IMAGE INFORMATION
EditJohn Shea "Jack" Crawford - Born October 26, 1916 in Dublin, Ontario – Died January 19, 1973 in Hyannis, Massachusetts was a Canadian ice Hockey defenceman.
Crawford started out in junior Hockey with the St. Michael's Buzzers, winning the first ever Sutherland Cup as All-Ontario Junior "B" Champions in 1934. Then joined the Toronto St. Michael's Majors for the 1934-35 season.
In 1935-36 Crawford switched to the West Toronto Nationals where he helped the Nationals win the 1936 Memorial Cup championship. Crawford also played for the Toronto McColl-Frontenacs during this season.
Crawford would join the Kirkland Lake Blue Devils for 1936-37 season.
Crawford became a professional Hockey player in 1937-38, playing 46 games with the Providence Reds of the IAHL. He also suited up for two games with the Boston Bruins of the NHL. He played with the Bruins for another 12 years on a full-time basis, and in many of those later years was seen as a leader who helped teach the younger players the finer aspects of the game.
In his 12 years with the Bruins, his best offensive output came in 1944-45 when he tallied five goals and 19 assists for 24 points in 40 games. The Bruins played in four Stanley Cup finals, winning two and losing two. The championship years came in 1939, with a four-games-to-one win over the Toronto Maple Leafs and 1941, beating the Detroit Red Wings in four straight. The runner-up seasons were in 1943 against Detroit and 1946 against the Montreal Canadiens.
Crawford played his entire NHL career with the Bruins and retired after the 1950 season.
In 1943 and 1946, he was a member of the NHL All-Star Team.
In 1950 he joined the Hershey Bears as a player-coach for two years. He retired as a player in 1952.
He coached the Providence Reds from 1955–60, winning the Calder Cup in 1955-56. After that he coached the Rochester Americans in 1961-62 and the Cleveland Barons in 1964-65 and part of 1965-66. Crawford coached 659 games in the American Hockey League (10th on the all-time list).
Crawford was also was the general manager of the Cape Cod Cubs of the Eastern Hockey League in 1972-73.
Crawford's preference was to be called "Johnny" or "John", the media often referred to him as "Jack"