Marcel Fillion played one game for the Boston Bruins in 1944-45. Other than his big league cameo, he was a prolfic goal scorer in junior, senior and the minor leagues. He starred for the Shawinigan Cataracts and Quebec Sea Gulls between 1940-43. After not taking part in the 1943-44 season, Fillion scored 78 points in 46 games for the Boston Olympics of the EHL and dressed once for Boston. He was an integral component of the Boston Olympics' EHL championships in 1945 and 1947 then played two years for the Sherbrooke Saints of the QSHL before retiring in 1951 without a card.
Don Gallinger's introduction to the big time came during the war years, when virtually every NHL team was desperate to fill the gaps left by regulars who had enlisted in the service. He was only 17 tears of age when called up to Boston. He was paired with "Bep" Guidolin, another fuzzy-faced 17- year-old, and Bill Shill, who was just 19 and they were tagged the "Sprout Line." Over the course of his 5 years in Boston he was riding high in the sports world. But suddenly the bubble burst. In March of 1948 he was suspended from play and then was handed an indefinite suspension stemming from his association with Detroit bookmaker and racketeer, James Tamer. He made several attempts to have the suspension lifted, but all failed and he left the game without a card.
Armand Gaudreault played the 1944-45 season with the Boston Bruins appearing in 44 games. He scored 15 goals on a Bruins club decimated by the loss of players to military service and later recorded consecutive 20-goal seasons for the AHL's Hershey Bears. After spending 3 seasons in the AHL Gaudreault returned to the senior Aces for the last three years of his career before retiring in 1952 without an NHL card.
Gordie Henry played a few regular season and playoff games for the Boston Bruins in the 40s and 50s but attained most of his pro success in the AHL and EHL. He signed with the Philadelphia Falcons of the EHL and excelled in 28 games as a rookie in 1943-44 earning a place on the league's second all-star team. By the late 40's Henry was the first string back-stopper for the Hershey Bears where he led the team to the 1947 Calder Cup. He recorded a shutout in his first NHL game in 1948-49 for Boston and played for them in the 1952 and 1953 Stanley Cup playoffs appearing in a total of 8 NHL games. After spending a year with the senior Owen Sound Mercurys in 1955-56, Henry played one game for the EHL's Philadelphia Ramblers the next season before retiring without a hockey card.
Cal Gardner played his junior hockey in Winnipeg then entered the military for the duration of World War II. Fresh out of the service in 1945, he joined the New York Rovers of the EHL and netted 73 points in 40 games. New York Rangers GM Lester Patrick took note and Cal was off to Broadway. After a little more than two campaigns in New York, he was sent to the Leafs where he notched 163 points in 247 games, made two All-Star game appearances and celebrated three Stanley Cup victories. In 1952, he joined the lowly Blackhawks for one season before settling in for the duration with the Boston Bruins for 4 seasons. He retired after the 1960-61 season spent with Cleveland in the AHL. He had cards issued as a Leaf, his rookie in '51-52 Parkie set, and as a Bruin, client wanted a '55-56 Parkie custom.
You can purchase these cards, or any of my Missing Link creations, for $10 each postpaid, or $7.95 each for 3 or more. Email me at: [email protected], volume discounts available on larger orders.