There’s no need to explain how important hockey is to Albertans. No matter the age or the league, the sport has an impact on all of us—especially if it inspires pride in our local athletes!

Several Lethbridge residents have advanced to major league hockey, including local legends Earl Ingarfield, Autry Erickson, and—more recently—two-time Stanley Cup champion Kris Versteeg. One Lethbridge athlete, however, made his NHL mark before anyone else: Victor “Vic” Stasiuk, a left winger best known as part of the “Uke line” alongside Boston Bruins teammates Johnny Bucyk and Bronco Horvath. The group, named for their shared Ukrainian ancestry, were the first in NHL history to hit the 20-goal mark—chemistry made doubly impressive when considering that all three had left-handed shots! Prior to the Bruins, Stasiuk won the Stanley Cup twice with the Detroit Red Wings in 1952 and 1955.

Stasiuk’s junior hockey career began with the Lethbridge Native Sons in the 1940s, though being born in Lethbridge, he told NHL History that he “lived on a piece of ice from the time [he] could walk.” Stasiuk lived across from the 16 Street N outdoor rink in his childhood; he recounts ditching his mandolin, grabbing his skates, and heading to the rink while he was supposed to have music lessons.

Stasiuk’s debut in the NHL came in 1948–49 season with the Chicago Black Hawks. He describes being signed as the most memorable moment of his career. “It wasn’t a fun occasion,” he told Gary Allison. “But that moment was quite a personal experience for me.” He was soon traded to the Red Wings in 1951 and achieved his Stanley Cup wins before being traded to the Bruins in 1955. He stayed with Boston for another six years (achieving his peak season in 1960 with 68 points), before being traded back to Detroit in 1961. He remained there until 1963, after which he finished his career in the minors, officially retiring in 1966. Stasiuk went on to coach in a variety of leagues, from the NHL to the junior teams that would eventually define his coaching career.

Over his 745 NHL games, Stasiuk racked up 183 goals and 254 assists, for 437 points total. He was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2009, and “is amazed how many calls he still gets from reporters... He still regularly receives letters from fans seeking autographed pictures.” While not the last of Lethbridge’s NHL presence, Stasiuk remains one of the most memorable!

Do you have an interest in Lethbridge sporting history? Want to learn more about your local childhood heroes? A wide variety of starting resources can be found at galtmuseum.com/research.