Darryl Sittler's Dream Comes True

Darryl Sittler’s Dream Comes True

Darryl Glen Sittler is one of the greatest players to ever wear the Toronto Maple Leaf uniform. He was a centreman and was Toronto’s first pick in the 1970 amateur draft. His career was so great that his name was put at the top of the Leafs’ all-time points and goal scoring list. He was even great enough that on February 8, 2003 at the Air Canada Centre he was honoured with his name and number being put on a banner and being raised into the rafters. They retired number 27. He was the 12th person to have a banner rise into the rafters.

This St. Jacobs native was born on September 18, 1950 which makes him 55 years old. He was one of eight children in the Sittler family. His dream as a boy was to play in the NHL. His favourite hockey team was the Montreal Canadians and his favourite player was Jean Beliveau whom he ended up playing against in his rookie NHL season. In the junior league he played for the London Knights and was then picked first by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1970 draft. He played 15 NHL seasons from 1970 to 1985.

When Dave Keon moved to the WHA the 24-year-old Sittler took over as the captain becoming the second youngest captain in Leafs history.

Sittler had an amazing year in 1975-76. On February 7, 1976 he made NHL history and set a record which still has never been beat which is 10 points in a game. He scored 6 goals and got 4 assists. It was at the Maple Leaf Gardens against the Boston Bruins, Toronto came out with a score of 11-4. Even Wayne Gretzky could not get close to that. Hopefully this will always be his record. Sittler was the big story and of course the first star. That big night helped Sittler become the first Leaf to reach the 100-point mark in scoring in one season.

Almost 3 months later on April 22, 1976 Sittler tied a NHL record that still stands today. 5 goals in a