Jack McCartan
Encyclopedia
John William "Jack" McCartan (born August 5, 1935) was a goaltender
for the gold-medal-winning 1960 United States hockey team. He is also a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
McCartan was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota
. He was a college standout at the University of Minnesota
from 1955-1958. McCartan was named First Team All-American after the 1957-1958 season. After graduating, he joined the U.S. Army. While in the army, he joined the United States Olympic hockey team. His heroics helped the U.S. team defeat such powerful teams as Canada, the Soviet Union, and Czechoslovakia and win the gold medal
at Squaw Valley.
He could not duplicate his success in the National Hockey League. The New York Rangers
gave him a four-game trial late in the 1959–60 season and he did quite well, the highlight being a save on Gordie Howe
of the Detroit Red Wings
. Coach Alf Pike decided to alternate Gump Worsley
and McCartan in 1960–61, but when McCartan gave up 36 goals in 7½ games, Worsley became the full-time goalkeeper and McCartan was demoted to the minors. He played for several minor league teams over the next several years. In the early 1970s he resurfaced when the Minnesota Fighting Saints
of the World Hockey Association
signed him, but he retired after two seasons.
He later scouted for the Vancouver Canucks
.
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...
for the gold-medal-winning 1960 United States hockey team. He is also a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
United States Hockey Hall of Fame
The United States Hockey Hall of Fame was established in 1973 with the goal of preserving the rich history of the game in the United States while recognizing the extraordinary contributions of select players, coaches, administrators, officials and teams....
McCartan was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
. He was a college standout at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
from 1955-1958. McCartan was named First Team All-American after the 1957-1958 season. After graduating, he joined the U.S. Army. While in the army, he joined the United States Olympic hockey team. His heroics helped the U.S. team defeat such powerful teams as Canada, the Soviet Union, and Czechoslovakia and win the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
at Squaw Valley.
He could not duplicate his success in the National Hockey League. The New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
gave him a four-game trial late in the 1959–60 season and he did quite well, the highlight being a save on Gordie Howe
Gordie Howe
Gordon "Gordie" Howe, OC is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League , and the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association . Howe is often referred to as Mr...
of the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
. Coach Alf Pike decided to alternate Gump Worsley
Gump Worsley
Lorne John "Gump" Worsley was a professional ice hockey goaltender. Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, he was given his nickname due to friends deciding he looked like comic-strip character Andy Gump.-Career:...
and McCartan in 1960–61, but when McCartan gave up 36 goals in 7½ games, Worsley became the full-time goalkeeper and McCartan was demoted to the minors. He played for several minor league teams over the next several years. In the early 1970s he resurfaced when the Minnesota Fighting Saints
Minnesota Fighting Saints
The Minnesota Fighting Saints was the name of two professional ice hockey teams based in Saint Paul, Minnesota that played in the World Hockey Association. The first team was one of the WHA's original twelve franchises, playing from 1972–76. The second team was relocated from Cleveland, Ohio, and...
of the World Hockey Association
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
signed him, but he retired after two seasons.
He later scouted for the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
.