Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/351bec86-b807-4789-a3fd-d936f53035e0.jpeg] Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Among the saddest forgotten stories of Rangers World War II was the saga of Dudley (Red) Garrett. The Toronto-born defenseman, was signed by the Toronto Maple Leafs at the start of the 1940's and was highly-regarded in terms of future stardom. However, the Leafs traded Garrett along with forward Hank Goldup to the Rangers in 1942 for future Hall of Fame defenseman Babe Pratt who won a Stanley Cup for the 1945 Leafs. During the 1942-43 season Garrett played 23 games for the Blueshirts, scoring a goal and an assist. However, he put his career on hold and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy. During the early years of the war, German submarines often threatened shipping off the East coast of America as well as Canada's St.Lawrence River. Garrett was an Able Seaman on the sub-chasing corvette HMCS Shawinigan patrolling the St.Lawrence on November 24, 1944. German U-Boat U 1228 was preparing to leave the St.Lawrence and return to Germany for repairs when it inadvertently encountered the Shawinigan and fired one torpedo. Red Garrett and 89 others on the Shawinigan died in action and a promising Ranger had also lost his life. Following the war, the American Hockey League began honoring its rookie of the year with the Red Garrett Memorial Award. As far as The Maven can tell the Rangers organization has totally forgotten its once promising defenseman who lost his life in service of the Allied cause.
