Saluting Charlie Gardiner’s champion

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This article was published 25/02/2019 (2595 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There’s a new sign on the block.

The building formerly known as Pioneer Arena at 799 Logan Ave., has been renamed Charlie Gardiner Arena and a distinctive steel sculpture of a half-crouched hockey goalkeeper stands proudly in front.

As far back as he could remember, late St. Vital resident and principal Ted Poulter used to hear his mother tell incredible stories about the heroics of her brother, NHL goaltender Uncle Charlie, who lived from Dec. 31, 1903, to June 13, 1934. Ted began to wonder why there was nothing in our city to commemorate him.

In 2005, using his mother’s copious notes and scrapbooks, Ted helped American writer Antonia Chambers publish a book about Charles, Before the Echoes Fade. It recounts how the seven-year-old emigrated with his family from Scotland and rose from the poverty-stricken Logan Avenue area where they resided, to play in the National Hockey League from 1927 to 1934.

But Ted passed on in 2012 without realizing his dream of seeing at least a plaque on an arena in his uncle’s honor.

Enter Ted’s wife, Edna Poulter. Never underestimate a woman.

Willing to spend a year of her life for the cause, she made convincing presentations to three different groups at City Hall, starting with: “Winnipeg does not have a hockey arena named after Charlie Gardiner, and that needs to change.”

She described Charlie’s humble beginnings as a seven-year-old skater who was made to play goalie because he was less skilled than his local playmates. In time, he got to like the position and started exploring different techniques. Advancing to several leagues, he became a one-of-a-kind goalie known for his sprawl rather than upright positioning, fearlessly playing low to the ice, all without a mask.

“They called him The Wandering Scotsman because he played out of the net so much,” Edna chuckled.

Winnipeg’s Maroons “sold” him to the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks in 1927, where he played for seven seasons. His unique style of goal-keeping earned him two Vezina trophies and two Vezina runner-ups. In 1934, he became the first goaltender to captain his team to a Stanley Cup win.

After insisting on playing out that season while ailing, he collapsed from a brain hemorrhage brought on by a chronic tonsils infection on June 13, 1934, went into a coma, and died. He was just 29-and-a-half years old.

Charlie was one of the original inductees to the Hockey hall of Fame in 1945 and he’s also in the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame.

But, Edna insisted,“Terry Sawchuk and Jonathan Toews have had arenas named after them. Charles Gardiner is equally worthy and deserves to be recognized for the honour he brought to the city he lived and played in.”    

At the unveiling of the new sign on Logan Ave. on June 21, 2018, Edna concluded by saying:

“Our family are thankful for this opportunity to keep Charlie’s memory alive — and to bring inspiration to young athletes in Charlie’s former neighborhood and all of Winnipeg.”

Mission accomplished. Thanks, Edna.

Anne Yanchyshyn is a community correspondent for St. Vital. Email her at acy@mymts.net