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. Events 43 BC - Marcus Tullius Cicero assassinated 1696 - Connecticut Route 108, one of the oldest highways Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. This article is about the goaltender in Ice hockey. For the similar position in other sports see Goalkeeper. The National Hockey League ( NHL) is a professional Ice hockey league composed of 30 teams in North America The World Hockey Association (French Association Mondiale de Hockey) was a professional Ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972
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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. The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level Ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. He was owned by the Toronto Maple Leafs until the Boston Bruins drafted him in 1965. "Leafs" and "Maple Leafs" redirect here For the former American Hockey League team see St The Boston Bruins are a professional Ice hockey team based in Boston Massachusetts. 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. The 1969–70 NHL season was the 53rd season of the National Hockey League. The 1971–72 NHL season was the 55th season of the National Hockey League. The Stanley Cup (La Coupe Stanley is an Ice hockey club championship Trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL playoffs champion
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. Harry James Sinden (born September 14, 1932 in Kingston Ontario, Canada) was the long-time general manager coach and president for the 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. The Hockey Hall of Fame ( Temple de la renommée du hockey in French) is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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. The World Hockey Association (French Association Mondiale de Hockey) was a professional Ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 The Cleveland Crusaders were a professional Ice hockey team from Cleveland Ohio. All-star (also allstar or all star) is a term with meanings in both the worlds of Sports and
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. Goals against average ( GAA) is a Statistic used in Ice hockey, Water polo, Lacrosse, and Football (soccer that is the 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. The Thoroughbred is a horse breed
Regular season
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956–57 | Toronto St. Mike's | OHA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 4 | 0 | 4. 00 |
| 1957–58 | Toronto St. Mike's | OHA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 3 | 0 | 3. 00 |
| 1958–59 | Toronto St. Mike's | OHA | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 360 | 28 | 0 | 4. 67 |
| 1958–59 | Toronto St. Mike's | OHA | 36 | 18 | 13 | 5 | 2160 | 111 | 5 | 3. 08 |
| 1959–60 | Toronto St. Mikes | OHA | 36 | 18 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3. 08 | ||
| 1960–61 | Toronto St. Mikes | OHA | 30 | 12 | 20 | 5 | 2 | 3. 18 | ||
| 1960–61 | Toronto St. Mikes | OHA | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2. 33 | ||
| 1961–62 | Pittsburgh Hornets | AHL | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4. 20 | ||
| 1961–62 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | EPHL | 29 | 13 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 3. 55 | ||
| 1961–62 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3. 00 | ||
| 1961–62 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 19 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 3. 63 | ||
| 1962–63 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 19 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 3. 95 | ||
| 1962–63 | Sudbury Wolves | EPHL | 51 | 17 | 24 | 10 | 4 | 4. 15 | ||
| 1963–64 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 66 | 38 | 25 | 2 | 4359 | 195 | 3 | 2. 84 |
| 1964–65 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 72 | 48 | 21 | 3 | 5 | 2. 68 | ||
| 1965–66 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 7 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 6. 00 | ||
| 1965–66 | Oklahoma City Blazers | CPHL | 30 | 16 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 2. 49 | ||
| 1966–67 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 22 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 1284 | 72 | 1 | 3. 33 |
| 1966–67 | Oklahoma City Blazers | CPHL | 26 | 14 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 2. 80 | ||
| 1967–68 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 47 | 23 | 17 | 5 | 2646 | 125 | 3 | 2. 83 |
| 1968–69 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 52 | 28 | 12 | 12 | 3112 | 145 | 3 | 2. 80 |
| 1969–70 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 41 | 24 | 8 | 8 | 2384 | 108 | 4 | 2. 72 |
| 1970–71 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 40 | 27 | 8 | 5 | 2400 | 109 | 3 | 2. 73 |
| 1971–72 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 41 | 27 | 5 | 8 | 2420 | 101 | 2 | 2. 50 |
| 1972–73 | Cleveland Crusaders | WHA | 52 | 32 | 20 | 0 | 3144 | 149 | 5 | 2. 84 |
| 1973–74 | Cleveland Crusaders | WHA | 59 | 30 | 20 | 6 | 3562 | 180 | 4 | 3. 03 |
| 1974–75 | Cleveland Crusaders | WHA | 52 | 26 | 24 | 2 | 3076 | 167 | 4 | 3. 26 |
| 1975–76 | Cleveland Crusaders | WHA | 28 | 11 | 14 | 1 | 1570 | 95 | 1 | 3. 63 |
| 1975–76 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 15 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 900 | 41 | 1 | 2. 73 |
| 1976–77 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 45 | 0 | 4 | 46 | 0 | 4 | 1 | |
| 1976–77 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 45 | 30 | 10 | 5 | 2700 | 137 | 3 | 3. 04 |
| 1977–78 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 21 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 1086 | 48 | 1 | 2. 65 |
| 1978–79 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 43 | 23 | 9 | 10 | 2509 | 132 | 1 | 3. 16 |
| 1979–80 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 42 | 24 | 11 | 7 | 2479 | 116 | 4 | 2. 81 |
Awards
- 1964–65 Harry (Hap) Holmes Memorial Award, which goes to the AHL goalie with the best goals against average. Goals against average ( GAA) is a Statistic used in Ice hockey, Water polo, Lacrosse, and Football (soccer that is the
- Played in the 1969 NHL All-Star Game. The National Hockey League All-Star Game (Match des Étoiles de la Ligue Nationale de Hockey is an exhibition Ice hockey game that traditionally marks the midway
- 1973 WHA First Team All-Star, won Ben Hatskin Award for best goaltender. The World Hockey Association (French Association Mondiale de Hockey) was a professional Ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972
- 1979–80 Runner-up for the NHL's Vezina Memorial Trophy (Lowest goals against average). Runner-up is a term used to denote a participant which finishes in second place in any of a variety of competitive endeavors most notably sporting events and Beauty pageants The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League 's Goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position"
- Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985. The Hockey Hall of Fame ( Temple de la renommée du hockey in French) is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- 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
External links
- Gerry Cheevers's biography at Legends of Hockey
- Gerry Cheevers Personal Site: http://www.gerrycheevers.com/
| Preceded by Harry Sinden |
Head Coaches of the Boston Bruins 1980–1985 |
Succeeded by Harry Sinden |
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