The Toronto Maple Leafs side of the iconic 'Hockey Knights In Canada' mural at TTC's College subway station is set to return after being in storage for several years, according to the TTC. The mural, which has been a fixture on the southbound platform since 1985, features pop-art player panels of both the Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens. While the Canadiens panels remained on display, the Leafs panels were removed during construction of a new elevator, leaving Habs fans to enjoy their team's representation alone.
Leafs Panels to Return After Delay
Stuart Green, senior communications specialist with the TTC, confirmed that the Leafs panels will be reinstalled on the southbound platform close to their original location within the next couple of months. The panels depict early 1980s Leafs players including Rick Vaive, Mike Palmateer, Stew Gavin, and Greg Terrion. They had been in storage while elevator construction dragged on, approaching a year past its scheduled completion. The return comes in time for the 2026-27 season, which marks the centennial of the franchise as the Maple Leafs.
Mural's History and Controversy
The mural was created by artist Charles Pachter, a member of the Order of Canada, and was especially meaningful to game-night commuters before Maple Leaf Gardens closed in 1999. Pachter had to battle then-Leafs owner Harold Ballard to realize his vision. When the TTC approved the mural, Ballard was outraged that the Canadiens were included and threatened legal action over copyright infringement. Pachter sidestepped the issue by replacing the lettered Leafs logo with a generic blue crest, while the Canadiens' logo was fully depicted. Pachter later recalled, Ballard said 'how dare I use bloody French players.' All Ballard ended up doing was promoting the work and giving me plenty of free publicity. I was grateful.
City and Team Legacy
While not a Leafs fan or hockey enthusiast, Pachter aimed to honor the long history of Canada's first two NHL teams. Before signing off, then-Toronto Mayor June Rowlands asked Pachter to ensure all Leafs players were shown wearing helmets, as her teenage children were playing hockey at the time. The mural's restoration is a welcome development for commuters and hockey fans alike, restoring the balance between the two historic rivals on the TTC platform.
