# Hugh Plaxton

Hugh John Plaxton (May 16, 1904 – December 1, 1982) was a Canadian ice hockey player and politician. During his hockey career, he competed in the 1928 Winter Olympics, winning a gold medal with Canada, and later played 17 games in the National Hockey League with the Montreal Maroons during the 1932–33 season. In his political career, he served in the House of Commons of Canada from 1935 to 1940, representing Trinity as a member of the Liberal Party.

## Playing career

In 1928 he was a member of the University of Toronto Grads, the Canadian team which won the gold medal with his brother Herbert and cousin Roger. He also played NHL hockey for the Montreal Maroons in the 1932–33 season.

## Political career

After retiring from hockey, Plaxton qualified as a lawyer and entered politics. He was elected to parliament in the 1935 federal election as a Liberal MP from the Toronto riding of Trinity defeating Minister of Justice and former Toronto mayor George Reginald Geary. He lost the Liberal Party nomination in 1940 federal election to former Ontario Attorney-General Arthur Roebuck but attempted to return to Parliament in the 1945 federal election running in the riding of Kingston City where he was defeated by Conservative Thomas Kidd.
In January 1937, Plaxton introduced a resolution in the House of Commons of Canada to propose establishment of a Canadian ministry for sport. He stated it had potential to take over administration of sports and eliminate "disputes over authority and jurisdiction". Amateur Athletic Union of Canada (AAU of C) president Jack Hamilton felt that a ministry might be beneficial, and that sport could be promoted with the help of the department of health and reach more areas of Canada. He wanted more discussion on what would happen to sports organizations if the government took control of or organized sports, but stated that the AAU of C would cooperate.
Plaxton was one of two former hockey players to have been elected a Member of Parliament for Trinity, the other being Lionel Conacher who was elected as a Liberal MP for the riding in 1949 and 1953.

## Personal life

Plaxton lived in Mississauga's Port Credit area by 1948.

## Career statistics
### Regular season and playoffs

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1921–22 | University of Toronto | CIAUC | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1922–23 | University of Toronto | CIAUC | 6 | 11 | 3 | 14 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1923–24 | University of Toronto | CIAUC | 8 | 18 | 3 | 21 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 1923–24 | University of Toronto | M-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 1924–25 | University of Toronto | CIAUC | 8 | 4 | 2 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1924–25 | University of Toronto | Al-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 5 | 2 | 7 | — |
| 1925–26 | University of Toronto | CIAUC | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1926–27 | University of Toronto Grads | OHA Sr | 9 | 31 | 7 | 38 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1926–27 | University of Toronto | Al-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 21 | 5 | 26 | 22 |
| 1927–28 | University of Toronto Grads | Exhib | 12 | 20 | 10 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1932–33 | Windsor Bulldogs | IHL | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1932–33 | Vancouver Maroons | WCHL | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1932–33 | Montreal Maroons | NHL | 17 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 17 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |

### International

| Year | Team | Event | | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1928 | Canada | OLY | | 3 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Senior totals | Senior totals | Senior totals | Senior totals | 3 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0 |