Scotty Davidson

Allan McLean "Scotty" Davidson (March 6, 1891 – June 16, 1915) was a Canadian ice hockey player and soldier. He was considered one of the top wingers of the game's early years. He led his Kingston junior team to two Ontario Hockey Association championships in 1910 and 1911, when he moved to Calgary for the 1911–12 season and led the Calgary Athletics senior team to the Alberta provincial championship. Davidson turned professional with the Toronto Blueshirts in 1912 and was among the National Hockey Association's leading scorers the following two seasons. He captained Toronto to the Stanley Cup championship in 1914.

Upon the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Davidson volunteered with the Canadian Expeditionary Force; he was the first professional hockey player to do so. He was killed in action on 16 June 1915, while fighting in Belgium. Hailed as a hero by his peers, Davidson was said to have been killed after refusing to retreat during a battle. A military record reports he was "killed instantly by a shell which exploded near him in the trench." Born Allan Davidson, he acquired the nickname "Scotty" due to his Scottish Highland heritage. He first played in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) senior division in 1908–09 where, as a 17-year-old, he led the league with eight goals in four games. He joined the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHA junior division in 1909 where he emerged as a top player in the league. and led the Frontenacs to OHA junior titles in 1910 and 1911. He was a standout in the 1911 championship, leading his team back from a 3–0 deficit to win the game.

After leaving the junior game, Davidson moved to Alberta where he played senior hockey for the Calgary Athletics. He scored three goals in four regular season games and added another three goals in three playoff games. The Athletics won the provincial championship, but were defeated by the Winnipeg Victorias for the Allan Cup. While with the Calgary Athletics Davidson played defence (either point or cover point).

He returned to Ontario for the 1912–13 season when he was signed by the Toronto Blueshirts of the National Hockey Association (NHA). and finished his rookie season with 19 goals in 20 games, second on the team behind Frank Nighbor. He started the season on defence (point), the same position he had played the previous season in Calgary, but was soon switched to right wing.

The Blueshirts named him team captain for the 1913–14 season, and he responded by finishing in the top ten in NHA goals with 23 and second in assists with 13. The title represented the first time a team from Toronto won the Stanley Cup.

The Blueshirts then immediately faced the Victoria Aristocrats of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association held in March 1914. It was considered an unofficial challenge for the Stanley Cup as the Aristocrats failed to arrange the series with the Cup's trustees. Upon arrival in Europe the regiment was broken up and Davidson was reassigned to the Eastern Ontario Regiment of the Canadian Infantry, joining his former teammate George Richardson. While on his way to England on the steamer SS Cassandra Davidson showed off his athletic skills by winning the championship in a big boxing tournament held on the boat, defeating David Carson of Kingston, Ontario in the finals.

Davidson earned the respect of his fellow soldiers who wrote of his bravery and fearlessness. He once rescued a wounded officer while fighting in France, and one account of his death asserts that he was shot in the back and killed while attempting to carry an injured soldier to safety. Contemporary reports suggested that had Davidson lived through the attack, he may have been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal or even the Victoria Cross.

Legacy By the time he left hockey to fight in the war, Davidson was considered one of the top all-around players in the NHA. He was 23 years old when he was killed, and his name is commemorated on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France.

Career statistics Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1908–09 Kingston 14th Regiment OHA Sr 4 8 0 8 11 4 4 0 4 6 1909–10 Kingston Frontenacs OHA Jr — — — — — — — — — — 1910–11 Kingston Frontenacs OHA Jr — — — — — — — — — — 1911–12 Calgary Athletics SASHL 4 3 0 3 — 3 3 0 3 6 1912–13 Toronto Blueshirts NHA 20 19 0 19 69 — — — — — 1913–14 Toronto Blueshirts NHA 20 23 13 36 64 4 3 0 3 18 NHA totals 40 42 13 55 133 4 3 0 3 18