Albert “Babe” Siebert

A great hockey player, with a heart as big as his massive body, was lost August 25, 1939, when Albert C. “Babe” Siebert drowned at St. Joseph, Ontario.

The Babe was born in Plattsville, Ontario, January 14, 1904, and played his minor hockey in Zurich, Ontario. He played for Kitchener in the Ontario Hockey Association junior league in 1922 to 1923. Although still a junior, he moved up to play for Niagara Falls seniors in 1924 to 1925 and made the jump into the National Hockey League the following season with the Montreal Maroons.

Siebert was an outstanding left-winger at that time, and combined with Nels Stewart and Hooley Smith to form the highly-rated S-line which functioned effectively for five seasons. The line was broken with dramatic suddenness in 1932 when Stewart was traded to Boston and Siebert to New York Rangers. Siebert later went to Boston, then returned to Montreal to play for the Canadians in 1936 to 1937. By this time his speed had gone but Babe had developed into an outstanding defenceman. He was so good, in fact, that he was voted the Hart Trophy that season.

He was named to the first all-star team on defence three consecutive seasons, starting with 1935 to 1936.