Joe Jerwa

Polish Canadian ice hockey defenseman

Joseph Charles Jerwa (22 January 1907 – 11 April 1983) was a Polish born Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman who played 8 seasons in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins and New York Americans between 1930 and 1939. He was the first Polish born player in NHL history.

Jerwa was born in Warsaw, Russian Empire (now Poland) on 22 January 1907 to Frank and Anna Jerwa. The family moved to Bankhead, Alberta in 1911, then to nearby Canmore in 1922. He and his brother Frank played for both the Canmore Miners junior and senior teams during the late 1920s.

Jerwa's hockey career started during the 1928 29 season with the Vancouver Lions in the PCHL. He played 77 games with them between 1928 and 1930 before being traded to the New York Rangers (NYR) along with Red Beattie for $25,000. He played 9 games for the Rangers' Can Am affiliate, the Springfield Indians, before being recalled in December 1930. His NHL debut was on March 17, 1931, with NYR against the Ottawa Senators, wherein he earned 1 assist with a pass to Butch Keeling during the second period. He played 37 games for NYR during the 1930 31 season. In 1931, he was traded from NYR to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Dutch Gainor. The following year, the Bruins traded Red Beattie for Jerwa's brother Frank. Just weeks before his retirement was announced, he was selected to play in the second ever AHL All Star Game on the western team.

Following his retirement from hockey, Jerwa settled in Vancouver and worked as a longshoreman. Jerwa died on April 11, 1983, aged 75, in Coquitlam, British Columbia. He was survived by his wife, children Jerry and Joan, and 5 grandchildren. Millie died in 1993.