Toronto Maple Leafs: “The Kid Line”

Uniting the Kid Line — A Pilgrimage Through Hockey History

On a walk last year through three of the Greater Toronto Area’s most historic cemeteries — Mount Pleasant Cemeteryin Toronto, Assumption Catholic Cemetery in Mississauga, and Park Lawn Cemetery in Toronto — I undertook an unexpected and deeply meaningful journey: I united, in memory, one of the greatest lines in Toronto Maple Leafs history — the legendary Kid Line.

Charlie “The Big Bomber” Conacher, born in Toronto, was the powerhouse right winger of the trio. Standing 6 feet 1 inch — considered towering for his time — Conacher had a blistering shot and dominated the NHL’s scoring charts, leading the league in goals five times and in points twice. His dominance earned him comparisons to Babe Ruth, and his athletic family lineage included his brother Lionel Conacher, voted Canada’s greatest athlete of the first half of the 20th century.

Joseph Francis “Gentleman Joe” Primeau was born in Lindsay, Ontario — the same hometown as future Leaf great Ron Ellis. As the centreman for the Kid Line, Primeau provided calm, intelligent playmaking, becoming the anchor and setup man for his dynamic wingers. His unselfish, steady approach gave balance to the line’s explosive offense.

Joe Primeau was a successful businessman after his hockey career. 

Harvey “Busher” Jackson, a Toronto native, completed the trio on left wing. A brilliant scorer in his own right, Busher led the NHL in points during the 1931-32 season and, at just 18, was the youngest player in the league when the line was first formed.

The Kid Line was assembled in 1929 by Leafs manager Conn Smythe, and it was truly a “made-in-heaven” combination. At the time, Primeau was the oldest at 23, while Conacher and Jackson were still teenagers. Their chemistry was instant and electric. Together, they won the Stanley Cup in 1932, and over the next six years, led the Leafs to four more Stanley Cup Finals. They were simply dominant, redefining offensive play during a golden era for hockey.

Despite their immense success on the ice, their lives off the ice took different paths. Busher Jackson, in particular, struggled with personal challenges. Still, history rightly remembers their brilliance together — and all three were eventually inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame:

• Conacher in 1961

• Primeau in 1963

• Jackson in 1971

Visiting their graves across these three cemeteries was more than a walk — it was a moment of connection to a chapter in Toronto’s hockey history.

Charlie Conacher Sr. died in Toronto on December 30, 1967. He was 58.

Joe Primeau died in Toronto on May 14, 1989. He was 83.

Busher Jackson died in Toronto on June 26, 1966. He was 55.