debuted in professional hockey in the 1915–16 season.

Duncan's October 1, 1916, enlistment papers gave his occupation as accountant. He listed his next of kin as his mother, Mrs. W. A. Duncan. He listed his home address as his mother's place in Toronto. He also claimed to be serving in the 34th Regiment of the militia, which may be the basis for his direct commissioning as an officer.

During the 1916 and 1917 hockey seasons, Duncan continued to play, as his battalion fielded a team in the National Hockey Association both years. His transfer to France cut off his sporting career. and seconded for duty with them. He was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and assigned to 60 Squadron in September 1917 as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a pilot with a roving commission. He would score twice more after that, destroying an LVG on June 3 and busting a German observation balloon on June 5, 1918. He was returned to Home Establishment on June 30, 1918. A summary of his victories included an enemy observation balloon destroyed, an enemy fighter plane captured, seven enemy planes destroyed (including four shared wins), and two enemy airplanes driven down out of control.

An award of a Bar to the Military Cross in lieu of a second award followed on September 16, 1918:

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This officer sighted fifteen enemy scouts attacking eight of ours and immediately joined in, destroying one enemy aeroplane, which fell with a wing off. He then attacked and drove down three other machines, maintaining the fight until the eight had got back to their lines. He has also, with another officer, destroyed an Albatros scout, which he followed down to a height of 200 feet, in spite of heavy machine-gun fire from the ground.

Post World War I On March 31, 1919, Duncan resigned his commission upon ceasing to be employed by the Royal Air Force.

He played eight seasons in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association with the Vancouver Millionaires (1915–16; 1918–22) and Vancouver Maroons (1922–25). He played with the Calgary Tigers of the Western Canada Hockey League for one season (1925–26). He also played with the Detroit Cougars (1926–27) and Toronto Maple Leafs (1927–1932) in the National Hockey League. Duncan served as player-coach with both the Cougars and the Maple Leafs.

Duncan died in 1975 in Aurora, Ontario.

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1913–14 Edmonton Eskimos ASHL 5 2 0 2 16 3 1 0 1 3 1914–15 Edmonton Albertas ASHL 3 1 0 1 11 — — — — — 1915–16 Vancouver Millionaires PCHA 17 7 4 11 25 — — — — — 1916–17 Toronto 228th Battalion NHA 6 3 1 4 6 — — — — — 1918–19 Vancouver Millionaires PCHA 17 2 1 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 1919–20 Vancouver Millionaires PCHA 22 5 9 14 3 2 0 0 0 0 1920–21 Vancouver Millionaires PCHA 24 3 5 8 6 2 0 3 3 0 1920–21 Vancouver Millionaires St-Cup — — — — — 5 2 1 3 3 1921–22 Vancouver Millionaires PCHA 24 5 9 14 25 2 0 0 0 0 1921–22 Vancouver Millionaires West-P — — — — — 2 3 0 3 0 1921–22 Vancouver Millionaires St-Cup — — — — — 5 0 1 1 9 1922–23 Vancouver Maroons PCHA 25 15 6 21 8 2 1 0 1 0 1922–23 Vancouver Maroons St-Cup — — — — — 4 2 2 4 0 1923–24 Vancouver Maroons PCHA 30 21 10 31 44 2 0 1 1 4 1923–24 Vancouver Maroons West-P — — — — — 3 1 1 2 2 1924–24 Vancouver Maroons St-Cup — — — — — 2 0 0 0 6 1924–25 Vancouver Maroons WCHL 26 5 5 10 28 — — — — — 1925–26 Calgary Tigers WHL 29 9 4 13 30 — — — — — 1926–27 Detroit Cougars NHL 34 3 2 5 26 — — — — — 1927–28 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 43 7 5 12 97 — — — — — 1928–29 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 39 4 4 8 53 4 0 0 0 4 1929–30 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 38 4 5 9 49 — — — — — 1930–31 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 PCHA totals 159 58 44 102 111 12 1 4 5 4 St-Cup totals — — — — — 16 4 4 8 18 WCHL/WHL totals 55 14 9 23 58 — — — — — NHL totals 156 18 16 34 225 5 0 0 0 4