George Hainsworth

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George Hainsworth (June 26, 1895 in Toronto, Ontario - October 9, 1950) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League (NHL).

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[edit] Playing career

Hainsworth played for the WCHL's Saskatoon Crescents and Saskatoon Sheiks before arriving in Montreal. He had the unenviable task of replacing Georges Vezina, the beloved Canadiens goaltender who had died of tuberculosis, and who had played every game in team history from the 1910–11 season until the opening game of the 1925–26 NHL season, when the illness proved too much for him, inspiring the team to donate the Vezina Trophy for most valuable goaltender.

Hainsworth proved up to the challenge by winning the Trophy for the 1926–27 NHL season, 1927–28 NHL season and 1928–29 NHL seasons. In 1928–29, he set an all-time record with 22 shutouts and a 0.98 goals against average while only playing 44 games. In 1930 he set an NHL record that still stands, going 270 minutes and 8 seconds without allowing a goal during the playoffs for the Canadiens. He backstopped the Canadiens to back to back Stanley Cups in 1929–30 and 1930–31.

Hainsworth served as the Canadiens captain during 1932–33, becoming the first of only three goalies to serve as an NHL team's captain (Charlie Gardiner with the Black Hawks in 1933–34 and Bill Durnan with the Canadiens during the later half of 1947–48, would later serve as captains). He was traded to Toronto in 1933 and helped the Maple Leafs reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 1935.

[edit] Post career

He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1961. In 1998, he was ranked number 46 on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.

After his career, he was a regular on hockey's "Hot Stove League."

Hainsworth, at the age of 55, was killed in an auto accident on October 9, 1950.

[edit] Records

  • He is the all-time leader in professional shutouts with 104.
  • His 94 shutouts are third on the NHL's all-time list behind Martin Brodeur's 96 and Terry Sawchuk's 103.
  • Has the lowest career goals against average tied with Alex Connell.
  • Holds the single-season shutout record with 22 shutouts, a mark likely never to be touched.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Sylvio Mantha		 Montreal Canadiens captains
1932–33		 Succeeded by
Sylvio Mantha
Preceded by
New Award		 Winner of the Vezina Trophy
1927, 1928, 1929		 Succeeded by
Cecil Thompson