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November 30, 2006

Terry Sawchuk born in Ternopil, Ukraine?

The 06/07/1998 back issue of The Ukrainian Weekly has an interesting recap on the career and life of NHL goaltending legend Terry Sawhuck. Author Ihor Stelmach makes this stunning claim:
This Ternopil, Ukraine, native (American hockey guidebooks mistakenly list Sawchuk as being born in Winnipeg) would go on and become one of the greatest, arguably the greatest, National Hockey League goaltenders of all time. Fame, money, stardom and notoriety all would eventually be his. However, it would all come with the usually unfortunate price tag.
I have made every effort to contact Mr Stelmach, but he is seemingly unreachable. I have contact every well connected research I know in both Europe and Manitoba, as well as throughout Canada. Every single source suggests Sawchuk's stated birthplace of Winnipeg is correct, although obviously Stelmach has a reason to believe otherwise. It would be interesting to hear Stelmach's evidence, and to see Sawchuk's birth certificate records.

Stelmach also had this to say about the NHL shutout king:
He gained the reputation of a semi-sadistic weirdo when it was learned he actually kept the teeth he lost, the spurs doctors removed from his elbow and even pickled his own appendix after having it removed.
Regardless, Sawchuk was a brilliant goalie, perhaps the greatest ever, and he was a very troubled person. I'm not sure just how reliable all of the information is, but Stelmach paints a disturbing picture of the Hockey Hall of Famer.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well I know the same of Terry Sawchuk's grandson and how you can contact him. He lives in Sasaktoon, Saskatchewan.

He also knows for sure that Terry was born in Winnipeg.

Anonymous said...

Ohhh (in addition to my last post) feel free to email me at macdonaldp@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Hmmm well actually why don't I just post a link, since it's seems he is on the internet now.

http://www.aaastars.ca/playerinfo.php?R=61

Anonymous said...

Terry does not have a grandson living in Saskatoon. All of his living relatives named "Sawchuk" live in either florida or Michigan. I am a reltive from Winnipeg and I can tell you he was born in Winnipeg and, in fact, on his Mother's side is a second generation Canadian. He has no othe Rlatives named Sawchuk other then his brother and his children and their families. Homersonic..did you ever meet Terry. if not keep your comments about his being a 'weirdo" to yourself. People who have never met Terry make these absurd comments and I don't know what they base their information on..

Anonymous said...

Ternopil Ukraine is not where Terry Sawchuk was born..he is an Elmwood boy and was born in the Winnipeg area.

Anonymous said...

But he does have relatives in Saskatoon. I was probably mistaken about him being a grandson.

Pierre Cantin said...

I haver seen both Sawchuk and Jacques Plante play at the old Montréal Forum.
They were outstanding goialies, maybe the best ones. Imagine those two magicians with modern equipment.

Deux superbes gardiens : de beaucoup supérieurs, il me semble, à toute une bande de types de nos jours.

Unknown said...

Did terry live in Pontiac ? Is that why he’s buried there ? Is that a family plot with his Parents? Did they all move to the US because of his Hockey career in Detroit ? Just curious he has always been one of my Hockey Hero’s Truly the Best !!