Art Duncan Captain William James Arthur Duncan ( July 4 , 1891 in Sault Ste . Marie , Ontario – April 13 , 1975 in Aurora , Ontario ) was a Canadian aviator and a professional ice hockey player , coach , and general manager . In 1926 he served as the first team captain , head coach , and general manager of the Detroit Cougars of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . He interrupted his sports career to serve in World War I , and became a fighter ace credited with 11 official aerial victories . Early life and service . Duncan debuted in professional hockey in the 1915 – 16 season . Duncan ' s October 1 , 1916 enlistment papers gave his birth date as July 4 , 1891 , and his birthplace as Sault Sainte Marie , Ontario , Canada . He was an accountant . He listed his next of kin as his mother , Mrs . W . A . Duncan . He listed his home address as his mother ' s place in Toronto . He also claimed to be serving in the 34th Regiment of the militia , which may be the basis for his direct commissioning as an officer . During the 1916 and 1917 hockey seasons , Duncan continued to play , as his battalion fielded a team in the National Hockey Association both years . His transfer to France cut off his sporting career . World War I . Duncan first served with the 228th Battalion CEF in France as a lieutenant . On August 1 , 1917 , Lieutenant W . J . A . Duncan of the Canadian Railway Troops was appointed a Flying Officer in the Royal Flying Corps and seconded for duty with them . He was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and assigned to 60 Squadron in September 1917 as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE . 5 a pilot with a roving commission . Duncan scored his first aerial victory on November 6 , 1917 , when he destroyed a German DFW reconnaissance plane northeast of Polygon Wood . He began to accumulate wins . On the day the RFC was consolidated into the Royal Air Force , April 1 , 1918 , he shared his seventh victory with American ace John Griffith . On May 17 , 1918 , he raised his tally to nine . The next day , he was promoted to temporary captain . He would score twice more after that , destroying an LVG on June 3 and busting a German observation balloon on June 5 , 1918 . He was returned to Home Establishment on June 30 , 1918 . A summary of his victories included an enemy observation balloon destroyed , an enemy fighter plane captured , seven enemy planes destroyed ( including four shared wins ) , and two enemy airplanes driven down out of control . His combat exploits won him the award of the Military Cross , gazetted on July 26 , 1918 : " For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty . On one occasion he attacked and shot down an enemy plane which had been engaged at firing on our infantry . He then led his patrol over the enemy ' s lines , dived down to an altitude of 100 feet , and attacked large numbers of hostile infantry with machinegun fire , causing the utmost panic amongst them and inflicting heavy casualties . His continuous gallantry and initiative have been most conspicuous . " An award of a Bar to the Military Cross in lieu of a second award followed on September 16 , 1918 : " For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty . This officer sighted fifteen enemy scouts attacking eight of ours and immediately joined in , destroying one enemy aeroplane , which fell with a wing off . He then attacked and drove down three other machines , maintaining the fight until the eight had got back to their lines . He has also , with another officer , destroyed an Albatros scout , which he followed down to a height of 200 feet , in spite of heavy machine - gun fire from the ground . " Post World War I . On March 31 , 1919 , Duncan resigned his commission upon ceasing to be employed by the Royal Air Force . He played eight seasons in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association with the Vancouver Millionaires ( 1915 – 16 ; 1918 – 19 – 1921 – 22 ) and Vancouver Maroons ( 1922 – 23 – 1924 – 25 ) . He played with the Calgary Tigers of the Western Hockey League for one season ( 1925 – 26 ) . He also played with the Detroit Cougars ( 1926 – 27 ) and Toronto Maple Leafs ( 1927 – 28 – 1931 – 32 ) in the National Hockey League . Duncan served as player - coach with both the Cougars and the Maple Leafs .