( Photo Credit: Boston Bruins | nhl.com/bruins / Dutch Gainor on Right )


By: Andrew Lindroth | Follow me on Twitter @andrewlindrothh

 

Dutch Gainor was born on April 10th, 1904, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He began playing juniors as a 21-year-old forward in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) for the Duluth Hornets from 1925-1926. The following season, Gainor was signed as a free agent to the Calgary Tigers (PrHL) and produced 16 goals and 27 points in 23 games played. The forward immediately caught the Boston Bruins’ attention, and in 1927 he was traded to the Bruins by Minneapolis (AHA) with Nobby Clark in exchange for Red Stuart, cash and future considerations.

During the 1927-1928 season, Gainor was immediately placed in the Bruins’ lineup and played 43 games with 8-4-12 numbers. In 1928-1929, he went on to be most notable for centering one of the first “named” forward lines in the National Hockey League, the “Dynamite Line” with Cooney Weiland and Dit Clapper. Together the “Dynamite Line” went on to dominate the 1928-1929 season with Gainor playing in all 44 games that season, contributing 14 goals and 19 points. The highly talented first-line led the team to a Stanley Cup Finals appearance that season and were crowned champions for the first time in franchise history after defeating the New York Rangers.

( Photo Credit: National Hockey League | NHL.com )

After being crowned Stanley Cup champions, Gainor played the next two seasons with the Bruins, scoring 26 goals and 60 points in 77 games played. His time in Boston expired when he was traded during the 1931 off-season to the New York Rangers in exchange for Joe Jerwa. The forward suited up for 46 games the following season posting 3-9-12 numbers, and helped lead the Rangers to another Stanley Cup Finals appearance but would end up losing the series to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The next season, Gainor was reassigned to the Saskatoon Crescents (WCHL), suiting up for 21 games before being traded to the Ottawa Senators for cash after the Springfield (Can-am) franchise folded.

Unfortunately, his tenure in Ottawa lasted just two games that year, spending most of his time playing for the Calgary Tigers (NWHL), until being signed by the Montreal Maroons in 1934 as a free agent. Gainor would end up playing his final year in the NHL, appearing in 35 games, and collecting two assists during the 1934-1935 season. The Montreal Maroons would go on to capture the Stanley Cup in 1935, making Gainor a Stanley Cup champion once again. The 6’1, 170-pound forward was reassigned the following season, and played for the Calgary Tigers (NWHL) in 1935-1936, and then for the Portland Buckaroos (PCHL) in 1936-1937 before officially retiring from the hockey world in 1937.

Dutch Gainor passed away on January 16th, 1962, at the age of 57. The two-time Stanley Cup champion played 247 games throughout his seven-year career in the NHL, registering 51-56-107 numbers. Happy birthday, Dutch Gainor!