Hockey great Terry Sawchuk's local roots celebrated in bio-doc

He died 45 years ago, but his All-Star career remains. Winnipegger and NHL goalie great Terry Sawchuk who had strong ties to his Ukrainian community, is now the subject of a biographical documentary directed by fellow Winnipegger Danny Schur. 

"Terry Sawchuk, bar none, is the best hockey player that ever came from Winnipeg," Schur said, "General consens​us is he was the greatest goalie ever, and he came from here, and I think the Winnipeg story is forgotten, so I'm making a documentary about Terry Sawchuk's Winnipeg years in particular." 

​The movie, Terry Sawchuk - The Winnipeg Years, documents Sawchuk's years growing up in Winnipeg during the 1930s and 40s. The film features period ​re-enactments. It will premiere at the Terry Sawchuk arena and Schur hopes to have the documentary ready by the next hockey season.

Schur is a Winnipeg-based composer/lyricist/author and producer who is best know for his musical Strike! - set against the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike.  

He said he and Sawchuk share a common background. 

"He was the greatest goalie ever. I'm a goalie, so I feel an affinity. He's Ukrainian-Canadian of a generation where it was just starting to be a little bit cool to be ethnic. He came of age when you weren't judged on where you came from, or how your birth was or who your parents were, but what you did, so this is when Winnipeggers could start to dream to be more, so that's kind of inspiring." Schur said.

Actor doesn't remember Sawchuk, but is thrilled to play him

Markian Tarasiuk, a 21-year-old actor and Winnipegger living in Vancouver, plays the part of 18-year-old Terry Sawchuk. Although too young to remember Sawchuk, Tarasiuk is an avid hockey fan and said he's honoured to land the role. 

"You have a respon​s​ibility as an actor to give life to this human being that once lived and was so legendary," Tarasiuk said. "Seeing this story come to life on the screen and his story being told through this documentary that Danny's planning for is going to be a great thing to watch. And I feel lucky to be including myself in telling that story."

Schur's history of highlighting Manitoba in his films and musicals is set to play out on a larger stage. His musical about the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 is now being made into a movie. 

"My personal mission in life is to put flesh and blood on Winnipeg characters. I think we can learn so much by revisiting them," Schur said. "There's all these characters from our history that we don't know, and they're right here. His mask is in the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame, and he died in 1970. People my age and younger don​'​t really know about him, so he's a prime candidate for bringing back our awareness."

Long list of Sawchuk's accomplishments on ice

Terry Sawchuk was born in Winnipeg in 1929 and tried out for the Detroit Red Wings when he was just 14 years old. Although he signed a contract with them, he didn't start playing with the junior Red Wings until he was 16. 
He made his debut with the NHL in 1950. 

During Sawchuk's 21-year career, he played 971 regular season games, and won 447 of them, which was a record until 2000, when Patrick Roy broke it. 

Over his career Sawchuk won four Stanley Cups, four Vezina trophies, was an All-Star 11 times, ranked second on the all-time shutout list of 103 shutouts (this record wasn't beaten until 2009, by Martin Brodeur) and was named Manitoba's Player of the Century. The Detroit Red WIngs retired his number - 1 - in 1994.

In 1970, Sawchuk died of pulmonary embolism at the age of 40 when he sustained internal injuries during a fight with his roommate, New York Rangers teammate Ron Stewart. One year after his death, Sawchuk was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.