Don Gallinger
Bruins forward banned for life in NHL betting scandal.
Don Gallinger, born in Port Colborne, Ontario, played 222 NHL games for the Boston Bruins from 1942 to 1948. He entered the league at age 17, making him one of the youngest players ever, and skated on Boston’s “Sprout Line” alongside Bill Shill and Bep Guidolin. His career ended abruptly in 1948 when he and former teammate Billy Taylor were caught betting on their own teams. The NHL banned both for life, though they were reinstated in 1970; those suspensions remain the longest in league history.
Gallinger came from a hockey family. His father, Frank, played in the Northern Hockey League, and his uncles “Red” and “Shorty” Green were known for playing full 60-minute shifts. Older brother Frank played senior hockey in Port Colborne, while brother Keith played intermediate. In junior hockey, Gallinger was teammates and friends with future Hall of Famer Teeder Kennedy, and the two excelled in both hockey and football.
When Gallinger joined Boston, the Bruins had lost their top scoring line of Milt Schmidt, Bobby Bauer, and Woody Dumart to the Royal Canadian Air Force, forcing teams to rely on younger players. Gallinger showed natural goal-scoring ability and finished third in Calder Trophy voting. The Bruins placed second in the regular season and reached the Stanley Cup Finals, losing to Detroit in four straight games.
He missed much of the 1943–44 season and all of 1944–45 while serving in the Canadian military. Before leaving, on January 8, 1944, the mayor of Port Colborne honored Gallinger and Kennedy with gold watches during a game at Maple Leaf Gardens. Gallinger had scored 13 goals in 23 games with Boston before joining the R.C.A.F. Bombers in February 1944. He graduated top of his air gunners’ class and was discharged as a flying officer in September 1945.
Returning for the 1945–46 season, Gallinger led the Bruins in points. Boston again finished second and reached the Finals, this time losing to Montreal. He also drew interest from baseball: the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies offered him contracts. In April 1946, he tried out with the Red Sox.
Quick Facts
- Position
- Centre
- Played For
- Boston Bruins
- Shoots
- Left
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 0
- Weight Lb
- 170
- Birth Date
- 1925-04-10
- Birth Place
- Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada
- Death Date
- 2000-02-03
- Death Place
- Burlington, Ontario, Canada
- Career Start
- 1942
- Career End
- 1948
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Gallinger came from a hockey family; his father Frank played in the Northern Hockey League, and his uncles "Red" and "Shorty" Green were considered talented players. In junior hockey, Gallinger was teammates and friends with future Hall of Famer Teeder Kennedy. Gallinger was the second-youngest player in NHL history when he broke into the NHL with Boston at age 17. The Bruins had lost their high-scoring line of Milt Schmidt, Bobby Bauer and Woody Dumart to the Royal Canadian Air Force, and NHL teams were willing to accept younger players. Gallinger showed natural ability as a goal-scorer and was third in voting for the Calder rookie of the year award. He missed a large part of the 1943–44 season and all of the 1944–45 season serving with the Canadian military. Before leaving for the military, on January 8, 1944, at Maple Leaf Gardens, the mayor of Port Colborne honored Kennedy and Gallinger with gold watches. Gallinger finished the 1945–46 season leading the Bruins in points. He twice scored playoff overtime goals for Boston, on March 21, 1943, versus Montreal and March 28, 1946, versus Detroit.
Reader's Guide
Gallinger's career is defined by its abrupt end due to the NHL betting scandal. He had gambled on the Bruins from the time of his rookie year, though he later insisted he never bet on Boston to lose until he met Billy Taylor. Taylor, who had a reputation for gambling, explained how Gallinger could double his yearly $7,500 salary by betting on his team to lose. The two became involved with James Tamer, a Detroit gambler and career criminal, and for three months Gallinger bet on eight games, between $250 and $1,000 a game. The scheme was uncovered when a wiretap on Tamer's phone recorded a conversation in which Gallinger said, "Don't worry about the game tonight... I don't intend to do so good. Bet $500 for me." NHL President Clarence Campbell was informed. Gallinger initially denied involvement, but was eventually named by Walter Winchell on March 4, 1948. He and Taylor were banned for life, later reinstated in 1970. The suspensions remain the longest in NHL history. Gallinger had also been offered contracts to play baseball by the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies, but turned them down because the money offered was not enough.
Did You Know?
- He twice scored playoff overtime goals for the Bruins, a feat only Mel Hill had accomplished before him.
- Gallinger was offered contracts by both the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies to play professional baseball.
- He and Billy Taylor were banned for life in 1948 and reinstated in 1970, the longest suspensions in NHL history.
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