During the First and Second World Wars, many hockey players, being of course fit young men, chose to fight for their countries over continuing their careers. None should be forgotten, but there are far too many to list entirely. Here are just 10:

Conn Smythe ? A veteran of the First World War, Smythe was by the time of the outbreak of the Second World War, the very rich owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Despite both his status and his age (nearly 50), the Major volunteered for service, and was severely wounded on the battlefield in 1944.

Joe Turner ? The young goalie played only one NHL game, during the 1941-42 season, with Detroit. For most of that year, he played for the Indianapolis Capitols of the AHL, leading the league with 34 wins and a 2.44 GAA. He put his hockey career on hold to join the US Marine Corps. Turner was killed on January 12, 1945, in Holland, one of the few pro athletes to die during the war. The IHL championship trophy was called the Joseph Turner Memorial Cup during that league's existence.

Hobey Baker ? His name is mentioned all the time, as the US college player of the year is awarded the Hobey Baker trophy. Yet most people would find it difficult to say anything about him, other than that he was American. In fact, Baker was the first US superstar, although he cut short his pre-NHL career to become a fighter pilot in World War I. He even won France's honoured Croix de Guerre, but was killed during a test flight, just before Christmas 1918.

Roy Conacher ? The younger brother of Charlie and Lionel, Roy Conacher led the NHL with 26 goals in 1938-39. He then missed four years of what would have been his prime, fighting in World War Two. In 1946, Bruins coach Art Ross got the news Conacher was discharged from the army. Refusing to believe anyone could miss four years and still be able to play, Ross traded Conacher to Detroit. Conacher scored 30 goals that season and led the NHL in points in 1948-49 with Chicago. Roy and his brother Charlie are one of only two brother combinations to both lead the league in points.

Max Bentley ? Rocket Richard's main rival throughout the 1940s, Bentley missed both the 1943-44 and 1944-45 season while in the Canadian army. Upon his return, he led the league in points for two straight seasons, and later helped the Maple Leafs win three Stanley Cups. Max and his brother Doug are one of only two brother combinations to each lead the league in points.

Frank Brimsek ? A rare American star during the NHL's early decades, Brimsek led the league in wins and GAA twice at the outbreak of World War Two. He then missed two seasons (1943-44 and 1944-45), the first in the Coast Guard and the next as a member of the US military. In 1945-45 he returned to the Bruins and was later named to the Hall of Fame.

Milt Schmidt, Woody Dumart and Bobby Bauer ? All three grew up together in Kitchener, Ontario. All began their careers with Boston in 1936. All were from Canada. And all, you may have noticed if you have a knowledge of name origins, hailed from German backgrounds. Before World War Two, this high-scoring line thrilled hockey fans who dubbed them, without malice, the "Kraut Line." Before World War Two, that was just a meaningless nickname. Once the war began in earnest, however, their family backgrounds led to catcalls and the moniker took on ominous overtones, even in Boston. (Coincidentally, their hometown of Kitchener was originally called Berlin, but the name was changed during World War One out of anti-German sentiment.) Ignoring the booing and name-calling, all three proved where their loyalties lay by joining the Royal Canadian Air Force in the middle of the 1941-42 season. In their final game, they recorded 22 points in an 8-1 win over the Canadiens. They were the first NHLers to join the RCAF, and spent 1943, 1944 and 1945 in aerial combat. Happily, all returned for the 1945-46 season, although they were surprised to see a giant red line now bisecting the middle of the ice (the NHL had instituted it in 1943-44). All went on to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Allan "Scotty" Davidson ? During Davidson's NHA career, it was more or less accepted to try to kill your opponent. In fact, things were so brutal, they even had to bring in a 20-minute "slashing about the head" penalty. However, Davidson carved a unique reputation as a man who played with class and sportsmanship, yet still had great success. He only played two seasons, scoring 19 goals in 20 games one year and 23 goals in 20 the next. At the very outbreak of the First World War, in 1914, Davidson enlisted in the Canadian Army. For the next year, he fought in Europe, but was killed in Belgium on June 6, 1915. He was 24. In 1950, he was named to the Hockey Hall of Fame.