Frederick (Fred, Freddie) David Gardner Sport: Hockey: Year Inducted: 1968
Frederick “Fred” David Gardner, born in 1919, was known as “Freddie”. He was a strong skater and a hustler.
He learned his hockey in Cornwall at the old Victoria Rink where he played for the Cornwall Junior Canadians, and the famous Cornwall Flyers. Fred remembered the old Victoria rink and clearly remembered helping Herbie Faubert scrape and flood the ice.
Lloyd McGowen of the Montreal Star considered Fred tops in the Montreal Senior League. Fred was a huge part of the Flyers team that beat Quebec and travelled to Calgary Alberta for the 1938 Allan Cup. Fred was the starting centre in the Allan Cup Finals against Trail, B.C., which the Flyers lost 3-1 to the Smoke Eaters, who would go on and win the World Championships later that year.
Fred turned down an offer with the Detroit Red Wings in 1939-40 and enlisted in the Army where he served his country overseas until the end of WWII. Like many of the players in that game the war called and hockey was put on hold. For Fred Gardner 6 years in his prime were lost due to the conflict. By the time he returned Fred’s best days were behind him and he tried coaching for a few seasons.
He also starred as a softball pitcher and was outstanding in track and field events.
Fred Gardner died in 2006 at the age of 87.
A few month’s before he died he remarked, “I remember the game against Trail and they were a ‘hell of a team.’ We (Flyers) played with only 8 skaters, half of what we had when we beat the Quebec Aces.”
The Hall of Fame is proud to have Fred’s game worn Flyers sweater from 1938.