This is Charlie Gardiner. He was one of the earliest stars of the Chicago Blackhawks, really helping to put hockey on the map in the Windy City.In 1934 Gardiner became the only goalie to captain his team to the Stanley Cup. Gardiner did so despite growing fatigue that had wiped him out. A few weeks later Gardiner underwent brain surgery after suffering a massive brain hemorrhage. Complications from the surgery would cost him his life on June 13, 1934.
Though he grew up in Winnipeg, he was actually born in Edinburgh, Scotland. Which, interestingly enough, will be the host city for a new American Hockey League exhibition tournament.
This September the Hamilton Bulldogs and Toronto Marlies will travel to Scotland and play the Edinburgh Capitals and the Belfast Giants. The winner of the four day tournament will win the Gardiner Cup.
The tournament is being dubbed in Scotland as Ice Hockey's Home Coming. I can't seem to find an image of the trophy itself, but there is lots of interesting information at the tourney's website.
2 comments:
Nice piece - thanks. We are really ecited about seeing two AHL sides battle it out in Edinburgh.
Any north American visitors, or indeed visitors from anywhere, who are in Edinburgh over the tourney please introduce yourself on the Edinburgh Capitals fan forum at www.edinburgh-capitals.co.uk. We would be delighted to meet you and make sure you have a great time.
This event is just a small part of the Scotland's Year of Homecoming. In the year of Robert Burn's 250th birthday the Scottish Government are promoting a programme to entice ex-pat Scots all around the world to come back home, either to live or just to visit.
This is just one small event aimed at encouraging Canada's huge Scottish population to return home and ice hockey in Scotland is getting the benefit.
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