Harry Griffiths

A lifelong affiliate of McGill University, ice hockey defenseman Harry Griffiths excelled at several sports at the school, including football, swimming, and diving. In 1932 he was part of the university hockey team that played an exhibition game against the Canadian Olympic squad and defeated them 2-0 at that year’s Winter Games. After graduating at the end of that year, he spent one season with the Philadelphia Comets of the Tri-State Senior Hockey League prior to travelling abroad to play the sport in Switzerland, England, and Belgium. He also skated in many games with the Montreal Royals of the Quebec Senior Hockey League from 1935 through 1938.

After his playing days were over, Griffiths began coaching at the University of Toronto and was eventually appointed director of athletics at McGill in 1955, where he worked until his retirement in February of 1977. During this time his son, Harry Griffiths, Jr., also played hockey for the school. He was inducted into the McGill Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 as an athlete and a builder and the Harry Griffiths Trophy, given annually to the university’s sports club of the year, is named in his honour.