Although born in North Sydney, NS, on April 13, 1912, Flash Hollett grew-up in Toronto where, like so many kids of his day, he played hockey and lacrosse. He was lucky enough to play lacrosse with Lionel Conacher. Leafs' owner and GM Conn Smythe spotted him in action and said, "If you can play hockey like you play lacrosse, we could use you in the International Hockey League next winter."

Hollett accepted the offer, and his professional sports career was underway.

Hollett eventually made the Leafs for a brief stint and was loaned to the Ottawa Senators for half a season. He then returned to the Leafs for a short time before Conn Smythe sold his rights to the Boston Bruins for $16,000, a move he'd later regret. In1939, the Bruins, and especially Hollett, took pleasure in beating the Leafs to Lord Stanley. In the fifth game of the matchup, he and Milt Schmidt lured Leafs goalie Turk Broda from his net, freeing Hollett to pop home the series winner.

From then on, Hollett became a fixture on the Bruins blueline with his ability to rush the puck and score what was, at the time, a record number of goals for a defenseman.

In 1944, Hollett joined the Detroit Red Wings where he was paired with Earl Siebert. His record-setting 20 goals brought him a first-team All-Star award. But his all-star status was not enough to leverage him beyond a contract dispute with Wings GM Jack Adams. Hollett took the high road, opting to leave the NHL out of respect to his wife's request to stay closer to home in Ontario.

After the big leagues, Hollett played senior hockey with the Kitchener Dutchmen and the Toronto Marlboros where he won the Allan Cup in his final season.

Courtesy of the Hockey Hall of Fame