Terry Sawchuk—One Of The Greatest Goalies of all Time

Terry Sawchuk entered the National Hockey League in 1950 and proceeded to become one of the greatest goaltenders ever.

That spring, he lead the Detroit Red Wings  to a Stanley Cup. Fresh out of the old United States Hockey League, where he had been Rookie of the Year  and a top goaltender there for a Red Wings farm team, Sawchuk's play foreshadowed his legendary goaltender status.

Sawchuk's statistics, which culminated with an immediate posthumous election to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1971, one year after his death, is testimony to his brilliant career.

Consider this about Sawchuk, who played in the "Original Six" NHL that had only a 70 game schedule, 12 less than today:

 
Statistics and Awards 

Calder Cup (Rookie of The Year): 1951

Stanley Cup Wins: Five—Four with Detroit in 1950, '52, '54 and '55, and one with Toronto in 1967.

Vezina Trophy: Four—Three with Detroit in 1952, '53, and '55, and shared with Johnny Bower in Toronto in 1965.

First Team All Star: 1951, '52, and '53

Second Team All Star: 1954, '55, and '63

Played in NHL All Star Game: 1950, '51, '52, '53, '54, '63, '64, '68

Shutouts: 103, most by any goaltender.

 
A Six Team Wonder Goalie

To play in the NHL in the pre-expansion six team era and post these kind of numbers is a testament to Sawchuk's greatness. Granted, there will be many who will say that people like Brodeur, Patrick Roy, Ken Dryden,Tony Esposito, Gerry Cheevers, Henrik Lundqvist and Roberto Luongo and others may be better. It will always be a subjective  and debateable point.

However, having seen all these men and others play, my hat will always go off to Sawchuk.

 
Memorable Moments

There are two highly memorable moments in Sawchuk's career that I recall.

Terry's Birthday Bash 

On Christmas Eve, 1963, the Red Wings were visiting the old Montreal Forum. The Canadiens were already three years removed from their dynasty of five consecutive Stanley Cups, but still had a corps of players that would be second to none in today's NHL.

That night Sawchuk faced the likes of "Big" Jean Beliveau, (Le gros Bill), Henri (Pocket Rocket) Richard, Bernie (Boom Boom) Geoffrion, a young Jacques Laperriere, as well as opposing Jacques Plante in the Canadiens goal.

The Red Wings were a middle of the road team in those days, a mere image of their halcyon days of the 1950's when they won four Stanley Cups and seven consecutive league championships. Yes, Gordie Howe was on right wing with Alex Delvechio at centre. But beyond that, this team included no other "hallowed" or "remembered"

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