KINGSTON, Ont. (March 2, 2022) – A special ceremony earlier this week at the Memorial Centre featured an exciting announcement from the Gaels Men's Hockey program. The team unveiled a commemorative plaque and entrance to their dressing room bearing a new namesake in honour of former Gaels player and coach Stu Crawford.

Crawford, the oldest living Gaels hockey alumnus, was present for the unveiling two days before his 100th birthday. He will now be a permanent presence for the Men's Hockey Gaels with the team calling the Stu Crawford Team Room home.

"Effective March 2, 2022, the Men's Hockey Dressing Room will forever be known as the Stu Crawford Team Room," said Queen's Men's Hockey Head Coach Brett Gibson. "This is a permanent testament to the character of Stu Crawford, and a constant reminder for the players to look to when they enter the room of what it means to be a Gael. We also have an article in the dressing room chronicling Stu's accomplishments over his 100 years so future Gaels realize what an impact he made on the Program."

"I think it's the best. I feel very humbled," Crawford said at the ceremony. "I thought it was important to play. I survived the war and that makes you appreciate what is around you. To survive a war, I got shot down and survived it all, I say how lucky you are. So, I say to the kids today, play the game, enjoy it. I think it's so important."





































Crawford served with the Royal Canadian Air Force as a bomb aimer in the Second World War. Crawford recounted his experiences with the Kingston Whig-Standard in 2020. After a bombing run over Hamburg, two of his plane's starboard engines caught fire and all seven crew members had to bail out. Crawford parachuted down into enemy territory where he and a crewmate walked to a small German town under surrender and were rescued by Allied troops.

After the war, Crawford returned to Kingston and played for Queen's in 1946-47, helping the team win the Megaffin Trophy. He also played with the Men's Intermediate "City League" and Intercollegiate Team from 1947-49.

He served as an honorary coach with the Gaels from 1986-89.

Crawford was also among the group that created the Carr-Harris Cup. In 1986, on the 100th anniversary of the longest-running rivalry in hockey between Queen's and the Royal Military College Paladins – Crawford, along with hockey historian Bill Fitsell, Bill Hamilton, and Ed Grenda, decided that the historic date should be celebrated. The four came up with the idea of a challenge cup. The Carr-Harris Cup was born and has become a fiercely contested annual game between the Gaels and Paladins ever since, and now a fixture in the City's Feb Fest calendar.

"It has been a pleasure to meet Stu Crawford and to hear about his accomplishments," said current Gaels captain Pat Sanvido. "Stu has seen things we could never dream of, and his demeanor is so caring. He is a perfect role model for current and future Gaels."

He's been a steady presence with Queen's Men's Hockey for more than 75 years and will be part of the Gaels' Senior Night ceremony ahead of the team's game against the Paladins, Thursday at 8:30 p.m. at the Memorial Centre.