Maurice Roberts
Encyclopedia
Maurice "Moe" Roberts was an American
ice hockey
player, who for many years had the distinction of being both the youngest and the oldest goaltender in National Hockey League
history. Roberts played a total of ten games in the NHL with the Boston Bruins
, Chicago Black Hawks
and New York Americans
, as well as playing sixteen seasons in the minor leagues, most notably for the Cleveland Barons and the New Haven Eagles
. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
in 2005.
Roberts made his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins
on December 8, 1925
, substituting for injured regular Doc Stewart in a 3-2 win against the Montreal Maroons
; at age 19, he was the youngest goaltender in NHL history, until surpassed by Harry Lumley nearly twenty years later.
On November 25, 1951, Roberts—then an assistant trainer with the Chicago Black Hawks
—had to finish the third period for the injured Lumley, at that point the Black Hawks' starter. Although Roberts didn't yield a goal, his Hawks still fell to the Detroit Red Wings
, 5-2. The then 45 year old Roberts, in his last NHL game, became the oldest player ever to play in an NHL game; a record since broken by Gordie Howe
and also passed by Chris Chelios
. He remains the oldest goalie to play in an NHL game. He also was the final NHL player who was active in the 1920s.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
player, who for many years had the distinction of being both the youngest and the oldest goaltender in 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...
history. Roberts played a total of ten games in the NHL with the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
, Chicago Black Hawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
and New York Americans
New York Americans
The New York Americans were a professional ice hockey team based in New York, New York from 1925 to 1942. They were the third expansion team in the history of the National Hockey League and the second to play in the United States. The team never won the Stanley Cup, but reached the semifinals...
, as well as playing sixteen seasons in the minor leagues, most notably for the Cleveland Barons and the New Haven Eagles
New Haven Eagles
The New Haven Eagles were a professional ice hockey team that played in New Haven, Connecticut. The Eagles were one of five inaugural franchises in the Canadian American Hockey League, and a founding member of the American Hockey League.-History:...
. He was inducted into 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....
in 2005.
Roberts made his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
on December 8, 1925
1925-26 NHL season
The 1925–26 NHL season was the ninth season of the National Hockey League . The NHL dropped the Hamilton team and added two new teams in the U.S., the New York Americans and the Pittsburgh Pirates. The seven teams each played 36 games. The Ottawa Senators were the regular-season champion, but lost...
, substituting for injured regular Doc Stewart in a 3-2 win against the Montreal Maroons
Montreal Maroons
The Montreal Maroons was a professional men's ice hockey team in the National Hockey League . They played in the NHL from 1924 to 1938, winning the Stanley Cup in 1926 and 1935...
; at age 19, he was the youngest goaltender in NHL history, until surpassed by Harry Lumley nearly twenty years later.
On November 25, 1951, Roberts—then an assistant trainer with the Chicago Black Hawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
—had to finish the third period for the injured Lumley, at that point the Black Hawks' starter. Although Roberts didn't yield a goal, his Hawks still fell to 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...
, 5-2. The then 45 year old Roberts, in his last NHL game, became the oldest player ever to play in an NHL game; a record since broken by 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...
and also passed by Chris Chelios
Chris Chelios
Christos Kostas Tselios is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman. He is currently the Executive Advisor to Ken Holland, the general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, a role that Steve Yzerman held before leaving to become general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning.Chelios played...
. He remains the oldest goalie to play in an NHL game. He also was the final NHL player who was active in the 1920s.