Sugar Jim Henry

“Sugar” Jim was a goaltender for the Brandon Elks of the MJHL and the Regina Rangers of the SJHL at the start of his career. In 1941 the general manager for the New York Rangers signed him on with the team which he in return helped the team to a first place finish by winning 29 games. Military service took over for three seasons during World War II, but “Sugar” Jim returned to the NHL in 1945. The Boston Bruins picked him up in 1951, which lead to some of his most exciting career moments including going to the finals in 1953, however they lost to the Canadians. During the mid 50’s “Sugar” Jim Henry decided to retire from the National Hockey League. After retirement Henry operated a tourism business near Kenora, Ontario with former teammate Chuck Rayner. On January 22, 2004 “Sugar” Jim passed away in Winnipeg at the age of 83.

Rick St. Croix

Rick St. Croix began his career with five seasons in the minors which included 2 seasons with the Kenora Muskies before being selected by the Flyers in the 1975 Amateur draft. He made his NHL debut in 1977-78 season; however he only played 7 games and spent the rest of the year with the AHL’s Maine Mariners.

In 1980 he shared the Harry “Hap” Holmes award for allowing the least amount of goals during his second time on the all star team in the AHL. Rick got his first opportunity to play on the Stanley Cup playoffs during the 1980-81 season. During this time he was the full-time back up for Pete Peters, however Pete got traded in 1982, which led St.Croix to believe he would now be the Flyers new starting goalie but Pelle Lindbergh was given the position instead. St.Croix was upset with this decision and shared his thoughts with the public which, resulted in him being traded to the Leafs in 1983.

During the next two seasons, Rick was the back up goalie to Mike Palmateer and then ended his NHL career in 1985 an played one last year in the IHL before retiring in 1986. Rick St.Croix now operates the Rick St.Croix School of Goaltending in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Mike Richards

Mike Richards started his hockey career with the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League. He led the Rangers to a Memorial Cup win in 2003. During the NHL draft in 2003, Richards was the 24th picked in the first round by the Philadelphia Flyers. Mike was given the honor of being the Captain for Team Canada in 2005 during the IIHF World Junior Championships which resulted in the first gold medal for Canada since 1997. Richards joined the Flyers affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL during their playoff run, and played a key part of the Phantoms Calder Cup Championship. Mike Richards was born in Kenora Ontario on February 11th, 1985 and currently plays for the Philadelphia Flyers in the National Hockey League.

Claude "Chuck" Rayner

Claude “Chuck” Rayner played his early hockey years in Sutherland Saskatchewan, his hometown before moving to Saskatoon in his teens to play for the Saskatoon Wesleys of the Northern Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. In 1937 the Wesleys made it to the final of the Abbott Cup; however the Winnipeg Monarchs won the championship.

The next three seasons “Chuck” played for the Kenora Thistles and in 1940 the Thistles led by Rayner and defenseman Bill Juzda reached the Memorial Cup finals against the Oshawa Generals but could not steal the championship away from the defending champs.

He began his hockey career in 1940-41 with the Springfield Indians of the AHL and earned a position on the Second All-Star Team. He then was called to the New York Americans for a 12 game tryout. In 1942 Rayner played 36 games with the Brooklyn Americans before enlisting in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II.

During the 1945-46 season he returned to the National Hockey League and played for the New York Rangers. From 1949-51 he played in the NHL All Star games and won the Hart Trophy in 1950 as most valuable player. “Chuck” Rayner was known as one of the first wandering goalies; twice he came right in on the opposition goalie in an NHL game and almost scored!

Rayner ended his career as an active player and coached many teams throughout Canada including teams in Kenora. After Rayner retired, he and former teammate Sugar Jim Henry operated a tourist business near Kenora, Ontario.  He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1973 as an honored member and unfortunately passed away on October 5th, 2002.

Bill Juzda

Bill Juzda was a defenseman who was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on October 29th, 1920. He played in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League for both the Kenora Thistles and the local Elmwoods. During 1940-41 he played 5 games for the New York Rangers and played the rest of the season with Philadelphia Rockets in the American Hockey League. He spent World War II with the Winnipeg at Dartmouth RCAF. After the war Juzda returned to the Rangers for 3 years and took part in the 1948 and 1949 All-Star Games. In June of 1948 Bill was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. As a Leaf he won the Stanley Cup in 1949 and 1951.

Babe Pratt

Walter “Babe” Pratt was born in Stony Mountain, Manitoba in 1916. As a junior Babe played in Winnipeg and won the playground championship when he was ten. In 1933 he played on 5 different teams throughout Winnipeg and believe it or not each team won a championship. Later that year he moved to Kenora at the age of 17 to play junior with the Kenora Thistles. He led the league in scoring and the team easily won the Manitoba junior title. During his second year as a junior with the Thistles he led the league in scoring with 46 points in 20 games, which brought the Thistles within a game of the final of the Memorial Cup, however they lost to the Winnipeg Monarchs.

In 1935 Babe was signed by the New York Rangers. In 1939-40 Pratt was paired up with Heller to form the best defense in the league. They only allowed 17 goals in 48 games, which was a huge part of the Rangers’ Stanley Cup win that season. Midway through the 1942-43 season Babe was traded to the Leafs. During the 1943-44 season he was the leagues best defenseman with 57 points in 50 games. Pratt was awarded the Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable player; this award is usually not given to a defenseman. He later then was placed on the leagues’ first All-Star Team. He scored the winning goal later that season when the Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup. Babe continued to play hockey for 6 more years, however most in the Pacific Coast Hockey League after being traded to Boston in 1946-47 and then being demoted to the minors. Babe Pratt retired in 1952 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1966.

Gary Bergman

Gary Bergman was known as a top defenseman in the National Hockey League with the Kansas City Scouts, the Detroit Red Wings, and the Minnesota North Stars. Gary also played on Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series.

During this series is where Gary would be most remembered from a dirty exchange involving the Soviet's captain Boris Mikhailou during game 7 of the series. Bergman nailed the captain into the boards late in the game, which started a minor brawl. Mikhailow then began kicking Bergman in the shins in an attempt to injure the Canadian defenseman which disgusted hockey fans everywhere.

Gary Bergman was born in Kenora on October 7th, 1938. After a lengthy battle with cancer, Gary passed away on December 8th, 2000.

Wilf L'Heureux

Born in Kenora, Ontario he was a member of the Port Arthur Seniors when they won three Allan Cups, 1924-25, 1925-26, 1928-29. Small for a defenseman, he teamed with Phat Wilson before switching to forward in 1924. He was a hockey strategist, using his skill to overcome larger and faster players. Wilf was labelled "The Old Fox" by fans and retired from hockey at the age of 38.

He was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame on September 25, 1982.

Victor Lindquist

Born in Gold Rock, this outstanding hockey player contributed to the success of the Kenora Thistles Junior Hockey Team from 1923-28 before moving to the Winnipeg Senior Hockey Team. While with the Winnipegs he won the Allan Cup in 1931 and a gold medal for Canada at the 1932 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid. A member of the Winnipeg Monarchs he won the World Hockey Championships in 1935. In 1936 he coached the Swedish National Hockey team to a 5th place finish at the Winter Olympics. A referee at the local, provincial, national, international and world levels from the 1930s through to the 70s his involvement in the game of hockey spanned seven decades.

Lindquist was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame on September 10, 1994.

Jimmy Ward

Born in Fort William, Ontario, he developed his hockey skills in Kenora playing junior hockey there and senior hockey in Fort William. He joined the Montreal Maroons in 1928. A member of the Ace Bailey All-Star team and 1935 Stanley Cup Maroons, he retired in 1939 following a season with the Canadiens. He had an NHL record of 527 games, 147 goals, and 127 assists.

Ward was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame on September 25, 1982.

Charles McVeigh

Known as "Rabbit", this star from the early days of hockey learned his skills growing up in Kenora in the early 1900s. Making his NHL debut with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1926 he was traded to the New York Americans in 1928. One of the smaller players in the league, he was known for his agility and speed which saw him play every position on the front line. His nine seasons in the NHL included 397 games played, 84 goals, and 88 assists. Following his playing career he served as a referee and linesman in the NHL from 1939-1945.

He was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame on September 25, 1993.

Johnny Gallagher

Learning the game of hockey while growing up in Kenora, this outstanding defenseman played junior hockey with his hometown Thistles from 1925-29 before contributing his talents to the 1929-30 Allan Cup winning Montreal AAA. Signing a pro contract with the Montreal Maroons in 1930, a serious injury in 1933 forced him into temporary retirement, only to see him return to join the Detroit Red Wings in their 1936-37 Stanley Cup victory. He ended his seven year NHL career with the New York Americans in 1939 with an NHL record of 204 games played, 14 goals and 19 assists.

Gallagher was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame on September 26, 1992.