Gerry Cheevers

Gerald Michael "Gerry" Cheevers (born on December 7, 1940, in St. Catharines, Ontario) is a former goaltender in the National Hockey League and World Hockey Association between 1961 and 1980.

Overview

Cheevers' professional hockey career began in 1956 at the age of 16 when he played for the St. Michael's Majors of the Ontario Hockey Association. He was owned by the Toronto Maple Leafs until the Boston Bruins drafted him in 1965. Cheevers still holds the American Hockey League single-season record for most victories by a goalkeeper. In 1964–65 he totaled 48 victories in leading the Rochester Americans to their first Calder Cup championship. He spent six years in all in the minors until, by 1967, he was Boston's number one goalie. He was a member of both the 1970 and 1972 Stanley Cup winning teams, gaining a reputation as a driven, "money" goaltender.

In 1971–72, he set a record, going undefeated in 33 consecutive games.

Cheevers' unusual stitch-pattern goaltender mask came after a puck hit him in the face during practice. Cheevers, never one to miss an opportunity to skip out of practice, went to the dressing room. Bruins coach Harry Sinden followed him to the dressing room, where he found Cheevers enjoying a beer and smoking a cigarette. Sinden told Cheevers, who wasn't injured, to get back on the ice. In jest, John Forestall, the team trainer, painted a stitch mark on his mask. Ever after, any time he was similarly struck, he would have a new stitch-mark painted on. The mask became one of the most recognized of the era, and the original mask is now on the wall of his grandson's bedroom. Another version is on display in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

In the fall of 1972, he jumped to the fledgling World Hockey Association, playing three and a half seasons for the Cleveland Crusaders as one of the league's best goalies, winning First Team All-Star honors in 1973 and Second Team honors in 1974 and 1975.

Returning to the Bruins during the 1976 season after financial disputes with Cleveland management, Cheevers finished out his playing career at the end of the 1980 season. After hanging up his pads, he became the Bruins' coach, a position he held for four and a half seasons.

Cheevers was not afraid to stray from the crease both to cut down the shooter's angle and to act as a "third defenceman". He was very aggressive with opposing players who strayed into or near the crease. Not a "stand-up" goalie, Cheevers could often be found on his knees or even his side. He perfected this "flopping" style while playing for Rochester during the 1962–63 season. Americans' coach Rudy Migay had Cheevers practice without his stick, thus requiring him to rely more on using his body and his pads. From that point on Cheevers became one of hockey's best goalkeepers.

His cumulative NHL goals against average was 2.89. He recorded 230 NHL wins, played in 419 NHL games, and recorded 26 NHL shutouts. He was also second in the WHA's history in career GAA and shutouts, despite playing in only half the league's seasons.

After his departure as Bruins' coach, Cheevers has devoted his time to his interests in thoroughbred horse racing and as a hockey scout; he retired from the Bruins' scouting staff after the 2005–06 season.

Regular season

Awards

* 1964–65 Harry (Hap) Holmes Memorial Award, which goes to the AHL goalie with the best goals against average.
* Played in the 1969 NHL All-Star Game.
* 1973 WHA First Team All-Star, won Ben Hatskin Award for best goaltender.
* 1979–80 Runner-up for the NHL's Vezina Memorial Trophy (Lowest goals against average).
* Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985.
* Inducted into the Rochester Americans Hall of Fame in 1987.

International play

* 1974 Played for Team Canada at the Summit-74 series
* 1976 Spare goaltender for Team Canada in the Challenge Cup
* 1979 Played for NHL All Stars in the Challenge Cup vs. Team Soviet Union

Publications

In 1971, Cheevers published the book Goaltender detailing his experiences during the previous season. [cite web| url = http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/70356023&tab=editions| title = Goaltender| accessdate = 2008-07-20| publisher = Dodd Mead]

References

External links

*
* Gerry Cheevers Personal Site: http://www.gerrycheevers.com/