The Trophy was named for Joseph "Joe" Turner, a goaltender from Windsor, Ontario.

The Turner Cup was the championship trophy of the International Hockey League / IHL from 1945 to 2001.

The trophy was later redesigned after this image....circa 1966.

During the 1936-37 season, Turner made his first semi-professional appearance as part of the Windsor Bulldogs. A top prospect of the Detroit Red Wings, he led the Ontario Hockey Association in goals-against average in 1937-38. His success there led to him joining the Detroit Holzbaugh-Fords for their 1939-40, and 1940-41 seasons. The following season would be the highlight of his career, as his stellar play with the Holzbaugh-Fords led to him being assigned to the Detroit Red Wings minor league affiliate ..... the Indianapolis Capitals, and led the Capitols to the F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy as the 1941-42 Western Division champions and the 1942 Calder Cup championship. He would also play in the AHL All-Star Game, being selected to the 1st team that season, and as a 22 year old made his NHL debut and only appearance on February 5, 1942 vs Toronto Maple Leafs at The Olympia in a 3-3 OT tie.

Turner enrolled in the United States army on July 1st 1942. He was a 2nd Lieutenant in Company K, 311th Infantry, 78th Division. Mr. Turner served until 1944, when he was declared missing and eventually declared Killed In Action during the Battle of Hürtgen Forest. Approximately 33,000 Allied Troops were killed or incapacitated during that battle, and Joe was one of them. Though he was wounded in the initial assault, Mr. Turner and a friend heard the cries of a wounded compatriot. They left their group to rescue their friend, and were never seen alive again. Originally buried in Belgium at the age of 25, Mr. Turner was later transferred to the Victoria Memorial Cemetery in Windsor.

Turner was one of only 2 NHL’ers to die in combat during World War 2, the other being Dudley Garrett of the New York Rangers.

The Turner Cup was officially retired when the IHL ceased operations in July, 2001

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