Greg Hotham

Hockey

March 7, 1956 –

Born on March 7, 1956, in London, Ontario, Greg Hotham moved with his family to Aurora at a young age, where his remarkable journey in hockey truly began. During his late teenage years, he attended St. Andrew’s College, where he played for two seasons with the Saints, developing into a dynamic, offensively gifted defenseman. His skill caught the eye of scouts, leading to his OHL draft by the Toronto Marlboros. He was then traded to the Kingston Canadians, where he put up 57 points in 80 games over nearly two seasons.

In 1976, Greg launched his professional career after being drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs 84th overall earlier in the year. He began with their IHL affiliate, the Saginaw Gears, where he made an immediate impact by helping the team win the Turner Cup in his rookie year. A strong second season earned him a spot with the Leafs’ AHL affiliate, the Moncton Hawks, under coach Eddie Johnston.

From 1979 to 1982, Greg was called up several times to play with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Midway through the 1982 season, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Greg found his stride in Pittsburgh, enjoying his most productive NHL seasons with the franchise. He closed out his professional playing days close to home when the Maple Leafs relocated their AHL affiliate to Newmarket. Greg played four seasons with the Newmarket Saints before retiring at the end of the 1989–90 season. His passion for hockey continued as he coached his sons, Scott and Andrew, both of whom went on to play professionally in Europe.

Over his NHL career, Greg played 230 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins between 1979 and 1985, recording 89 points—an impressive achievement for a defenseman of his era.

In the 1980s, Greg and his family settled in Barrie, where his involvement in the game remained strong, serving as Chairman of the Barrie AAA Zone as well as a Head Coach for five years. He has also served as President of the Barrie Country Club. Today, Greg remains connected to the Maple Leafs as President and Board Member of the Toronto Maple Leafs Alumni Association.