George Hainsworth
Encyclopedia
George Hainsworth was a Canadian
professional
ice hockey
goaltender
who played for the Montreal Canadiens
and Toronto Maple Leafs
in the National Hockey League
, and the Saskatoon Crescents in the Western Canada Hockey League
.
's Saskatoon Crescents and Saskatoon Sheiks
before arriving in Montreal. He replaced Georges Vezina
, the Canadiens goaltender who had died of tuberculosis
, and who had played every game in team history from the 1910–11 NHA 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, 1927–28 and 1928–29 NHL seasons. In 1928–29, he set an all-time record with 22 shutouts and a 0.92 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 Cup
s in 1930 and 1931.
Hainsworth served as the Canadiens' captain
during 1932–33, becoming the second of only eight goalies to serve as an NHL team's captain. He was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs
in 1933 and helped the Maple Leafs reach the Stanley Cup
finals in 1935.
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 night in canada's "Hot Stove League".
Hainsworth, at the age of 55, was killed in an auto accident on October 9, 1950.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
who played for the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
and Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, and the Saskatoon Crescents in the Western Canada Hockey League
Western Canada Hockey League
The Western Canada Hockey League , founded in 1921, was a major professional ice hockey league originally based in the prairies of Canada. It was renamed the Western Hockey League in 1925 and disbanded in 1926.-History:...
.
Playing career
Hainsworth played for the Western Canada Hockey LeagueWestern Canada Hockey League
The Western Canada Hockey League , founded in 1921, was a major professional ice hockey league originally based in the prairies of Canada. It was renamed the Western Hockey League in 1925 and disbanded in 1926.-History:...
's Saskatoon Crescents and Saskatoon Sheiks
Saskatoon Sheiks
The Saskatoon Sheiks were a professional ice hockey team in the Western Canada Hockey League and Prairie Hockey League from 1922 to 1928. The team was based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, except for the end of the 1922 season, when they played in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.The team entered the WCHL in...
before arriving in Montreal. He replaced Georges Vezina
Georges Vézina
Joseph-Georges-Gonzague Vézina was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played seven seasons in the National Hockey Association and nine in the National Hockey League , all with the Montreal Canadiens...
, the Canadiens goaltender who had died of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, and who had played every game in team history from the 1910–11 NHA 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
Vezina Trophy
The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position". At the end of each season, the 30 General Managers of the teams in the National Hockey League vote to determine the goaltender who was the most valuable to his team...
for most valuable goaltender.
Hainsworth proved up to the challenge by winning the Trophy for the 1926–27, 1927–28 and 1928–29 NHL seasons. In 1928–29, he set an all-time record with 22 shutouts and a 0.92 goals against average
Goals against average
Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
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 Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
s in 1930 and 1931.
Hainsworth served as the Canadiens' captain
Captain (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, each team can designate an official captain for each game. The player serving as captain during the game wears a "C" on his or her jersey...
during 1932–33, becoming the second of only eight goalies to serve as an NHL team's captain. He was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in 1933 and helped the Maple Leafs reach the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
finals in 1935.
Post career
He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of FameHockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
in 1961. In 1998, he was ranked number 46 on The Hockey News
The Hockey News
The Hockey News, commonly abbreviated to THN, is a North American ice hockey magazine published by Transcontinental. The Hockey News was founded in 1947 by Ken McKenzie and Bill Côté, and has since been the most recognized hockey publication in North America...
' list of the 100 greatest hockey players.
After his career, he was a regular on hockey night in canada's "Hot Stove League".
Hainsworth, at the age of 55, was killed in an auto accident on October 9, 1950.
Awards and achievements
- Vezina TrophyVezina TrophyThe Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position". At the end of each season, the 30 General Managers of the teams in the National Hockey League vote to determine the goaltender who was the most valuable to his team...
(19271926-27 NHL season-Stanley Cup Final:Cy Denneny led the Senators with four of the team's seven total goals. He scored the game-winning goals in both victories.Boston Bruins vs. Ottawa SenatorsOttawa wins best-of-five series 2–0–2-NHL awards:...
, 19281927-28 NHL season-Finals:The circus knocked the Rangers out of Madison Square Garden, and all games would be played in the Montreal Forum, even though Boston offered to host the Rangers. The Maroons won game one 2–0, with Nels Stewart and goaltender Clint Benedict the stars....
, 19291928-29 NHL season-NHL awards:Frank Boucher won his second consecutive Lady Byng award and George Hainsworth won his third consecutive Vezina Trophy.-Scoring leaders:Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes-Debuts:...
) - Stanley CupStanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
Championship (19301929-30 NHL seasonThe 1929–30 NHL season was the thirteenth season of the National Hockey League. Ten teams played 44 games each. The Montreal Canadiens upset the heavily favoured Boston Bruins two games to none for the Stanley Cup.-Regular season:...
, 19311930-31 NHL season-NHL awards:Howie Morenz won the Hart Trophy for the second time in his career. Frank Boucher won the Lady Byng for the fourth consecutive year. Roy Worters won the Vezina Trophy for the one and only time in his career.-All-Star teams:...
) - In 1998, he was ranked number 46 on The Hockey NewsThe Hockey NewsThe Hockey News, commonly abbreviated to THN, is a North American ice hockey magazine published by Transcontinental. The Hockey News was founded in 1947 by Ken McKenzie and Bill Côté, and has since been the most recognized hockey publication in North America...
' list of the 100 greatest hockey players. - Inducted into the Hockey Hall of FameHockey Hall of FameThe Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
in 1961.
Records
- He is third all-time in professional (including both NHL and WCHL/WHL) shutouts with 104.
- His 94 career NHL shutouts are third on the NHL's all-time list behind Martin Brodeur'sMartin BrodeurMartin Pierre Brodeur is a French-Canadian ice hockey goaltender who has played his entire National Hockey League career with the New Jersey Devils. In his 19-year tenure with the Devils, he has won three Stanley Cup championships and has been in the playoffs every year but two...
116 and Terry Sawchuk'sTerry SawchukTerrance Gordon Sawchuk was a Ukrainian-Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played 21 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers.-Early life and playing career:Sawchuk was born and raised...
103. - Has the second lowest career goals against averageGoals against averageGoals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
in the NHL with 1.93, behind Alex ConnellAlex ConnellAlec Connell was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Ottawa Senators, Detroit Falcons, New York Americans and Montreal Maroons teams in the National Hockey League...
's 1.91. - Holds the NHL single-season shutout record with 22 shutouts in 1928–29.
- Holds the NHL single-season goals against average record with 0.92 in 1928–29.
Career statistics
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA Goals against average Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender.... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1923–24 | Saskatoon Crescents | WCHL Western Canada Hockey League The Western Canada Hockey League , founded in 1921, was a major professional ice hockey league originally based in the prairies of Canada. It was renamed the Western Hockey League in 1925 and disbanded in 1926.-History:... |
30 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 1849 | 73 | 4 | 2.37 |
| 1924–25 | Saskatoon Crescents | WCHL | 28 | 16 | 11 | 1 | 1700 | 75 | 2 | 2.65 |
| 1925–26 | Saskatoon Sheiks | WHL | 30 | 18 | 11 | 1 | 1812 | 64 | 4 | 2.12 |
| 1926–27 | Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ... |
NHL | 44 | 28 | 14 | 2 | 2732 | 67 | 14 | 1.47 |
| 1927–28 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 44 | 26 | 11 | 7 | 2730 | 48 | 13 | 1.05 |
| 1928–29 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 44 | 22 | 7 | 15 | 2800 | 43 | 22 | 0.92 |
| 1929–30 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 42 | 20 | 13 | 9 | 2680 | 108 | 4 | 2.42 |
| 1930–31 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 44 | 26 | 10 | 8 | 2740 | 89 | 0 | 1.95 |
| 1931–32 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 48 | 25 | 16 | 7 | 2998 | 110 | 6 | 2.20 |
| 1932–33 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 48 | 18 | 25 | 5 | 2980 | 115 | 8 | 2.32 |
| 1933–34 | Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 48 | 26 | 13 | 9 | 3010 | 119 | 3 | 2.37 |
| 1934–35 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 48 | 30 | 14 | 4 | 2957 | 111 | 8 | 2.25 |
| 1935–36 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 48 | 23 | 19 | 6 | 3000 | 106 | 8 | 2.12 |
| 1936–37 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 190 | 9 | 0 | 2.84 |
| 1936–37 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 270 | 12 | 0 | 2.67 |
| WCHL totals | 88 | 49 | 34 | 5 | 5361 | 212 | 10 | 2.37 | ||
| NHL totals | 465 | 246 | 145 | 74 | 29,087 | 937 | 94 | 1.93 | ||
| Pro Career totals | 553 | 295 | 179 | 79 | 34,448 | 1149 | 104 | 2.00 | ||
Playoffs
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1924-25 | Saskatoon Crescents | WCHL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 120 | 6 | 0 | 3.00 |
| 1925-26 | Saskatoon Sheiks | WHL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 129 | 4 | 0 | 1.86 |
| 1926-27 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 252 | 6 | 1 | 1.43 |
| 1927-28 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 128 | 3 | 0 | 1.41 |
| 1928-29 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 180 | 5 | 0 | 1.67 |
| 1929-30 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 481 | 6 | 3 | 0.75 |
| 1930-31 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 722 | 21 | 2 | 1.75 |
| 1931-32 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 300 | 13 | 0 | 2.60 |
| 1932-33 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 120 | 8 | 0 | 4.00 |
| 1933-34 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 302 | 11 | 0 | 2.19 |
| 1934-35 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 460 | 12 | 2 | 1.57 |
| 1935-36 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 541 | 27 | 0 | 2.99 |
| NHL totals | 52 | 22 | 25 | 5 | 3486 | 112 | 8 | 1.93 | ||