It's been a mission for Robbie Thomlinson to see his great-uncle Tommy "Cowboy" Anderson get the nod to enter the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Anderson is one of three players in NHL history to have won the Hart Trophy and not been inducted into the hall.
He was the first defenseman ever to lead his team in points and the first defenseman to win the Hart Trophy in 1942 with the Brooklyn Americans who were formerly known as the New York Americans.
"I'm not too sure if maybe him enlisting into the military after winning the Hart Trophy was maybe why he got forgotten, I'm not too sure," said Thomlinson.
Anderson played with the Drumheller Miners in 1928 until he made it to the NHL in 1934.
He joined the Canadian military during World War II and served with the Calgary Currie Army where he played for three years, winning the championship in a three-peat.
"He never had to go out to war, but he was prepared to do so and help out largely by keeping morale up and helping drive recruitment," said Thomlinson.
Anderson recorded 189 points in his NHL career with 62 goals and 127 assists with his best year coming in 1942 when he won the Hart Trophy.
"His coach Red Dutton moved him to defense and named him captain. He had 41 points that year," added Thomlinson.
Anderson also earned his nickname of "Cowboy" as he ended up entering and winning money at the Calgary Stampede.
"He was a pretty good outdoorsman as it was and was good with horses. His buddies pooled together some money so he could enter," recounted Thomlinson.
Vicki McFadyen with Atomic 10 Films is working with the family to bring Anderson's story to life in a documentary called Ice Cowboy.
According to McFadyen, she interviewed Anderson's sister, who recently passed away along with Al Coates, former NHL general manager, and Stanley Cup champion Robyn Regehr.
McFadyen also interviewed Alison Mercer, a curator at the Military Museums in Calgary.
"I feel like we got some really equitable names to speak on behalf of the story."
Mcfadyen said it was incredible as a filmmaker to go back in time.
"The gear that they used and the ice, and it's just an interesting story."
Thomlinson also laced up his great-uncle's skates for the documentary.
"My feet were a little bit bigger than his skates were, so I had my feet stuck in those skates for so long I felt like my feet were going to fall off," he joked.
Thomlinson told StrathmoreNow that he wants his great uncle's legacy to not only be a great hockey player but a patriotic Canadian as well.
"He emigrated from Scotland when he was young over here. To win the NHL's most valuable player and then giving his career up to enlist in the military is pretty significant for any era at the end of the day."
The documentary is currently being mastered for approval and in the next few weeks will be ready for viewing.
Thomlinson also mentioned that his great-uncle scouted and mentored Bill Barilko, one of the most famous Toronto Maple Leaf players.
"After the war was over the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired my uncle Tommy's rights and he ended up playing for a couple of their affiliate teams, one being the Hollywood Wolves. Tommy played with Bill Barilko on that team."
Thomlinson said the family has a letter from Hap Day, the coach of the Leafs at that time, thanking Anderson for recruiting Barilko.
Iconic Canadian band The Tragically Hip wrote a song about Barilko called Fifty Mission Cap after he mysteriously disappeared. It was later found out that Barilko died in a plane crash.
As for Thomlinson, he hopes the continued word of his great-uncle's story will continue to inspire others to look into granting him a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame.