Meet A Habs Fan – A Veteran’s Love For The Game

Next up in our “Meet A Habs Fan” series, we meet a veteran who proudly served his country for nearly three decades, all the while cheering for the Habs and more specifically, the Big M. Meet Phil Turnbull.

For this article we narrate the notes that Phil left us. There’s no doubt that he’s a Habs fan through and through, but it really is his love for Frank Mahovlich that got him to become a hockey fan first and foremost.

Phil was born in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, which is off the beautiful island of Cape Breton. He currently lives a peaceful retired life in Halifax.

In the 1960’s Phil would fall in love with the game of hockey and idolize Frank Mahovlich, also known as The Big M. Mahovlich would terrorize the league for a decade with the Toronto Maple Leafs, winning four Stanley Cups in the process. So at first, Phil was a Leafs fan.

Frank Mahovlich: Highs & Lows of a Hall of Fame Career — That allegiance would quickly change on March 3rd, 1968 when Mahovlich was traded to the Detroit Red Wings along with Carl Brewer, Pete Stemkowski and Gary Unger. In return the Leafs received Doug Barrie, Paul Henderson, Floyd Smith and Norm Ullman.

Mahovlich would amp up his production scoring a career high 49 goals during the 68-69 season. He would score another 38 the following season. During that time, Phil would become a Red Wings fan.

Virgil's Blog: Toronto Maple Leafs x Frank Mahovlich [1967 - 1970]

Then it all changed once again on January 13th, 1971. For the second time in three years The Big M was changing address. This time he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens for Guy Charron, Bill Collins and Mickey Redmond.

That was it for Phil. He saw his idol lift two more Stanley Cups as well as seeing him play in the Summit Series and his love affair for the Montreal Canadiens blossomed tenfold. Even when Mahovlich left for the WHA, Phil remained a loyal Habs fan. Black and white TV and all.

Mahovlich, Duff rooting equally for Maple Leafs, Canadiens in playoffs

Phil would miss the 1993 run to the Stanley Cup as he was stationed in Somalia on the HMCS Preserver as an electronics technician. He still cheered hard when he received news that the Canadiens hoisted the Cup for the 24th time.

Upon retiring from the Royal Canadian Navy, Phil received a retirement gift of a lifetime. He would receive tickets as an honored guest to the Hockey Hall of Fame and received a handwritten note as well as an autographed picture from his hockey idol, Frank Mahovlich himself. He admits to having cried when he received that much unexpected yet incredible gift.

For the last 51 years, Phil Turnbull calls the Canadiens his team as he travelled the world serving Canada in any capacity he could. He says he will forever cheer on the Bleu-Blanc-Rouge.

GO HABS GO!

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