NHL Signs Bridgeland Resident
This might have been the headline in the Calgary Herald in 1934 when David “Sweeney” Schriner joined the New York Americans to begin his 11-year career in the National Hockey League. And all of Bridgeland would have been ecstatic about the achievements of their local hero! But how did a hometown boy get to the NHL?
David Schriner was born in Russia in 1911 and immigrated to Canada with his parents soon after. They settled in Bridgeland alongside many other Germans from Russia. David was a natural athlete and excelled in team sports that were popular in the day – especially football, baseball and hockey. He learned to skate on outdoor rinks – perhaps the rink at what is now the 9A Street park – and then went on to play minor and senior hockey in the city. Playing for the Calgary Broncs in the early ‘30s, he was a top scorer, an accomplishment that drew the attention of the NHL scouts.
How did he get his name? David was a big fan of baseball player Bob Sweeney and due to his skill with baseball was nicknamed “L’il Sweeney”. He gravitated to hockey and came to be known as ‘Sweeney’ Schriner for the duration of his athletic career.
Sweeney joined the New York Americans for the 1934-35 season as a left winger and he finished his first NHL year with 40 points, and won the ‘Rookie of the Year’ award. Traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for 5 players in 1939, Sweeney soon proved his worth. He was a key scorer in the Leaf’s Stanley Cup victory over the Detroit Red Wings in 1942 and won the Cup with Toronto again in 1945. He then finished his career with the NHL but played and coached for a few more years with several teams in the west. After retirement from professional hockey he returned to Calgary, married and worked in the oil and gas industry but he stayed connected to hockey. Sweeney was considered a great role model and mentor to many young players in the city. To this day the Canada West Universities Athletic Association awards the David ‘Sweeney’ Schriner trophy to the top scorer in the league.
I first heard about Sweeney Schriner a few years ago when I was doing a walk around Bridgeland with long time resident Marshall Libicz. He recounted the excitement and pride of the locals during the 30s and 40s, especially among the boys, about Sweeney’s amazing hockey career. Marshall pointed out the home where Sweeney lived– a white stucco bungalow that still stands on the SE corner of 7th Street and 2nd Avenue. (The home has recently been renovated by architect Ryan Schmidt, the grandson of a German from Russia immigrant). Sweeney died in 1990 but his spirit lives on in Bridgeland and perhaps is being passed down to another local youngster who dreams of hockey fame.
Deb Lee
BRCA Heritage Committee
Info and picture of Sweeney Schriner sourced from Wikipedia January 7, 2020
