Lucas Boland-Imagn ImagesWorld War II heroes were honored throughout Canada and the United States yesterday and that reminded The Maven of a heroic rookie Rangers defenseman who made the supreme sacrifice 81 years ago.
Dudley (Red) Garrett had been a rookie Blueshirts defenseman on the 1942-43 squad. He was highly regarded by management after being acquired in a trade with Toronto for defenseman Babe Pratt.
Before entering the armed forces, Garrett played 23 games for New York, had one goal and one assist and was lauded as a future star. But, alas, the war intervened.
He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy and eventually was assigned duty on a corvette – otherwise known as a small destroyer – the HMCS Shawinigan. One of the warship's assignments was sub duty in the Atlantic and St. Lawrence River.
On November 24, 1944, the Shawinigan was torpedoed by a German submarine in the waters off Newfoundland. Garrett and all 89 other crew members were lost. As a result, Red was the first NHL player to be killed in the conflict.
In memory of Garrett, the American Hockey League presents a Dudley (Red ) Garrett Award to the circuit's rookie-of-the-year.
Neither his name nor exploits ever will be forgotten!