IMAGE INFORMATION
EditLorne John "Gump" Worsley - Born May 14, 1929 in Montreal, Quebec – Died January 26, 2007 in Beloeil, Quebec was a professional ice Hockey goaltender.
- Boardwalk Challenge Trophy / Atlantic City Boardwalk Trophy Champion 1950 with New York Rovers.
- Charles Gardiner Memorial Trophy Winner 1951 with St. Paul Saints.
- Lester Patrick Cup Champion 1952 with Saskatoon Quakers.
- George Leader Cup Winner 1954 with Vancouver Canucks.
- F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy Champion 1964 with Quebec Aces
- Stanley Cup Champion 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969 with Montreal Canadiens.
- Prince of Wales Trophy Champion 1966, 1968, 1969 with Montreal Canadiens.
- Vezina Trophy Winner 1966 and 1968 with Montreal Canadiens.
Worsley played his junior Hockey for the Verdun Cyclones in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 1946 to 1948, and then for Montreal St. Francis Xavier in 1948-49, before turning pro late in the season with the New York Rovers.
Worsley played four years in the minor leagues, most notably for the New York Rovers of the Eastern Hockey League (EHL), the St. Paul Saints of the United States Hockey League / USHL, where he was named the top rookie and best goalie in the USHL for 1950-51. Gump then played for the Saskatoon Quakers of the Western Hockey League / WHL from 1951 and 1952, he achieved success with all three teams, garnering First Team All-Star and leading goaltender recognition.
In the fall of 1952 Gump was signed by the New York Rangers of the NHL, making his NHL debut on October 9, 1952 vs Detroit Red Wings at Detroit Olympia in a 5-3 Red Wings win.
Gump got his 1st NHL win on October 26, 1952 vs Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden in a 3-2 Rangers win.
Gump got his 1st NHL shutout vs Montreal Canadiens on January 11, 1953 at Madison Square Garden in a 7-0 Rangers win.
Though playing for a last place team, Gump won the 1953 Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year. However, after asking for a $500 a year pay increase, he was promptly returned to the minor leagues the following season. It is the only time a Calder Trophy winner never played an NHL game the season after being honored.
In 1953-54, playing for the Vancouver Canucks of the WHL, he won the George Leader Cup as the league's Most Valuable Player / MVP.
In 1954, Worsley resumed as the Rangers starting goaltender, beating out future NHL star Johnny Bower. Wearing the traditional number 1 for goaltenders, he toiled for the Rangers for the next nine seasons, generally playing well for poor performing teams.
Early in his career with the Rangers, regularly facing 40–50 shots a night, he was asked: "Which team gives you the most trouble?" His reply - "The New York Rangers." Accused by Rangers' coach Phil Watson of having a beer belly, he replied, "Just goes to show you what he knows. I only drink Johnnie Walker Red."
In the summer of 1963, he became involved in a proposed players' union, and was promptly traded to the Montreal Canadiens. He was relegated to the minor-league Quebec Aces for parts of two seasons, helping them win the AHL East Division in 1964, 1965, and characteristically winning First Team All-Star honors in the AHL in 1964
Worsley then played his best years for the Canadiens as a member of four Stanley Cup-winning teams: 1965, 1966, 1968 and 1969. His best season was 1968, where he followed up a Vezina-winning performance and a career-low 1.98 goals against average by going undefeated in the playoffs with eleven straight wins.
In a dispute with Sam Pollock, Montreal general manager, over refusal to be demoted to the minors, and coach Claude Ruel's consistent playing of Rogatien Vachon, he quit in the midst of the 1969–70 season. Suspended for not reporting to the Canadiens' Montreal Voyageurs farm team, Phil Myre was assigned to replace him.
Worsley was lured from retirement by the Minnesota North Stars to play in tandem with Cesare Maniago; he starred for parts of five more years, retiring at the age of 44 after the 1973–74 season. His best season with the North Stars was 1972, where he was second in the league with a 2.12 goals against average. Named to play in the 25th National Hockey League All-Star Game, Worsley was the first goaltender to have won 300 games and lost 300 games.
Worsley was vehemently opposed to wearing a mask. He was the second-to-last professional Hockey goaltender to play without a mask. Andy Brown of the Indianapolis Racers was the last, the following season - wearing a mask in the last six games of his career. Asked about why he chose to go without, Worsley told reporters: "My face is my mask."
Worsley played in 860 regular season NHL games, winning 333, losing 348, 149 ties, 43 shutouts, 2.87 GAA, 3 assists with 147 penalty minutes and 70 NHL playoff games, winning 40, losing 26, 5 shutouts with 17 penalty minutes.
Worsley was named to the NHL First All-Star Team in 1968.
Worsley played in played in the NHL All-Star Games in 1961, 1962, 1965, and 1972.
Gump Worsley was Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1980 .