BORN APRIL 6TH, 1952, he was a long-serving defenseman, captain, coach and committee member of the Blackhawks ice hockey club in the Victorian League from the early 1970s. Remembered at the Club for his high-energy game and no-nonsense approach, "jersey number 5 patrolled the blue line through many years of service, finishing in a 'Hawks premiership team that also featured his son, Darren".
He coached the clubs A- and B-grade teams, noting once "I never coached a team in which my son played". He played 592 games in the Victorian league, one of a handful of players to have exceeded 500 games. He donated his Club's Best Defenceman perpetual trophy and was made a Life Member.
He represented Victoria winning four Goodall Cups in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976 and continued on for over twenty years until 1996. He represented Australia in the 1974 and 1979 World Championships and the three match series against West Germany (Junior U21) in 1977. He still plays for the Melbourne Nite Owls in the Old Timers League.
His son Darren played for Melbourne Ice in the AIHL, represented Australia at the 2002 World Championships, and played his 250th local game at the Melbourne Jets in 2016. Also known by the moniker, 'King Bonza', Gary Croft built a successful plumbing, heating and air conditioning contracting company.
Ross Carpenter, 'Croft, Gary (1952 - )', Legends of Australian Ice, Melbourne, Australia, http://icelegendsaustralia.com/bio_croft.html, accessed online .