Grandy, Charlie

BORN SEPTEMBER 11TH 1939 to parents John and Helen of Brooklin, Ontario, he developed in the Ontario Minor Hockey Association through the Bantam, Juvenile and Junior D grades winning championships along the way. He played lacrosse with Elgin Luke and Phil Hall in the Whitby Red Wings of the Ontario Junior A Lacrosse League. In 1960, they won the Iroquois Trophy and represented Eastern Canada in the finals of the Minto Cup, awarded annually to the national junior champion. They lost to Westminster Salmonbellies of Vancouver.

He arrived in Australia in 1962 with Hall and Luke, and played ice hockey for St George in the New South Wales league in 1963 and 1964. He won two Goodall Cups representing the state in the same years. He was also a member of the second Olympic qualification team in Japan in 1964, the year he moved to Melbourne where he played for the local Blackhawks between 1964 and '66. He returned to Canada, but not before winning the 1966 state premiership with the 'Hawks.

Back in Australia 5 years later, he resumed playing with the Blackhawks from 1971 until 1981, often as captain, then as A-grade coach for several years winning the 1984 Premiership. He was also the Team Manager on the 2002 and 2005 Premiership teams. Remembered at the club as "a tough, hard hitting defenseman wearing the feared Number 4 jersey", he was awarded Life Membership.

He was Captain of Victoria on numerous occasions representing the state in the Goodall Cup between 1965 and '81. He won a total of 9 Goodall Cups for Victoria (’65, ’66, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76, ’78 and ’79), taking his career total to a record 11. He was also the only player present in every series of Elgin Luke's 5 win streak, 1972 to '76. He played in the Australian Team for the 3-match series against West Germany at Ringwood Iceland in 1977, and he was Captain of Australia in the 1963 Olympic Qualification Tournament and the 1974 and 1979 (Pool C) World Championships. His son, Glenn, played left-wing with the Blackhawks, Melbourne Ice and Australia in five world championships.

He was junior vice president of the Victorian association in 1978 and president for 10 years between 1979 and 1981, then 1988 to 1994 inclusive. He was awarded Life Membership in recognition of his contribution to the sport of ice hockey in Victoria. Then in 1998 he was awarded Life Membership of the national association for distinguished service and assisting the advancement of ice hockey in Australia.

A recipient of the Australian Sports Medal in 2000 for 'AIHF life member and past AIHF vice-president and treasurer'. He was made a Legend of Oldtimers Ice Hockey in 2013. He donated the Blackhawks Best Defenseman Trophy and the Charles Grandy Championship Trophy was awarded annually in his honour to the Junior Elite (Midget) League Champions in the Victorian league between 2008 and 2013.