John W. (Smoke) Gardner
The 1930s were great years for John William (Smoke) Gardner, a Peterborough resident all of his life. Hockey was his top sport but he also excelled in football, baseball, boxing, wrestling and lacrosse.
Gardner was a member of the 1930-31 Toronto St. Michael’s Jr. B Ontario Hockey Champs and was selected to the Ontario Junior All-Star team the next season. In 1935-36, he was a member of the city championship team. He was also a member of the 1939-40 team which won Ontario Int. A and Eastern Canada honours.
In 1929, he was a member of the PCVS football COSSA winners. He played for Toronto St. Mike’s Intermediate Interscholastic Football Champions of 1932, and in 1936 and 1937 with Peterborough Orfuns. As a baseball player, John was on the 1930 Maple Leaf team which won Ontario Bantam laurels. He also wrestled professionally and was a member of the 1933 Dinty’s Inn team which won Peterborough district lacrosse honours. He died in 1968.
Year Inducted:
1985
Status:
Deceased
The 1930s were great years for John William (Smoke) Gardner, a Peterborough resident all of his life. Hockey was his top sport but he also excelled in football, baseball, boxing, wrestling and lacrosse.
Gardner was a member of the 1930-31 Toronto St. Michael’s Jr. B Ontario Hockey Champs and was selected to the Ontario Junior All-Star team the next season. In 1935-36, he was a member of the city championship team. He was also a member of the 1939-40 team which won Ontario Int. A and Eastern Canada honours.
In 1929, he was a member of the PCVS football COSSA winners. He played for Toronto St. Mike’s Intermediate Interscholastic Football Champions of 1932, and in 1936 and 1937 with Peterborough Orfuns. As a baseball player, John was on the 1930 Maple Leaf team which won Ontario Bantam laurels. He also wrestled professionally and was a member of the 1933 Dinty’s Inn team which won Peterborough district lacrosse honours. He died in 1968.