He was arguably the best goaltender ever to play in the National Hockey League. He was the best NHL’er to come out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. He played 21 seasons in the NHL and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1971, one year after his death. He won four Vezina trophies (top goalie award) and four Stanley Cups. Born to Ukrainian Canadian parents and raised in East Kildonan, British Columbia, he once broke his elbow, never had it fixed and could never straighten it again. This ultimate success story is about to be told in the form of a movie.
“Terry Sawchuk – The Winnipeg Years,” is a biographical documentary about the legendary netminder who passed away 45 years ago. Fellow Winnipeg-native Danny Schur has made it his mission in life “to put flesh and blood on Winnipeg characters.” Mr. Schur is a composer/lyricist/author/producer who wants to share Sawchuk’s accomplishments from a past generation. The Ukrainian wasn’t judged by where he came from, who his parents were or what he did – he allowed Winnipeggers to dream of greater personal achievements.
Mr. Schur’s subject is a compelling one. Sawchuk was raised in a poor, strict Ukrainian household which turned into a gritty hockey career that included major injuries (400-plus stitches to his face). The theme of the documentary is “everything Terry Sawchuk became was because he was made in Winnipeg.” The movie documents Sawchuk’s years growing up in Winnipeg during the 1930s and 1940s, featuring period re-enactments. It is to premiere at the Terry Sawchuk Arena and is to be completed by the start of the 2015-2016 hockey season.
Ukrainian Canadian Markian Tarasiuk is the 21-year-old Winnipeg native and Vancouver resident, who plays the part of 18-year-old Terry Sawchuk in the doc-movie. Mr. Tarasiuk is a big hockey fan who is too young to recall Sawchuk’s banner career, but he said he was honored to earn the role.
In an interview with Sara Calnek of CBC News he admitted to having “a responsibility as an actor to give life to this human being that once lived and was so legendary. Seeing this story come to life on the screen and his story being told through this documentary is going to be a great thing to watch. And I feel lucky to be including myself in telling that story.”
(A special thank you to colleague Orysia Tracz for sharing news of Danny Schur’s upcoming documentary/film project with The Weekly’s sports columnist.)