Cal Gardner
Calvin Pearly Gardner (* October 30, 1924 in Transcona, Manitoba; † 10 October 2001) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach, who in his active period from 1945 to 1961, including for the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Black Hawks and Boston Bruins played in the National Hockey League. His sons Paul and Dave were also professional hockey players.
Career
Cal Gardner began his career as a hockey player in the amateur team of the Winnipeg Rangers, with whom he won in 1943 the Memorial Cup. Then the attacker spent a year at the Port Arthur Navy before he paused for a year also. For the season 1945/46 he made his debut in professional hockey for the New York Rovers of the Eastern Hockey League. However, even during the season, he moved to the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League, for whom he was two and a half years on the ice, before he, along with Bill Juzda, Rene Trudell and the rights to Frank Mathers on April 26, 1948 exchange for Wally Stanowski and Moe Morris to the Toronto Maple Leafs have been made. With the Maple Leafs to the left-handed shooters succeeded in 1949 and 1951 respectively winning the prestigious Stanley Cup. During his time with the team from Ontario he also participated twice in the NHL All-Star Game.
On September 11, 1952 Gardner was transfiert along with Ray Hannigan, Al Rollins and Gus Mortson for Harry Lumle to the Chicago Blackhawks, where he stayed only one season long before it ran aground 1953-1957 for their league rivals Boston Bruins. In the season 1957/58 the Centre served as player-coach for the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League, with whom he the Hershey Bears defeated in the finals to the Calder Cup in the best- of-seven series with 2:4. This was followed by one each season with the Providence Reds in the AHL and the Kingston Frontenacs of the Eastern Professional Hockey League before following the 1960/61 season, he had spent with the Cleveland Barons of the AHL, at the age of he 36 years his active career ended.