1946–47 Toronto Huskies season

The 1946–47 BAA season was the Toronto Huskies' inaugural and sole season of existence. The NBA's first game was played at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto on November 1, 1946. The New York Knickerbockers defeated the Toronto Huskies 68–66 at Maple Leaf Gardens. The teams were part of the Basketball Association of America, the forerunner to the NBA.[1] The Huskies finished last in their division and folded after one season. Throughout the season, the Huskies had four head coaches: Ed Sadowski 3–9, Lew Hayman 0–1, Dick Fitzgerald 2–1, and Red Rolfe 17–27.

1946–47 Toronto Huskies season
Head coachEd Sadowski (3–9)
Lew Hayman (0–1)
Dick Fitzgerald (2–1)
Red Rolfe (17–27)
ArenaMaple Leaf Gardens
Results
Record22–38 (.367)
PlaceDivision: 6th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
RadioCFRB

Roster

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Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
F 10 Fitzgerald, Dick 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1920-11-18 Fordham
F 12 Fucarino, Frank 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1920-07-24 LIU Brooklyn
F/C 16 Hermsen, Kleggie 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1923-03-12 Minnesota
G/F 21 Hurley, Roy 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1922-08-12 Murray State
G 19 Kasid, Ed 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1923-08-13 Vocational HS (MN)
G 14 McCarron, Mike 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1922-03-02 Seton Hall
F 16 Militzok, Nat 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1923-05-03 Cornell
F/C 15 Miller, Harry 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1923-07-28 North Carolina
F/C 22 Mogus, Leo 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1921-04-13 Youngstown State
G 11 Mullens, Bob 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1922-11-01 Fordham
G/F 18 Schulz, Dick 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 192 lb (87 kg) 1917-01-03 Wisconsin
C 20 Siewert, Ralph 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1923-12-31 Dakota Wesleyan
G 23 Wallace, Red 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1918-07-12 Scranton
Head coach

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  •   Injured

Roster

Regular season

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The attendance for the inaugural match was 7,090 with ticket prices ranging from 75 cents to two dollars and fifty cents. On that night, anyone taller than George Nostrand, the tallest Husky at 6'8", was given free admission.[2]

Attendance quickly dwindled and the Toronto Star published an estimate that team owners Eric Cradock (co-owner of the Montreal Alouettes football team) and Harold Shannon lost $100,000 in one season of operations. The managing director of the Huskies was Lew Hayman, who was also the coach and general manager of the Alouettes. Previously, he had been a star basketball player at Syracuse University. Other key figures included team president Charles Watson, co-founders Ben Newman and Salter Hayden and Annis Stukus.

Season standings

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#
Team W L PCT GB
1 x-Washington Capitols 49 11 .817
2 x-Philadelphia Warriors 35 25 .583 14
3 x-New York Knicks 33 27 .550 16
4 Providence Steamrollers 28 32 .467 21
5 Boston Celtics 22 38 .367 27
6 Toronto Huskies 22 38 .367 27

Record vs. opponents

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1946-47 BAA Records
Team BOS CHI CLE DET NYK PHI PIT PRO STL TOR WAS
Boston 0–6 2–4 3–3 4–2 1–5 5–1 1–5 1–5 4–2 1–5
Chicago 6–0 5–1 3–3 3–3 5–1 6–0 3–3 3–4 4–2 1–5
Cleveland 4–2 1–5 4–2 4–2 3–3 4–2 2–4 1–5 6–0 1–5
Detroit 3–3 3–3 2–4 1–5 2–4 3–3 2–4 0–6 3–3 1–5
New York 2–4 3–3 2-4 5–1 2–4 6–0 4–2 4–2 3–3 2–4
Philadelphia 5–1 1–5 3–3 4–2 4–2 5–1 4–2 3–3 5–1 1–5
Pittsburgh 1–5 0–6 2–4 3–3 0–6 1–5 3–3 1–5 3–3 1–5
Providence 5–1 3–3 4–2 4–2 2–4 2–4 3–3 2–4 3–3 0–6
St. Louis 5–1 4–3 5–1 6–0 2–4 3–3 5–1 4–2 2–4 2–4
Toronto 2–4 2–4 0–6 3–3 3–3 1–5 3–3 3–3 4–2 1–5
Washington 5–1 5–1 5–1 5–1 4–2 5–1 5–1 6–0 4–2 5–1

Game log

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Regular season

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# Date Visitor Score Home High points Record
1 November 1, 1946 New York Knickerbockers 68–66 Toronto Huskies Ed Sadowski (18) 0–1
2 November 3, 1946 Toronto Huskies 60–71 Cleveland Rebels George Nostrand (17) 0–2
3 November 8, 1946 Detroit Falcons 71–73 Toronto Huskies Fitzgerald, Sadowski (16) 1–2
4 November 9, 1946 Toronto Huskies 54–64 Chicago Stags Ed Sadowski (15) 1–3
5 November 15, 1946 Providence Steamrollers 68–85 Toronto Huskies Ed Sadowski (30) 2–3
6 November 16, 1946 Toronto Huskies 49–53 Boston Celtics Ed Sadowski (14) 2–4
7 November 18, 1946 Toronto Huskies 48–54 Pittsburgh Ironmen Ed Sadowski (21) 2–5
8 November 19, 1946 Cleveland Rebels 74–72 Toronto Huskies Ed Sadowski (25) 2–6
9 November 22, 1946 Boston Celtics 82–83 Toronto Huskies Dick Fitzgerald (15) 3–6
10 November 23, 1946 Toronto Huskies 50–74 Washington Capitols Mike McCarron (14) 3–7
11 November 26, 1946 Washington Capitols 78–68 Toronto Huskies Ed Sadowski (23) 3–8
12 November 29, 1946 Cleveland Rebels 87–72 Toronto Huskies Ed Sadowski (20) 3–9
13 November 30, 1946 Toronto Huskies 65–79 Providence Steamrollers Mike McCarron (20) 3–10
14 December 5, 1946 Toronto Huskies 65–61 Chicago Stags Charlie Hoefer (14) 4–10
15 December 7, 1946 Toronto Huskies 68–59 Providence Steamrollers Ray Wertis (13) 5–10
16 December 10, 1946 Philadelphia Warriors 85–73 Toronto Huskies Mike McCarron (24) 5–11
17 December 13, 1946 Pittsburgh Ironmen 62–52 Toronto Huskies Mike McCarron (13) 5–12
18 December 15, 1946 Toronto Huskies 50–46 St. Louis Bombers Mike McCarron (14) 6–12
19 December 17, 1946 Toronto Huskies 62–78 Cleveland Rebels Kleggie Hermsen (13) 6–13
20 December 20, 1946 New York Knickerbockers 70–74 Toronto Huskies Kleggie Hermsen (24) 7–13
21 December 27, 1946 Chicago Stags 88–80 Toronto Huskies Leo Mogus (21) 7–14
22 December 29, 1946 Toronto Huskies 52–48 Detroit Falcons Mike McCarron (13) 8–14
23 December 31, 1946 Chicago Stags 76–87 Toronto Huskies Kleggie Hermsen (20) 9–14
24 January 3, 1947 Boston Celtics 58–53 Toronto Huskies Leo Mogus (15) 9–15
25 January 6, 1947 Detroit Falcons 61–76 Toronto Huskies Kleggie Hermsen (23) 10–15
26 January 8, 1947 Toronto Huskies 76–63 New York Knickerbockers Dick Schulz (20) 11–15
27 January 9, 1947 Toronto Huskies 55–74 Philadelphia Warriors Kleggie Hermsen (11) 11–16
28 January 11, 1947 Toronto Huskies 66–81 Washington Capitols Hurley, Nostrand (16) 11–17
29 January 14, 1947 Philadelphia Warriors 104–74 Toronto Huskies Leo Mogus (13) 11–18
30 January 17, 1947 Detroit Falcons 74–64 Toronto Huskies Kleggie Hermsen (14) 11–19
31 January 21, 1947 St. Louis Bombers 71–72 Toronto Huskies Leo Mogus (26) 12–19
32 January 24, 1947 Providence Steamrollers 96–93 Toronto Huskies Red Wallace (23) 12–20
33 January 27, 1947 Cleveland Rebels 88–82 Toronto Huskies Red Wallace (16) 12–21
34 January 28, 1947 Toronto Huskies 70–80 Cleveland Rebels Red Wallace (20) 12–22
35 January 31, 1947 Washington Capitols 74–83 Toronto Huskies Red Wallace (38) 13–22
36 February 2, 1947 Toronto Huskies 75–90 Chicago Stags Mike McCarron (27) 13–23
37 February 5, 1947 Toronto Huskies 58–55 Pittsburgh Ironmen Red Wallace (16) 14–23
38 February 6, 1947 Toronto Huskies 61–79 Philadelphia Warriors Leo Mogus (16) 14–24
39 February 8, 1947 Toronto Huskies 46–69 New York Knickerbockers Leo Mogus (13) 14–25
40 February 14, 1947 Pittsburgh Ironmen 73–84 Toronto Huskies Leo Mogus (27) 15–25
41 February 16, 1947 Toronto Huskies 64–80 St. Louis Bombers Leo Mogus (16) 15–26
42 February 18, 1947 St. Louis Bombers 57–65 Toronto Huskies Red Wallace (16) 16–26
43 February 19, 1947 Toronto Huskies 59–69 Washington Capitols Mike McCarron (13) 16–27
44 February 21, 1947 Boston Celtics 61–67 Toronto Huskies Leo Mogus (21) 17–27
45 February 23, 1947 Toronto Huskies 52–61 Detroit Falcons Red Wallace (15) 17–28
46 February 25, 1947 Providence Steamrollers 60–83 Toronto Huskies Nat Militzok (16) 18–28
47 February 28, 1947 Philadelphia Warriors 69–77 Toronto Huskies Mike McCarron (20) 19–28
48 March 1, 1947 Toronto Huskies 48–63 New York Knickerbockers Leo Mogus (12) 19–29
49 March 3, 1947 Toronto Huskies 66–76 Philadelphia Warriors Red Wallace (21) 19–30
50 March 5, 1947 Toronto Huskies 63–60 Pittsburgh Ironmen Leo Mogus (22) 20–30
51 March 7, 1947 Washington Capitols 86–70 Toronto Huskies Leo Mogus (18) 20–31
52 March 8, 1947 Toronto Huskies 65–67 Boston Celtics Leo Mogus (22) 20–32
53 March 11, 1947 St. Louis Bombers 71–79 Toronto Huskies Leo Mogus (21) 21–32
54 March 12, 1947 Toronto Huskies 57–69 Boston Celtics Leo Mogus (21) 21–33
55 March 13, 1947 Toronto Huskies 64–71 Providence Steamrollers Nat Militzok (16) 21–34
56 March 18, 1947 Pittsburgh Ironmen 70–64 Toronto Huskies Nat Militzok (14) 21–35
57 March 21, 1947 Chicago Stags 99–83 Toronto Huskies Mike McCarron (29) 21–36
58 March 23, 1947 Toronto Huskies 40–60 St. Louis Bombers Mike McCarron (14) 21–37
59 March 28, 1947 New York Knickerbockers 61–71 Toronto Huskies Mike McCarron (22) 22–37
60 March 29, 1947 Toronto Huskies 63–66 Detroit Falcons Mike McCarron (18) 22–38

[3]

Player stats

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Note: GP= Games played; FG= Field Goals; FT= Free Throws; FTA = Free Throws Attempted; AST = Assists; PTS = Points

Player GP FG FT FTA AST PTS
Mike McCarron 60 236 177 288 59 649
Leo Mogus 41 186 172 237 56 544
Red Wallace 37 170 85 148 38 425
Dick Fitzgerald 60 118 41 60 40 277
Kleggie Hermsen 21 95 64 97 15 254
Dick Schulz 41 87 74 107 39 248
Roy Hurley 46 100 39 64 34 239
Bob Mullens 28 98 42 68 36 238
Ed Sadowski 10 73 45 66 8 191
Harry Miller 53 58 36 82 42 152
Charlie Hoefer 23 54 32 46 9 140
Frank Fucarino 28 53 34 60 7 140
Bob Fitzgerald 31 47 45 70 26 139
George Nostrand 13 46 24 61 10 116
Nat Militzok 21 38 24 39 14 100
Ray Wertis 18 38 23 37 18 99
Ralph Siewert 14 5 6 10 4 16
Ed Kasid 8 6 0 6 6 12
Gino Sovran 6 5 1 2 1 11
Hank Biasatti 6 2 2 4 0 6

[4]

Playoffs

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  • The Huskies did not qualify for the postseason.

Transactions

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Trades

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December 4, 1946
To Toronto Huskies
Kleggie Hermsen[5]
To Cleveland Rebels
George Nostrand
December 16, 1946
To Toronto Huskies
Leo Mogus[5]
Dick Schulz
Cash
To Cleveland Rebels
Ed Sadowski
Ray Wertis
January 2, 1947
To Toronto Huskies
Red Wallace[5]
To Boston Celtics
Charlie Hoefer
January 21, 1947
To Toronto Huskies
Bob Mullens[5]
To New York Knicks
Bob Fitzgerald

Purchases

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Player Date bought Previous team
Nat Militzok[6] February, 1947 New York Knicks

References

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  1. ^ NBA.com History of Basketball in Canada
  2. ^ Prince George Citizen - Canada's Sovran remembers a different pro basketball league than today's NBA[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ 1946–47 Toronto Huskies Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  4. ^ "1946-47 Toronto Huskies Roster and Stats".
  5. ^ a b c d "1946-47 Toronto Huskies Transactions". Basketball Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  6. ^ "Nat Militzok Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
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