Lieutenant Francis Clarence McGee
PERSONAL INFORMATION
MILITARY INFORMATION
Lieutenant, 21st Battalion, Infantry (Army).
RESEARCH INFORMATION
Son of John Joseph and Elizabeth McGee, of 183, Wilbrod St., Ottawa, Ontario, nephew of the assassinated Canadian politician, Thomas D'Arcy McGee. Won the Stanley Cup 3 times (1903, 1904, 1905) with Ottawa. Frank Patrick described him as a player: "He was even better than they say he was. He had everything - speed, stickhandling, scoring ability and was a punishing checker. He was strongly built but beautifully proportioned and he had an almost animal rhythm." In his 4 years with Ottawa, he played 23 regular season games scoring 71 goals, and 22 playoff games where he scored 63 times. McGee died serving his country at Courcelette, France, during World War I. One of hockey's greatest scorers, he was among the first group of players elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1945.
In 1900, McGee had lost an eye playing hockey, a disability that should have prohibited him from enlisting. In 1915, with the 21st Battalion he was wounded in the knee, which should have ended his military career. He continued as a Motorcycle dispatch rider until he was killed at Courcelette.