Like many Canadian youngsters, George Gee had a dream to play hockey in the NHL. He almost abandoned that dream when, after moving up through the normal ranks which lead to the big time, he was convinced he was not going to make it. Born in Stratford, Ontario on June 28, 1922, his first real opportunity to climb the ladder of shinny success led him to Toronto where he joined the Columbus Boys Club team at the Juvenile level. The next year saw him sporting the colours of the Owen Sound Jr. "B" Grays, and in 1940-41 he moved up to Junior "A" with the Falconbridge Falcons. A scout for the Blackhawks spotted him, and by the next time hockey schedule began to unfold he was a linemate of Billy Mosienko with the Kansas City Americans of the AHA.
His professional aspirations were put on hold in 1942-43 as he returned to Sudbury where he was part of the aggregation which bore the name Sudbury Frood Tigers, and competed in the Allan Cup series in 1943. He was sidetracked further when he donned another kind of uniform, that of Her Majesty's Royal Canadian Navy. His duration of service was two years, and during that time he played for the Cornwall Navy team. When he was discharged, he once again realigned himself with the Chicago franchise, and was assigned to the Kansas City squad for the second time. However, he played only 14 games in the minors before being elevated to the parent Hawks. His totals were creditable in his rookie campaign, but it was in 1946-47 that he came into his own.
In the Original Six era, scoring 20 goals was considered more than respectable, and with his 20 helpers he ended up in 22nd place in the league scoring race. With the Bentley brothers dominating the Windy City scoring, he had little chance in getting more than the occasional Player-Of-The-Week honours to his credit. But, he was rated as a spark-plug with the cellar-dwelling Blackhawks.
Needless to say, his name was custom made for the occasional pun! When he regained some of his lost scoring punch as a member of the Detroit Red Wings in 1950-51, a Hockey News headline read: "Gee! Look At Gee Go!" Using a take off from the Howe-Lindsay-Abel "Production Line" nickname, coach Tommy Ivan tagged him and his forward partners, Metro Prystai and Gaye Stuart, the "Reproduction Line"! What may easily be forgotten is the Stratford native's contributions to the Motor City's Stanley Cup win in 1950. With the Rangers poised to break their own 19-year championship drought, the seventh game of the finals had reached the 8:31 minute of the second extra frame. Pete Babando became the season's hero by firing a low shot past the screened Chuck Rayner. But it was Gee who motioned his winger into position, won the faceoff, and slid the biscuit to the waiting forward.
The slim-faced centre stayed one more season in Detroit only to be returned to his former team in Chicago. After two solid campaigns, his totals dropped off; and in 1954-55 he hooked up with the Windsor Bulldogs of the Senior OHA loop. He was appointed general manager, playing parts of three years in Windsor. Gee passed away while playing for Detroit Old-Timers in game vs. Wyandotte Juniors, January 14, 1972.
