The
Toronto St. Pats were a professional ice hockey team based in
Toronto,
Ontario, Canada. They were a member of the National Hockey League (
NHL) and played from
1919 to
1927. The team was originally known as the
Toronto Arenas when they joined the
NHL in the league's inaugural season. However, after the
1919-
1920 season, the team was sold to new ownership and rebranded as the
Toronto St. Pats.
The name change to the
Toronto St. Pats was inspired by the green jerseys the team adopted in honor of St. Patrick's Day. Despite the new name and branding, the team continued to face financial difficulties. The struggle to attract consistent fan support led to financial instability, and the team's performance on the ice also suffered. Despite some notable individual talents, the St. Pats struggled to find success as a team during their brief existence.
In
1927, the team was sold to a new ownership group led by Conn Smythe, who would go on to rename the franchise as the
Toronto Maple Leafs. The change in ownership and name marked a new era of success for the franchise, as the
Toronto Maple Leafs went on to become one of the most storied and successful teams in
NHL history. As a result, the
Toronto St. Pats legacy may be short-lived, but they played a significant role in the early history of the
NHL and laid the groundwork for the future success of the Maple Leafs franchise.