ATHLETE LEGEND
Aitken, George
1931 – 2015
SPORT | Hockey
POSITION | Forward
YEAR OF INDUCTION | 2002
George was born in Toronto, played minor hockey there before moving up to Junior. After junior he played 13 years of Senior “A”, winning team and individual honours. During his playing days, George took up permanent residence in Chatham, and is now retired from the Chatham Hydro.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
1947 – 1948
Played Jr. “B” for Toronto Marlboros under coach Buck Houle
1948 – 1950
Played Jr. “A” for Toronto Marlboros with George Armstrong, Danny Lewicki, and John MacKenzie under coaches Syl Apps and Bob Davidson
1950 – 51
Played Jr. “A” for Stratford Kroehler’s under coach Norman “Pinky” Lewis and was voted Most Valuable Player
1951 – 1956
Played Sr. “A” with Stratford Indians – in 1951 – 1952 scored 62 goals including 7 “hat tricks” – team was O.H.A. and Eastern Canada Champions before losing to Fort Frances in the Allen Cup Finals – in 1954-55 were O.H.A. finalists under coach Howie Meeker – in 1955 – 1956 were eliminated in playoffs by Chatham Maroons in 7 games
1956 – 1957
After Stratford’s team folded, went to Cornwall and played for 1 year and then moved to Chatham and began playing for the Maroons
1959 – 1960
Was a key member of the Maroons as they won the Allen Cup as Senior Hockey Champions of Canada
1960 – 1961
Toured with the Maroons as they played in Russia and Sweden – after returning to Canada, was picked up, along with Joe Malo and Fred Pletsch, by the Galt Terriers who went on to beat Winnipeg and win the Allen Cup – at end of season, was awarded the new Andy Bellemer Trophy which is given to the player in the O.H.A. senior series chosen by the referees to be the one who “tries his hardest and gives his best at all times”
1961 – 1962
Led the Maroons in scoring and was second in the league with 32 goals and 29 assists, 4 points behind Irwin Gross of Windsor Bulldogs
1963 – 1964
In last year of Sr. “A” scored 3 goals and 1 assist in his last league game to edge Tom Clark for team scoring championship with 26 goals and 40 assists
After George's playing career ended, he coached Jr. Maroons for 11 years, Windsor Spitfires for half a year, and Sr. Maroons in 1980-81.
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