Family grateful arena named for early-era NHL goalie Charlie Gardiner
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/08/2018 (2051 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The sign outside Pioneer Arena is old and faded, barely drawing the eye of drivers as they pass the decades-old rink on Logan Avenue.
Later this year, that will change.
After announcing in June intentions to rename the arena in honour of Charlie Gardiner — a bonafide star goaltender who led the Chicago Blackhawks to win the 1934 Stanley Cup—a sign mock-up was unveiled Thursday morning to the delight of the Hall of Famer’s relatives who were on hand.
“It is exhilarating and exciting to see this happening,” said Edna Poulter, 82, whose late husband Ted was Gardiner’s nephew. “He’d have loved to see this today.”
About 20 years ago, Ted Poulter had attempted to rally support to name one of the city’s rinks after his uncle. Other local NHL stars such as Billy Mosienko and Terry Sawchuk had arenas bearing their names. Why not Charlie Gardiner?
Gardiner immigrated to Winnipeg from Edinburgh in 1911 at the age of seven, growing up right near the site where the Pioneer Arena now stands. He quickly became a star on local teams before joining the Blackhawks in the 1920s. Once he made the NHL, it was clear he was a special goalie.
Over seven brilliant seasons, Gardiner gained renown for his skill between the pipes, joining the likes of George Hainsworth and Tiny Thompson among the then-young league’s elite netminders. Gardiner won the 1932 Vezina Award, given to the league’s top goaltender, two years before leading Chicago to the Cup — the franchise’s first championship win.
In 1934, Gardiner died of complications from an infection after being in a coma, only 29 years old and with a lot of hockey to be played still ahead of him. He’s buried in the city’s Brookside Cemetery.
But now, five years after his nephew’s death, and nearly 90 after his own, Gardiner will have an arena carrying his name.
“He was an absolutely incredible player,” said Coun. Mike Pagtakhan, who represents the Point Douglas ward where the arena is located. He said when the opportunity to rename an arena in Gardiner’s name came up, the decision was made unanimously.
Aside from the arena, Gardiner’s athletic legacy lives on through his relatives, some of whom became goalies themselves.
John Poulter, 53, is Ted’s son, which makes him Gardiner’s great nephew. Growing up, Poulter played minor hockey around the city, including at the arena which now holds a special place in his heart. He played goalie in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League in the 1980s, with a few stints with the Fort Garry Blues and the Winnipeg South Blues.
He became a goalie in large part due to his great uncle’s legend, he says. So did his 16-year-old son, Isaac.
Two years ago, Isaac was drafted to the Western Hockey League’s Swift Current Broncos as a goaltender, and in about two weeks, he’ll head to the team’s training camp in an attempt to crack the roster.
“With that type of heritage, it’s in our genes,” said John, a physics teacher.
“They all wanted me to be a goalie,” laughs Isaac. Luckily, he turned out to be adept in the crease.
“Hopefully I can make the NHL like Charlie,” he said. “First, I gotta make Swift Current.”
Nearby, Isaac’s older sister Megan walked around. She’s not a goalie at all. “They got all those genes,” she said. Still, she was happy to have her ancestor honoured.
“It’s really neat,” she said. “It’s definitely not something every family has.”
Edna Poulter read a note sent in by Gardiner’s son, Robert, who’s now in his late eighties and living in Ottawa. He couldn’t make it to the event, but he was clearly touched by the city’s gesture.
“Brief as our time together was, he was truly a great father and teacher,” wrote Robert, who was only a young boy when his dad died. He remembered his father as generous and kind, which was more important than his on-ice contributions.
“It’s really wonderful,” said Edna Poulter. “I hope his story will inspire kids to play for a long time.”
ben.waldman@freepress.mb.ca
Ben Waldman
Reporter
Ben Waldman covers a little bit of everything for the Free Press.
History
Updated on Thursday, August 16, 2018 5:52 PM CDT: FIxes spelling of Gardiner in one instance.
Updated on Thursday, September 6, 2018 2:25 PM CDT: Photo credit fixed.