Jim Pappin

James Joseph Pappin (September 10, 1939 – June 29, 2022) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who was a right winger for 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Black Hawks, and the California Golden Seals/Cleveland Barons from 1963 to 1977. After retiring he worked as a scout for the Black Hawks, St. Louis Blues, and Anaheim Ducks, and briefly served as head coach of the Milwaukee Admirals.

Pappin was signed by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1960 and played for its Rochester Americans affiliate throughout his eight seasons with the franchise. He was part of Rochester's Calder Cup-winning sides in 1965, 1966, and 1968, and won the Stanley Cup with the Leafs in 1964 and 1967, scoring the Cup-winning goal in the latter championship series, which is currently the last Cup won by the team in franchise history. After being traded to the Black Hawks, he had the best statistical season of his career in 1972–73 and reached two more Stanley Cup Final series in 1971 and 1973. He later played for the Golden Seals/Barons before retiring in 1976.

Early life Pappin was born in Copper Cliff in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, on September 10, 1939. Pappin began his junior career by playing two seasons for the Toronto Marlboros of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) from 1958 to 1960. He then joined the Sudbury Wolves in the middle of the 1959–60 season. He played on its Calder Cup-winning teams in 1965, 1966, and 1968. He scored the most goals during the 1965 and 1966 playoffs, He made his NHL debut for the franchise on November 23, 1963, against the Boston Bruins at Maple Leaf Gardens. He continued to go back and forth between the Leafs and its Rochester affiliate throughout his tenure with the franchise. He won his first Stanley Cup in 1964, He was recalled to Toronto after six games, around the time when Imlach temporarily stepped aside due to illness and King Clancy became interim coach. He went on to win his second Stanley Cup championship that same season, scoring the series-winning goal in game six. He ultimately scored the most goals (7) and points (15), and recorded the highest shooting percentage (15.9) of any player in that series. – aggrieved Pappin and spurred him to give his 1967 championship ring to his father-in-law.

Chicago Black Hawks (1968–1975) Pappin made a strong start with the Black Hawks, scoring six goals in his first three games and accumulating 19 goals by Christmas. He also recorded his first hat-trick in the NHL, During his first season with the franchise, he finished fourth in the NHL in game-winning goals (7) and fifth in shooting percentage (17.7). Pappin later set a franchise record by scoring two goals within six seconds against the Philadelphia Flyers on February 16, 1972.

In the 1972–73 season – arguably Pappin's best season as a professional – he recorded career-highs in goals (41), assists (51), and points (92). Pappin proceeded to lead the NHL in games played with 78 the following season, and was again selected to the All-Star Game that year.

Later years Pappin was traded to the California Golden Seals on June 1, 1975, in exchange for Joey Johnston. He played his final two seasons for the franchise, which relocated to Cleveland to become the Cleveland Barons in 1976. Three days later, he notified general manager Bill McCreary Sr. of his retirement.

Post-playing career After retiring from professional hockey, Pappin worked as a scout for the Black Hawks. He continued in that capacity until the middle of the 1984–85 season, when he was hired as a replacement head coach for the Milwaukee Admirals of the International Hockey League . During his tenure, the team posted a record of 12 wins and 14 losses. He subsequently returned to the Black Hawks as its director of U.S. scouting. He later scouted for the St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks.

Aside from hockey, Pappin had a keen interest in harness racing and owned several standardbred horses. He also ran a tennis facility in his hometown of Sudbury.

Personal life During the NHL offseason, Pappin operated a hockey school that also functioned as a horse-riding camp. Together, they had three children: Arne, Merrill, and Mary. They eventually divorced in 1982.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1958–59 Toronto Marlboros OHA 54 17 18 35 86 5 2 3 5 4 1959–60 Toronto Marlboros OHA 48 40 34 74 126 4 3 0 3 20 1959–60 Sudbury Wolves EPHL 4 1 0 1 4 3 0 1 1 0 1960–61 Sudbury Wolves EPHL 46 17 20 37 74 — — — — — 1960–61 Rochester Americans AHL 22 7 4 11 4 — — — — — 1961–62 Rochester Americans AHL 69 28 21 49 105 2 1 0 1 2 1962–63 Rochester Americans AHL 72 34 23 57 100 2 1 2 3 2 1963–64 Rochester Americans AHL 16 10 6 16 16 — — — — — 1963–64 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 50 11 8 19 33 11 0 0 0 0 1964–65 Rochester Americans AHL 22 14 11 25 36 10 11 5 16 32 1964–65 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 44 9 9 18 33 — — — — — 1965–66 Rochester Americans AHL 63 36 51 87 116 12 8 3 11 13 1965–66 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 7 0 3 3 8 — — — — — 1966–67 Rochester Americans AHL 6 4 3 7 4 — — — — — 1966–67 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 64 21 11 32 89 12 7 8 15 12 1967–68 Rochester Americans AHL 5 1 5 6 16 11 2 6 8 32 1967–68 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 58 13 15 28 37 — — — — — 1968–69 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 75 30 40 70 49 — — — — — 1969–70 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 66 28 25 53 68 8 3 2 5 6 1970–71 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 58 22 23 45 40 18 10 4 14 24 1971–72 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 64 27 21 48 38 8 2 5 7 4 1972–73 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 76 41 51 92 82 16 8 7 15 24 1973–74 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 78 32 41 73 76 11 3 6 9 29 1974–75 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 71 36 27 63 94 8 0 2 2 2 1975–76 California Golden Seals NHL 32 6 13 19 12 — — — — — 1976–77 Cleveland Barons NHL 24 2 8 10 12 — — — — — NHL totals 767 278 295 573 667 92 33 34 67 101 Sources: