Hockey goalie.
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland on 31 December 1904, he came with his family to Winnipeg in 1911. He played for the Winnipeg Maroons in 1926-27 and was signed by the Chicago Black Hawks, playing in goal for them until his death. He won the Vezina Trophy as best goalie in 1932, and in 1933 allowed only 83 goals in 48 games, 10 of them shutouts. Although suffering from tonsillitis, he insisted on playing in the 1934 Stanley Cup finals, which Chicago won. Upon his return to Winnipeg after the victory, he died in the St. Boniface Hospital. Gardner had a lifetime goals-allowed average of 2.02 in the NHL, which dropped to 1.37 in playoff games.
He died at the St. Boniface Hospital on 13 June 1934 and was buried in the Brookside Cemetery. He was inducted to the Canada's Sports Hall of Fame (1975), Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame (1985), and Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame (1989).
“Chuck Gardiner, world's best goalie, is dead,” Winnipeg Tribune, 14 June 1934, page 1.
Dictionary of Manitoba Biography by John M. “Jack” Bumsted, Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1999.
Brookside Cemetery: A Celebration of Life, Volume 1, published by E. R. Publishing & Communications Ltd., Winnipeg, 2003, ISBN 0-973346-0-5 (paper).
We thank Rick Mutton for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 8 January 2025
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