One of the most cherished members of the Kingston, Ontario, hockey community has passed away.
Stewart “Stu” Crawford, a hockey player who graduated from Queen’s University and served in the Second World War, passed away on Monday at the age of 100.
Crawford was well known in and around the Kingston hockey community as a staunch supporter of the Queen’s hockey program.
“His passion for hockey was unrivalled, his passion for Queen’s hockey on its own was unrivalled and he’s going to be sorely missed,” said Dave Descent, president of the Queen’s University hockey booster club and a close friend of Crawford’s.
Crawford served his country honourably in the military before joining the team from 1947 to 1951.
In a post by the Queen’s University Alumni Society, it was stated that he was only 24 years old when, while serving as a bomb aimer, his plane was shot down and he was forced to jump.
Crawford made it out alive and made it to safety by through a landmine field.
After leaving the military, he started playing hockey for Queen’s, which would, in part, define the rest of his life.
One of Crawford’s favourite memories, according to Descent, was playing McGill University at the former Montreal Forum.
Crawford’s love of hockey never wavered as he aged; in fact, he was known to have continued skating well into his nineties.
Additionally, Mike Downie wrote a book and made a movie about him, both of which were showcased at Queen’s Homecoming in October.
Crawford was honoured earlier this year by the Gaels hockey team for his contributions by having a plaque bearing his name installed in the team room.
WWII veteran and prominent hockey player from Queen’s University passes away
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