Gus Bodnar
August " Gus" Bodnar ( born April 24, 1923 in Fort William, Ontario, † July 1, 2005 in Oshawa, Ontario ) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach. During his active years he played from 1943 to 1955 for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League.
Career
Gus Bodnar first played hockey in his native city at the Fort William Rangers before he was with the Toronto Maple Leafs, for whom he made his debut in the National Hockey League in the 1943/44 season, active from 1943. In his first NHL game on October 30, 1943, after 15 seconds, he scored his first goal as the striker Ken McAuley, the goalkeeper of the New York Rangers overcame. Thus he set the record for the fastest scoring a rookie. His debut season ended Bodnar with 22 goals, 40 assists and 62 points. This then meant a points record for a freshman. Following this season, the attacker was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as the best rookie after he had prevailed in the election against Bill Durnan of the Montreal Canadiens. However, not succeeded to build on its high level of his debut season and the Canadians always scored less than 50 points per game time. In Toronto, he mostly played in a row together with Bud Poile and Gaye Stewart.
With the Maple Leafs, for whom he was four years active, Bodnar won in 1945 and 1947 respectively the Stanley Cup. In November 1947 Bodnar was issued by the Toronto to the Chicago Blackhawks, where the Canadians had the following seven seasons under contract. A highlight of his involvement in Chicago was the meeting on March 23, 1952 against the New York Rangers, as Bodnar recorded three assists within 21 seconds, and helped with this his teammate Bill Mosienko for Hattrick. During the season 1953/54, he was transferred to the Boston Bruins, where he ended his active career in 1955.
After his career end Bodnar trained initially in the season 1956/57, the Brampton Regents of the Junior League MJBHL before he also was responsible for one season 1960/61, the St. Catharines Teepees and 1965/66, the Toronto Marlboros of the Ontario Hockey Association as head coach. After an engagement at the Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the Western Hockey League game in 1970 /71 drew Bodnar back to the OHA, where until 1976 he was responsible for the Oshawa Generals of 1971.