George Richardson (ice hockey) explained

George Richardson
Halloffame:1950
Birth Date:September 14, 1886
Birth Place:Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Death Place:Wulverghem, Belgium
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lb:195
Position:Left wing
Shoots:Left
Played For:Queen's University
Kingston Frontenacs
Career Start:1902
Career End:1912
Module:
Embed:yes
Allegiance: Canada
Branch:Canadian Expeditionary Force
Serviceyears:1914–1916
Rank:Captain
Battles:First World War
Awards:Legion of Honour

George Taylor Richardson (September 14, 1886 – February 9, 1916)[1] was a Canadian ice hockey player, businessman and soldier. Richardson played hockey for Queen's University and the 14th Regiment of Kingston, and was considered one of the finest amateurs of his time. He is enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame, and is the namesake of the George Richardson Memorial Trophy. Richardson was part of a prominent business family that owned and operated a grain processing business in Kingston, Ontario. He joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the First World War, and died in action in Belgium.

Personal life

Richardson was born and raised in Kingston, and graduated from Queen's with a bachelor of science degree in 1906.[2] He was part of the prominent local Richardson family. His grandfather, James Richardson was the founder of James Richardson & Sons.[3] [4] His uncle, Henry Westman Richardson, was a businessman and a Canadian senator. His sister, Agnes was the benefactor of the Agnes Etherington Art Centre. His brother, James Armstrong Richardson Sr. was a businessman, aviator, and chancellor of Queen's University from 1929 to 1939.[5] His niece, Agnes Benidickson was the first female chancellor of Queen's University. His nephews, James Armstrong Richardson was Manitoba businessman, and Canadian federal cabinet minister; and George Taylor Richardson was a Manitoba businessman, and Order of Manitoba recipient.[6] After graduating from university Richardson joined his family's grain-exporting firm.[7]

Playing career

Richardson played for the Queen's University Golden Gaels from 1903 to 1906, when the team won the Intercollegiate Hockey Union in 1903, and the Canadian Intercollegiate championship in 1904, and 1906.[8] He was known as a gentlemanly player, and an adept goal scorer. He scored five times against Princeton and Yale when Queen's won the 1903 North American collegiate title.[9] The 1906 Queen's team challenged the Ottawa Hockey Club for the Stanley Cup. Richardson played left wing for the 14th Regiment of Kingston team from 1907 to 1909. The 1908 team won the Ontario Hockey Association title, and the J. Ross Robertson Cup, as Richardson scored seven goals in one game against Stratford. Richardson won the 1909 Allan Cup a year later. He then joined the Kingston Frontenacs as team president, when the juniors won the OHA title in 1911 and 1912. Richardson never pursued a professional hockey career, since he was wealthy enough from working in the family business.

Military service

After graduating from Queen's Richardson had joined a local militia unit, and rose to become a Lieutenant with The Princess of Wales' Own Regiment. When the First World War was declared, he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force on September 22, 1914, at CFB Valcartier.[7] [10] He was at the Western Front by February 1915.[7]

Richardson was promoted to captain as a result of being the sole survivor in the 2nd Battalion during the a battle near Saint-Julien in Langemark. Captain Richardson bought boots and gas masks for men under his command. He was killed in action February 9, 1916, resulting from being shot three times in the hips and abdomen, in a battle near Wulverghem.[11] He is buried in the Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension in Bailleul, Nord in grave 2027, also listed as plot 2, row B, grave 74.

Posthumous honours

Richardson became a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour of the French Third Republic on March 19, 1916. Captain Richardson is listed on page 154, of the Canadian Book of Remembrance for the First World War.[12] He bequeathed $15,000 to Queen's University for art and athletics, $5,000 for bathing facilities in Kingston, $30,000 to city charities, and $30,000 form a trust fund for the education of the children of the married men in his company, that were disabled or killed in battle.[13] The George Taylor Richardson Memorial Fund was established to provide grants for the stimulation of the arts at Queen's University.[14] Richardson Memorial Stadium at Queen's is named in his honour.[15] From 1932 to 1971, The Eastern Canada junior hockey champion won the George Richardson Memorial Trophy, and advanced to the Memorial Cup.[16] Richardson was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1950, and into the Kingston and District Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.

Career statistics

  Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1903–04Queen's UniversityCIHU46063
1904–05Queen's UniversityCIHU46060
1905–06Queen's UniversityCIHU4110112
1905–06Queen's UniversitySt-Cup23030
1906–07Kingston's 14th RegimentOHA-Sr.723023022020
1907–08Kingston's 14th RegimentOHA-Sr.39312124180189
1908–09Kingston's 14th RegimentOHA-Sr.480892130130
1909–10Kingston FrontenacsExhib.2808
1911–12Kingston FrontenacsOHA-Sr.11010
CIHU totals12230235
OHA-Sr. totals1440343219340349

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Captain George Richardson. Kingston & District Sports Hall of Fame. November 16, 2018.
  2. Web site: Richardson, George Taylor. Queen's Encyclopedia. Queen's University. January 11, 2018.
  3. Web site: Kingston & District Sports Hall of Fame: George T Richardson will be inducted 99 years after his death in the First World War. Kennedy. Patrick. The Kingston Whig. 2015-01-16. January 8, 2018.
  4. Web site: Richardson Family. Queen's Encyclopedia. Queen's University. January 11, 2018.
  5. Book: MacLeod, Alan Livingstone. From Rinks to Regiments: Hockey Hall-of-Famers and the Great War. 2018. Heritage House. Victoria, British Columbia. 978-1-77203-268-0. 42.
  6. Web site: Memorable Manitobans: George Taylor Richardson (1924–2014). Manitoba Historical Society. January 11, 2018.
  7. Book: MacLeod. From Rinks to Regiments. 39.
  8. Web site: War hero George Richardson. Original Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum. January 11, 2018.
  9. Web site: Richardson, George — Honoured Member. Legends of Hockey. Hockey Hall of Fame. January 8, 2018.
  10. Web site: In memory of Captain George Taylor Richardson. Canadian Virtual War Memorial. Veterans Affairs Canada. January 9, 2018.
  11. Web site: Circumstances of Death Registers, First World War. Circumstances of Death Registers, First World War. Library and Archives Canada. January 10, 2018.
  12. Web site: First World War Book of Remembrance. Veterans Affairs Canada. January 10, 2018.
  13. News: Capt. Richardson Remembered Men. The Toronto Sunday World. Kingston. 4. English. Toronto World. March 5, 1916. January 10, 2018.
  14. Web site: George Taylor Richardson Memorial Fund. Queen's University. Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal. January 11, 2018.
  15. Web site: George Richardson Memorial Stadium. Queen's Encyclopedia. Queen's University. January 11, 2018.
  16. Web site: History of hockey and the Canadian military. March 29, 2017. Veterans Affairs Canada. January 11, 2018.