The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Friday that the hockey club will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1963 Stanley Cup championship team in a ceremony prior to Saturday’s home game against the Ottawa Senators at Air Canada Centre.

Several players from the Leafs’ 1963 team will be honoured at Saturday’s game and will participate in the pregame ceremonial faceoff. Players expected to be in attendance include: George Armstrong, Johnny Bower,Dick Duff, Larry Hillman, Red Kelly, Dave Keon, John MacMillan, Bob Nevin, Bob Pulford and Eddie Shack.

Many hockey historians consider the 1963 Leafs and 11th Stanley Cup championship club, as arguably the greatest team in franchise history. Players from this team won a combined 65 Stanley Cups with the Leafs throughout their respective careers. As well, a total of nine players from this Stanley Cup championship club have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The 1963 Leafs, who won their second of three consecutive Stanley Cups and second of four championships in the 1960’s, finished first overall in the regular season for the first time since 1947-48. In the playoffs, the Leafs won the Semi-Final series in five games (4-1) over the Montreal Canadiens and then clinched the title at Maple Leaf Gardens by defeating the Detroit Red Wings in Game 5 by a 3-1 score. Read more at the official Maple Leafs site.