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Herbert Martin (Herb) Gardiner

NHL, the National Hockey League is a premier professional North American Sports League played in indoor stadiums. It is divided into two conferences, each comprising of three divisions of ice hockey teams. Herbert Martin Gardiner was born on May 8, 1891 in Winnipeg, Manitoba and died on January 11, 1972. He was a Canadian professional ice hockey winger who played for the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks in the National Hockey League. He plays in played eight professional seasons from 1921 to 1929.

He turned professional from 1921 to 1922 with the Calgary Tigers of the newly created WCHL, Western Canada Hockey League, where he spent five long but rewarding seasons. He enjoyed his greatest success partnered with future NHLer and league president Red Dutton on defense. In 1924 Gardiner helped the Tigers gain the WCHL crown in a tough series versus Regina. He scored a key goal in the first match at Regina, which ended in a 2-2 deadlock. The Tigers clinched the total-goals series with a 2-0 win on home ice.

He was solid once again for the Tigers, but the Cougars were led by superb performances by Frank Frederickson, Jack Walker and netminder Harry Hap Holmes. Recalling his excellent play two years earlier, the Canadiens invited him to the training camp in 1926. The experienced defender represented a vital addition to the Montreal defensive brigade when he joined the team that year. His play was so impressive with the rebuilding Montreal franchise that he was awarded the Hart Trophy as league MVP, Most Valuable Player.

He adapted well to the additional responsibilities coaching entailed. He remained with the Arrows until 1935-36 before joining Philadelphia's American Hockey League franchise, the Ramblers. He coached this team to the Calder Cup finals in 1937 and 1939. He concluded his coaching endeavors with the Philadelphia Falcons of the Eastern Hockey League from 1944 to 1946.

In 1947, he was named general manager of the Philadelphia Maroons, a proposed NHL franchise that was never realized. As both a defenseman and coach, he always put his keen understanding of the game to excellent use. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in the year 1958.

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