HARRY BUECKERT
Date of Birth: 1940-08-15Date of Induction: 2025-12-20
Growing up around Gretna and Altona, Manitoba, Harry Bueckert’s hockey skills, especially his ability to put the puck in the net, would catch the eye of GM Dennis Ball of the MJHL Winnipeg Rangers.
Joining the Rangers in the 1959/60 regular season, the Rangers would finish fourth and battle their way to the 1960 MJHL final, losing a close series to the heavily-favoured Brandon Wheat Kings.
In the 1960/61 season, Harry led the Rangers in goals earning all-star recognition. He also earned the colourful nickname ‘the Gretna Garbageman’ from his teammates for his ability to tidy up loose pucks around opponents’ nets. The underdog Rangers would take the MJHL Turnbull title over the Wheaties before bowing to the Edmonton Oil Kings in the Western Memorial Cup final.
After attending the WHL Los Angeles Blades 1961 training camp, Harry passed on pro hockey and returned to Manitoba. He would join the Altona Maroons of the South East Manitoba Hockey League in 1962. A team that the talented Bueckert had suited up for on occasion as a 16-year-old.
The SEMHL was a highly competitive league that included many former and future pros. Over the next five seasons, Harry Bueckert’s legendary scoring exploits would claim 2 league scoring titles. In 1963/64 he registered the SEMHL single-season scoring record with 50 goals & 65 assists for 115pts.
Bueckert’s name was always on the rolodex of teams looking to add players for inter-provincial play-off runs. First, in 1963 with Warroad Lakers when they fell short of the Canadian Intermediate title. Then in 1965, Harry helped the Flin Flon Warriors claim the Intermediate crown.
In 1966, in addition to playing with Altona, Bueckert joined the Warroad Lakers of the Manitoba Senior Hockey League. An MSHL all-star 3 years straight, Bueckert would win 2 scoring titles while establishing Senior hockey scoring records. The Lakers would win the 1969 MSHL championship.
From 1970 to 1973, Bueckert took on the role of playing/coach with the Altona Maroons, and somehow line up for the MSHL St. Boniface Mohawks. Bueckert would take another pair of SEMHL scoring titles while helping the Mohawks make it to the 1973 Allan Cup final, losing to Orillia
A phone call from Cal Marvin in 1973 would bring Harry back into the Warroad Lakers fold. The Lakers would capture the 1974 Canadian Intermediate Hardy Cup championship.
For the 1974/75 season Bueckert signed on as Playing/Coach for the SEMHL Morden Bombers and registered his 4th scoring title. He would leave the SEMHL having scored 239 goals and 270 assists in 200 games.
After turns coaching in the MJHL and CASHL Bueckert stepped behind the desk as General Manager for the 1980/81 WCHL Winnipeg Warriors.