George Gardner

George Edward "Bud" Gardner (b. October 8, 1942 in Lachine, Quebec - d. November 6, 2006 in Florida) was the first-ever goaltender for the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks.

A Boston Bruins prospect, he started out with the junior Victoriaville Bruins in 1961-62 and then moved to the Niagara Falls Flyers the following season.

Gardner broke into the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings after they drafted him from the Bruins. With the Wings, Gardner had to compete with Roger Crozier and Roy Edwards for playing time. He spent much of his time in the minors. The Vancouver Canucks (WHL) accquired him in 1968 and he was the Western Hockey League's leading goaltender in 1969-70. His rights were accquired by the new Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League when they bought the Western League team.

In Vancouver, he played in 42 games over two seasons before jumping to the new World Hockey Association. In 1972-73, he spent much of the season as the number 1 goalie for the Los Angeles Sharks, and teamed with Russ Gillow to help the Sharks to a 3rd place finish and allow the 3rd fewest goals in the WHA.