Jerwa was born in Jaworzno, Russian Empire (now Poland) on 15 March 1909 to Frank and Anna Jerwa.[3][4][1] He had three brothers, Joe, Art, and Steve, all of whom later played hockey, and a sister, Josephine.[5][6][7][4] The family moved to Bankhead, Alberta in 1911, then to nearby Canmore in 1922.[8][9] He and his brother Joe played for both the Canmore Miners junior and senior teams during the late 1920s.[8][10] He played for the Miners junior team between 1927 and 1928 before moving on to the Regina Pats for the 1928–1929 season.[1][11]
Career
Jerwa signed with the Vancouver Lions in 1929, where he played alongside his brother Joe.[12][13][14] Jerwa was traded to the Boston Bruins in April 1931 and again played with his brother.[15][16] His debut came against the Montreal Maroons on November 14, 1931, but it wasn't until February 4, 1932, against the New York Americans, where he scored a goal and made an assist, that he earned any points.[11][17] He played 65 games with the Bruins but spent most of his time in Boston with the Boston Cubs, with whom he played 101 games.[1][18]
He and Gene Carrigan were both traded in January 1935 to the St. Louis Eagles, though his start was delayed due to a broken arm.[11][19][20] He and Joe Lamb hold the title for fastest two goals in the Eagles franchise at 14:50 and 14:53 on March 12, 1935.[21] He played 16 games before the club was disbanded; he returned to the east coast in October 1935, this time for the New Haven Eagles, a Bruins affiliate.[22][18][1][23][24] After 45 games there, he briefly played for the Vancouver Lions, then went to the Springfield Indians for 35 games in November 1936.[25][26] That year, he also played for the Can-Am All-Star team.[citation needed] In 1937, he signed with the Seattle Seahawks, played 88 games, and finished his career as a member of the Lions once more from November 1939 to 1941.[27] He played 140 total career games with the Lions.[18][1] He retired from professional hockey in October 1941.[28]
Later life
After leaving the professional hockey circuit, he settled in Vancouver and played in the British Columbia Hockey League with St. Regis.[29][4] He died on 6 August 1992 in Penticton, British Columbia.[30] He was survived by his wife Frances Ella, daughter Shirley, 3 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.[30] Frances died in 2002.[31]
