Frank Heffernan

James Francis Heffernan (January 12, 1892 – December 21, 1938) was a Canadian hockey defenceman and coach. He played several years of senior hockey for amateur clubs before spending part of the 1919–20 season with the Toronto St. Patricks of the National Hockey League. He served as player-coach for part of the season before retiring from playing.

Frank Heffernan
Born (1892-01-12)January 12, 1892
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Died December 21, 1938(1938-12-21) (aged 46)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 209 lb (95 kg; 14 st 13 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Toronto St. Patricks
Playing career 19121920

Playing career

From Peterborough, Ontario, Heffernan played junior hockey in his home town and then played at the senior level in Toronto with the Toronto Rugby and Athletic Association (TR&AA) club (1912 to 1914) and the Toronto Victorias (1914–15). He played in the United States Amateur Hockey Association from 1915 to 1918 with the New York Crescents and New York Wanderers, before returning to Canada and joining the senior amateur Toronto St. Patricks in the Ontario Hockey Association.

In December 1919, a group affiliated with the St. Pats took over the Toronto franchise in the National Hockey League, renaming the team the Toronto St. Patricks with Heffernan as player-coach and co-owner. The NHL credits Heffernan with coaching 12 games, with five wins and seven losses. He was replaced as coach during the season by Harvey Sproule, and sold his stake in the team in December 1920. The club would become the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1927. Heffernan was said to be joining the rival Canadian Hockey League, but it never got off the ground.

Heffernan was also a competitive football player with the TR&AA club, winning the Ontario Rugby Football Union senior championship. He died in 1938 in a New York City hotel room and is buried in St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery in his native Peterborough, Ontario.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1910–11 Peterborough Juniors OHA Jr
1911–12 Ottawa College OCHL
1912–13 Toronto R&AA OHA Sr 62020 4202
1913–14 Toronto R&AA OHA Sr 6404 2000
1914–15 Toronto Victorias OHA Sr 6505 4000
1915–16 New York Crescents USAHA 8707
1916–17 Springhill Miners NSAPC 2606
1916–17 New York Crescents USAHA 2101 6202
1917–18 New York Wanderers USAHA 4101
1918–19 Toronto St. Patricks OHA Sr 9639 1101
1919–20 Toronto St. Patricks NHL 1901110
NHL totals 1901110

Coaching record

TeamYearRegular SeasonPost Season
GWLTOTLPtsFinishResult
Toronto St. Patricks 1919–20 1257010 3rd in NHL (resigned)
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Preceded by
Dick Carroll
Head coach of the Toronto St. Patricks
1919-20
Succeeded by
Harvey Sproule
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