Jimmy Gardner (ice hockey)

Jimmy Gardner
Hockey Hall of Fame, 1963
Gardner in 1912 with the New Westminster Royals.
Born	(1881-05-21)May 21, 1881 Montreal, QC, CAN
Died	November 7, 1940(1940-11-07) (aged 59) Montreal, QC, CAN
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Pittsburgh Professionals Montreal Wanderers Montreal Shamrocks Calumet Miners New Westminster Royals Montreal Canadiens
Playing career	1899–1911

James Henry Gardner (May 21, 1881 – November 7, 1940) was a Canadian ice hockey player and coach. Gardner started his career as professionalism was just starting in ice hockey. He won championships with both amateur and professional teams. After his hockey career ended, Gardner coached professionally, most notably with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey Association (NHA). Gardner helped found the NHA, the predecessor of today's National Hockey League, and the Canadiens, including suggesting the team name.

Gardner's playing career started with Montreal Hockey Club amateur men's team of the Canadian Amateur Hockey League in 1900, where he played until 1903, winning the Stanley Cup twice, in 1902 and 1903 as one of the 'Little Men of Iron'. In 1903, the players of the Montreal Hockey Club left to form the new Montreal Wanderers of the Federal Amateur Hockey League (FAHL).

After one season with the Wanderer, he then turned professional, playing two years for U.S. teams the Calumet Miners and the Pittsburgh Professionals before returning to Canada and the Montreal Shamrocks. He would return to the Wanderers in 1908 and play for the club until 1911, winning the Cup in 1908 and 1910. He joined the new PCHA and played for New Westminster for two seasons, before returning to Montreal to play for the Montreal Canadiens for two seasons before retiring as a player.

He then coached the Canadiens for two seasons and in later years coached the Hamilton Tigers, and teams in the Western Canada Hockey League and Quebec Hockey League.