|
|
|
Terry Sawchuck |
|
|
|
Born: December 28, 1929
Birth Place: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Position: Goaltender
First Season: 1949 - 1950
Last Season: 1969 - 1970
Jersey Number: 1
Jersey Retired: March 6, 1994
|
| Biography |
|
|
|
When the topic of great hockey goaltenders is brought up, one name is synonymous with excellence. Terrance Gordon Sawchuck was arguably the greatest net-minder of all time. Sawchuck played more seasons, more games and notched more shutouts than any other goalie in the history of the NHL.
In a career that spanned 21 NHL seasons, Terry posted at least one shutout in 20 of those seasons and appeared in 971 regular season games. Of those games, he played 953 complete games, had 2,401 goals scored against him for an average of 2.52 and posted 103 shutouts.
Sawchuck performed many incredible feats in his NHL career, one of which was being the first player to win the outstanding rookie award in three different professional leagues. He won the award in 1947-48 in the US Hockey League, in 1948-49 in the American Hockey League and in 1950-51 in the NHL. Another incredible feat and one that may never be replicated occurred in the 1952 Stanley Cup Playoffs when he led the Detroit Red Wings to the Cup in the minimum eight games of two best of seven series. He also netted four shutouts and only allowed five goals along the way.
Early on in his career, Sawchuck appeared to be on the top of the world. In his first several seasons with the Red Wings he had accomplished things others would only dream of. During his first season, he posted an incredible 11 shutouts, goals against average of 1.98 and won the Calder Trophy. Over the next four years, he won three Vezinas and three Stanley Cups, including back-to-back wins in 1954 and 1955.
Even though Sawchuck was the best goalie in hockey, the Red Wings general manager, Jack Adams, surprised everyone by trading him to the Boston Bruins. No one was more surprised than Terry himself. The Red Wings felt that their minor league prospect, Glenn Hall, was ready to assume the main role for Detroit, therefore Sawchuck was expendable.
The trade to Boston caused two problems. The first problem was with Sawchuck who began to question his play. These doubts caused him to lose concentration easily, which led to poor performance. During his second season with the Bruins, Terry developed a bad case of mononucleosis. While he recovered, he was often criticized by both the local papers and his coach. The pressure caused Terry to snap, first threatening to sue four newspapers for their criticisms, then quitting the team, citing "temporary retirement brought about by emotional strain".
The second problem caused by the trade was with the Red Wings who sorely missed Sawchuck's stellar play. It seems that the young Glenn Hall was not yet ready for NHL competition. This problem was soon rectified when Jack Adams convinced Terry to come out of retirement and rejoin the Wings in 1957. Even though Terry resumed his stellar level of play as if he was never traded, he was never the same person.
Terry's high level of mental stress was accompanied by physical stresses as well. The conditions under which Sawchuck performed nightly were unbelievable. In addition to his bout with Mono, Terry suffered from a spinal condition called Lordosis which caused him such pain that he could only sleep for two hours each night. Early on in his career, he suffered a shoulder injury which limited the range of motion in his stick arm so that for the rest of his life it could only be lifted chest high. In 1966, Terry's entire left side went completely numb. The doctors thought he had suffered a stroke but it turned out to be two herniated disks in his back. He would later have an operation that should have ended his career but he came back and resumed his high level of play. In addition to these major aliments he suffered from broken bones, concussions, arthritis, and had over 400 stitches to his face and head including three stitches inside his right eye.
Through the pain, Terry seemed to flourish when he took the ice. His on-ice accomplishments were legendary and seemed to get bigger and better each year. During the post season, Terry Sawchuck defined the term "money player". In his career he appeared in 106 Stanley Cup Playoff games, had 267 goals against for an average of 2.64, and posted 12 shutouts. He played on three Stanley Cup winning teams, two in Detroit and one in Toronto. He was also a member of five Detroit NHL regular season championship teams.
In addition to the post season, Sawchuck ruled the regular season. He received the Vesina Trophy four times during his career, three with Detroit and once he would share it with Johnny Bower in Toronto. Terry was also named to three first all-star teams and four times to the second squad.
Terry died in New York City on May 31, 1970 due to injury related complications after an alcohol-induced shoving match with his roommate and teammate Ron Stewart. One year later, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
|
| Games and Awards |
|
|
|
1951-52 All-Star Selection - First Team - Calder Memorial Trophy
1951-52 All-Star Selection - First Team - Vezina Trophy
1952-53 All-Star Selection - First Team - Vezina Trophy
1953-54 All-Star Selection - Second Team
1954-55 All-Star Selection - Second Team - Vezina Trophy
1958-59 All-Star Selection - Second Team
1962-63 All-Star Selection - Second Team
1964-65 Vezina Trophy - 1970-71 Lester Patrick Trophy
|
| Seasonal Statistics |
|
|
|
|
|
|
