Glenn Hall

Glenn Henry "Mr. Goalie" Hall (born October 3, 1931, in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, Canada) is a former professional ice hockey goaltender. During his National Hockey League career with the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, and St. Louis Blues, Hall seldom missed a game and was a consistent performer, winning the Vezina Trophy three times. Nicknamed "Mr. Goalie", he was one of the first goaltenders to develop and make effective use of the butterfly style of goalkeeping.

Professional playing career

Detroit stints

After finishing his junior years playing for the Humboldt Indians and the Windsor Spitfires, he signed with the Detroit Red Wings. The first few years of his NHL career were spent playing in Detroit's minor system. He finally made the Detroit Red Wings lineup as their starting goalie in the 1954-55 season, displacing the great Terry Sawchuk. Hall played in every game of his first full season with the Red Wings, recording twelve shutouts, and winning the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year.

During his second full season with Detroit, he again played every single game, but at season's end, found himself traded to the Chicago Blackhawks. Hall continued his stellar play in the Windy City, playing every single regular-season game as well as every playoff game. As his consecutive game streak continued, his legend grew with it. In 1961, Hall backstopped the Blackhawks to their first Stanley Cup championship since 1938. On November 8, 1962, the record streak finally came to an end against the Boston Bruins; Hall had back problems. Hall managed to play 502 consecutive games, which spanned eight seasons, a NHL record that will probably never be broken.

Later success

Despite winning the Vezina Trophy in 1967, Hall was left un-protected for that summer's NHL expansion draft. The 36-year-old veteran was chosen by the St. Louis Blues. The Blues, a franchise entering its first year in the league, unexpectedly earned a playoff berth in its first season with Hall in net. Hall's stellar play led them all the way to the Stanley Cup finals, where they would eventually lose to the Montreal Canadiens. Although he was not on the winning team, Hall's unbelievable play earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs' Most Valuable Player.

In 1968, veteran goaltending legend Jacques Plante joined the Blues, sharing duties with Hall. The two put together a fine season and won the Vezina Trophy at the end of the 1968-69 NHL season.

Retirement

He had retired after the 1968-69 season, but Hall missed his buddies on the Blues and came out of retirement to play 18 games in 1969-70.

Hall's great career ended after the 1970-71 season when he announced his retirement at the age of 40. In 1975 he was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Legacy

Glenn Hall is widely regarded as one of the first NHL goalies to master the butterfly style of goaltending. He is thought of by many as one of the best goalies to ever play the game. Hall still holds the record for the most First Team All-Star selections (7) which he did while playing the same era as other greats, Sawchuk and Plante (as well as other Hall of Famers, like Johnny Bower, Gump Worsley, and Roger Crozier).

In 1998, he was ranked number 16 on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.

In 2005, the City of Humboldt, Saskatchewan erected a permanent monument to Glenn's career in Glenn Hall Park on Highway #5 (Glenn Hall Drive). The tribute includes highlights of Glenn's career from his junior days in Humboldt until his retirement from the NHL.

Trivia

• According to NHL lore, Hall threw up before each game, then drank a glass of orange juice.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Butterfly style

External links

• Glenn Hall biography

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