Gus Bodnar
| August Bodnar | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1923 Fort William |
| Died | 2005 |
| Years in Thunder Bay | 1923–1943 |
August Bodnar (April 24, 1923 – July 1, 2005) was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who was the Calder Memorial Trophy winner as the National Hockey League's rookie of the year for the 1943–44 season. He played 12 seasons in the NHL from 1943 to 1955, for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Black Hawks and Boston Bruins.[1]
Thunder Bay connections
Gus Bodnar was born on April 24, 1923, in Fort William, Canada. He began his hockey career with the local Fort William Rangers of the Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League, playing for the Rangers for three seasons from 1941 to 1943 and competing twice for the Memorial Cup. He was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1983.
Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame
August Bodnar was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1983 as an athlete (ceremony date given as 1 October 1983), for hockey.[2]
Born in Fort William, Ontario, he developed through the local minor Hockey system before joining the Hurricane Junior Rangers in 1942. His performance as a forward earned him a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and he debuted in the National Hockey League on October 30, 1943. In his first game against the New York Rangers, he set a record by scoring a goal only 15 seconds into his first shift. He finished his debut year with 22 goals and 40 assists, resulting in him being named the winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's top rookie for the 1943-44 season.[2]
During his tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he was part of a celebrated offensive unit known as the "Flying Forts" line, which consisted entirely of players from Fort William, including Gaye Stewart and Bud Poile. He helped the team secure Stanley Cup championships in 1945 and 1947. In 1947, he was sent to the Chicago Black Hawks as part of a significant trade involving Max Bentley. While playing for Chicago, he participated in a historic feat on March 23, 1952. During a game against the New York Rangers, he provided the primary assists on three consecutive goals scored by Bill Mosienko in a span of 21 seconds, setting an NHL record for the fastest three assists by one player.[2]
He concluded his 12-season playing career with the Boston Bruins, retiring with a total of 142 goals and 254 assists over 667 regular-season games. Following his time on the ice, he transitioned into coaching. He led the Toronto Marlboros to a Memorial Cup title in 1967 after defeating the Port Arthur Marrs. His coaching success continued in the Ontario Hockey League, where he was named the OHL Coach of the Year in 1972 while leading the Oshawa Generals. He remained a resident of Oshawa throughout his retirement.[2]
Shortly before his death in 2005, he was honored with a personal day with the Stanley Cup. He was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1983.[2]
Residence in the Thunder Bay area (1923–1943) rests on the following dated evidence. Born in Fort William in 1923, he played for the local Junior Rangers in 1942 before joining the Toronto Maple Leafs for the 1943-44 season.[2]
Achievements listed in the profile:
- Scored a goal 15 seconds into his first NHL shift on October 30, 1943
- Won the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year for 1943-44
- Won the Stanley Cup with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1945 and 1947
- Set an NHL record for the fastest three assists in 21 seconds on March 23, 1952
- Coached the Toronto Marlboros to a Memorial Cup championship in 1967
- Named OHL Coach of the Year in 1972 with the Oshawa Generals
- Recorded 396 points in 667 career NHL games[2]
References
- ↑ This article incorporates text from the Wikipedia article on Gus Bodnar, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Gus Bodnar", athlete profile, Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, https://www.nwosportshalloffame.com/athlete-profile/1e75ee82-5499-406a-8a98-26b2cf147039 (accessed 31 October 2026). Archived copy on datum.locker.