On This Date in Sports October 29, 1939: Babe Siebert Memroial Game
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
The NHL organizes a benefit game for Babe Siebert, a member of the Montreal Canadiens, who died during the off-season. The game is played at the Montreal Forum with the Canadiens playing an All-Star team from the remaining six teams. Despite a disappointing crowd of 6,000, the league reaches its fund-raising goals of $15,000 as the All-Stars defeat the Canadiens 5-2.
Charles Albert “Babe” Siebert was born on January 14, 1904, in Plattsville, Ontario. A physical player known as much for his fighting played both left-wing and defense in his career. Siebert made his professional debut with the Montreal Maroons in 1925. That season the Maroons would win the Stanley Cup. Babe Siebert won a second Stanley Cup as part of the New York Rangers in 1933. After playing with the Boston Bruins for parts of three seasons, Babe Siebert ended with the Montreal Canadiens in 1936. That first season with the Habs would be the finest of Siebert’s career as he won the Hart Trophy, given to the NHL’s MVP.
After struggling with injuries in 1939, Babe Siebert announced his retirement and had planned to become the new head coach of the Montreal Canadiens. In his final three seasons, Siebert served as captain of the Canadiens. He would finish his career with 140 goals and 156 assists while collecting 982 penalty minutes.
In the summer of 1939, Babe Siebert was vacationing with his family at Lake Huron. On August 25th, Siebert was trying to retrieve an inflatable tire that his daughters were playing within the lake. Unable to get to the tire, Babe Siebert downed with his family watching on. When the news hit, the NHL community players across the league were shocked. Looking to raise money help his family out, the NHL players decided to play an All-Star Game in Babe Siebert’s memory before the start of the regular season.
The crowd for the Babe Sibert Memorial Game was somewhat disappointing as just 6,000 fans came out to the Montreal Forum to see the Canadiens take on a team of All-Stars from the NHL’s other six teams. The game was the NHL’s third benefit game that was unofficial All-Star Game. The league was able to raise $15,000 for Babe Siebert’s family. The NHL All-Stars would beat the Canadiens that day 5-2, as Syl Apps of the Toronto Maple Leafs was the star of the game with a goal and two assists.