2000

74 Gary Stefan

At the time of his induction into the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame, Gary Stefan was completing his twentieth year in Britain, during which time has played, coached, managed, administrated and more recently commentated on professional ice hockey – earning him the nickname of “Mr Hockey.”

Born in Brantford Ontario on June 23rd 1959, at the age of four and with the assistance of his mother, Gary Stefan learnt to skate on a frozen farm pond. He soon graduated to the family’s 60 x 30 foot backyard rink where he was often joined by his young neighbour, none other than Wayne Gretzky. As a ten-year old, Gary Stefan spent a season as netminder for a team run by the Great One’s father, Walter Gretzky. He then gave way to his younger brother, Greg Stefan, who went on to a successful nine-year career in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings.

After playing junior hockey in Hamilton, Gary Stefan came to London in 1980 to spend a summer holiday with an aunt and help out in he sports goods shop. Having already been contacted by the Richmond club before he left Canada, he made an immediate impact with the Flyers, earning a spot on the First All Star team and, with 75 points by way of 60 goals and 15 assists, lifting the Wolfe & Elliott Trophy as the leading scorer in the Intercity League.

The following season he was persuaded to join the Streatham Redskins for whom he accumulated a staggering 670 points (436+234) in a five-year spell playing in 197 games with 644 penalty minutes. During that period he won a second Wolfe & Elliott Trophy together with an Air Canada Trophy as Player of the Year. Gary Stefan made one appearance at Wembley, in 1985, when he contributed an assist as the Redskins went down 12-5 in the Heineken Championship semi-final to the eventual winners, the Fife Flyers.

In 1986 Gary took on the role of hockey co-ordinator, as well as player, at the newly opened rink in Slough. He opened his career for the Jets in fine style, as he scored their first ever goal in the first minute of their first game, away to Oxford and then repeated the feat the following week in the first home game, ironically against his old club, Richmond.

Reclassified as a non-import the following season, he helped the Jets finish second in Division One, behind the Telford Tigers, and in the 1988/89 season the new club carried off its first trophy, the London Cup. A year later and the Jets claimed the Southern Cup and the League title before in 1991/92, they finished tied on points with the Fife Flyers at the head of Division One.

Gary took over the coaching reins for the 1993/94 season, but did not particularly enjoy the experience. On his return to playing the following year, he again helped the club to the Division One title, its third, and with success in the playoff, promotion to the Premier Division was achieved. The Jets lasted only one season in the top flight, but in his final four years on the ice, Gary Stefan had the pleasure of helping them to two further trophies, the Benson & Hedges Plate in 1997/98 and the British National League title in 1998/99.

In all British domestic competitions, Gary Stefan’s statistical record reads:- GP 752 Goals 1181 Ass 832 Pts 2013 PIM 1999

As well as a distinguished domestic career, Gary Stefan represented Great Britain in three World Championship tournaments – Pool D in Cardiff in 1990, and both the Pool C tournaments, Copenhagen in 1991 and Humberside in 1992.

On his retirement as a player at the end of the 1998/99 season, he made it all sound worthwhile when he commented, “It was never about the money, and without the people I have met here, I would never have stuck around.”

In the summer of 1999, he was elected to the board of the sports new governing body, Ice Hockey UK, and he now has another string to his considerable hockey bow, that of being the colour commentator for Sky Sports Television’s coverage of Superleague ice hockey.

Compiled with research, provided by Martin C.Harris – March 2000.