Hall of Fame
John Porter’s 1925 Torontonensis entry reads in part, “Golf, hockey, rugby and feminine circles are well-acquainted with “Red.”’
“Red” Porter was the hockey star who made the cheer “Come on, Red” famous in the mid-1920s. Captain of the legendary Canadian hockey team, the Varsity Grads, gold medallists at the 1928 St. Moritz Olympics, John learned all he knew about hockey from University of Toronto Schools and U of T itself. John, who was also called Jack, was on Junior OHA and intercollegiate teams from 1921 to 1926, and then on alumni teams from 1926 to1928. These alumni teams were OHA and Allan Cup champions, as well as winning Olympic gold. He coached the Blues for three seasons (1928-31), winning the intercollegiate and OHA titles in 1928-29. John was one of the first players to try out the new Varsity Arena, built in 1926.
Although best known for his prowess on the ice – he had been described as a “whirlwind rusher” with “cyclonic dashes” – John also played interfaculty rugby for University College and Varsity golf. While John was on the golf team, they won two consecutive intercollegiate championships, starting in 1924.
