While growing up on the local rinks of Saskatoon, Vic Lynn became very noticeable for his exceptional speed on a pair of blades. When his skating skills were harmonized with the game of hockey, the young upstart was destined for a lengthy career in the pro ranks.
In 1943-44, he fell in with the Detroit Red Wings' organization but failed to impress the team's brass. As such, Lynn was sent to play for the Indianapolis Capitals of the AHL. It was there that he encountered former NHLer and current American League referee Rabbit McVeigh. McVeigh noticed Lynn's aggressive, hard-working style of play. He also noticed that the youngster had a ret-hot temper that could, if not contained, limit his chances to make it to the top. On occasion, the sage ref would issue Lynn a penalty with an admonition to settle down and learn to take hard knocks with a cooler head.
Several years later, as Lynn had been given the cold shoulder by not only the Wings, but the Canadiens as well, he landed in Buffalo of the AHL. It was at that time that Leafs' GM Conn Smythe was in search of some fresh talent to spark his sagging club. During a chance meeting with McVeigh, he got a tip to watch young Lynn as a possible solution to his roster woes. Smythe did just that and ended up bringing the speedster to Toronto.
As a Leaf, Lynn joined Howie Meeker and Teeder Kennedy to form "The K-L-M Line." The trio clicked for three seasons of successful hockey with Stanley Cup victories in 1947, 1948, and 1949. During the tail end of his stay with the Leafs, Lynn teamed with Joe Klukay and later Johnny McCormack to form outstanding penalty-killing combinations.
In 1950, Lynn was traded to the Boston Bruins where he played for a short time before heading to the minors with the Cleveland Barons of the AHL. Then, in 1953, he got one more kick at the top with the Chicago Blackhawks where he played his final NHL games near the end of the year.
From then on, Lynn embarked on a lengthy career as a minor-league and amateur player/coach with such clubs as the Saskatoon Quakers, Brandon Regals, and Prince Albert Mintos.
