He wasn’t part of either team’s coaching or front office staff, but it could be argued Murray Chaplin was one of the more recognizable faces at old Memorial Stadium and Mile One Centre during the 14 years of the American Hockey League in St. John’s.
Chaplin was president of the St. John’s Maple Leafs Booster Club for 10 years, chair of the Maple Leafs Foundation for five years and a Foundation board member prior to that, and later was also a board member of the St. John’s IceCaps Foundation.
Chaplin, with many others, could be seen and heard selling 50/50 tickets with a team of volunteers prior to each game.
His work continued the past couple of years in a similar role with the ECHL’s Newfoundland Growlers.
Chaplin passed away Saturday evening/Sunday morning at age 83.
Through the AHL 50/50 sales, substantial funds were raised, leading to hundreds of charities receiving donations.
“Murray could take credit for literally helping raise millions of dollars for charity,” said long-time Maple Leafs and IceCaps president Glenn Stanford.
Chaplin was also an athlete in his native St. John’s, playing senior hockey and senior baseball with his beloved Guards back in the 1950s and 60s.
He won a number of Boyle Trophy St. John’s senior hockey championships with the Guards, including with teams that were coached by Howie Meeker.
Chaplin also had his hand in coaching baseball and hockey with the Blue and White.
“There was no better Guardsman,” said fellow Guards Athletic Association mainstay Dan Puddester.
