ohn Goldner grew up in the Town of Mount Royal, Quebec where he was a regular on the outdoor rinks and at the Recreation Center. John began playing minor hockey at an early age and continued competing in the TMR leagues until he was eighteen. One summer, he attended Haliburton Hockey Haven near Haliburton, Ontario. Growing up, John always rooted for the Montreal Canadiens, and his favourite player was Henri (Pocket Rocket) Richard.