Captain My Life and Career

The incredible story of the life and phenomenal career of one of the greatest players ever to wear a Maple Leafs uniform, told through stories and never-before-seen photographs.


Darryl Sittler may well be best remembered for two of the most remarkable performances in the history of the National Hockey League. On February 7, 1976, he scored six goals and added four assists for an NHL record total of ten points in a game. That spring, he joined Maurice Richard in hockey history by recording five goals in one playoff game. He also scored one of the most famous goals in hockey history, the overtime goal against Czechoslovakia to win the 1976 Canada Cup.
     Now, #27 looks back at his incredible career and greatest moments on and off the ice. He writes about growing up in St. Jacobs, Ontario, his days in junior hockey with the London Knights, and his rookie year in 1970-71. Also included are his personal reflections on some of his greatest teammates (Lanny McDonald, Borje Salming, Ian Turnbull, and Mike Palmateer, to name a few) and his encounters with his greatest rivals (Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, Bobby Hull, Brian Trottier, Bobby Clarke, Guy Lafleur, Ken Dryden, and Larry Robinson). He recounts his childhood hockey heroes (waiting in the cold outside an arena in Kitchener for Bobby Hull's autograph), his years playing for Philadelphia and Detroit, his induction into the Hall of Fame, and deep devotion to his family. Full of great anecdotes from his personal and professional life, this is an inspiring, revealing book by a revered leader and legend in hockey history.

DARRYL SITTLER is one of the greatest players to ever wear the Toronto Maple Leaf uniform. The former centreman was Toronto's first choice in the 1970 Amateur Draft, and he embarked on a career that led him to the top of the Leafs All-Time Points and Goal Scoring List. Darryl's place among the NHL's all-time greats came in 1989 with his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. In 1995-96, Darryl was voted by fans as the centreman on the All-Time Leafs Team, and on February 8, 2003, Toronto honoured Sittler's #27.
     MIKE LEONETTI is the author and editor of more than forty books on hockey for children and adults, including 100 Things Every Maple Leafs Fan Should Know. He lives in Woodbridge, Ontario. The author lives in Toronto.