IMAGE INFORMATION
EditGlenn Allan "Chico" Resch - Born July 10, 1948 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan is a Canadian-American retired ice Hockey goaltender, coach, general manager and television sportscaster.
- Fred A. Huber Trophy Champion 1972 with Muskegon Mohawks.
Turner Cup finalist 1972 with Muskegon Mohawks.
- James Norris Memorial Trophy Winner 1972 with Muskegon Mohawks.
- Gary F. Longman Memorial Trophy Winner 1972 with Muskegon Mohawks.
- Tommy Ivan Trophy Winner 1974 with Fort Worth Wings.
- Canada Cup Champion 1976 with Team Canada.
- Stanley Cup Champion 1980 with New York Islanders.
- Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy Winner 1982 with Colorado Rockies.
- Prince of Wales Trophy Champion 1987 with Philadelphia Flyers.
Resch played his 1st season of ice Hockey in 1956 in rubber boots and not skates, as he didn't know how to skate yet, but by the start of the next season, after practicing and practicing his skating, he became a real goalie, never looking back.
As a junior goaltender, Resch played with the Regina Pats when they jumped leagues for the 1966-67 season, leaving the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and joining the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League / CMJHL for their inaugural season. The CMJHL was considered an "outlaw league" by the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association at the time, and is now known as the Western Hockey League / WHL.
Resch and his Regina Pats made it to the playoff finals in that first year, (Ed Chynoweth Cup / President's Cup), losing to Moose Jaw.
Resch then went to college in the USA and attended and played for the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs, earning a degree in education during his 4 years there. The Bulldogs would later retire his Number 1 Jersey in 2015.
Turning professional with Muskegon Mohawks of the International Hockey League / IHL, Resch helped the Mohawks win the IHL regular season, also reaching the IHL playoff finals. Resch was named IHL Rookie of the Year and had the IHL lowest GAA.
Resch then played the 1972-73 season with the New Haven Nighthawks of the American Hockey League.
Bill Torrey of the New York Islanders had an eye on Resch and signed him to their minor league team, the Fort Worth Wings for the 1973-74 Central Hockey League / CHL. Resch played well in the CHL, being named league MVP for the season, also getting a 2 game call-up to the NHL Islanders, making his debut on February 3, 1974 vs California Golden Seals at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena in a 4-2 California win.
Resch got his 1st NHL victory in game 2 of the call-up, on February, 5, 1974 defeating the Minnesota North Stars at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in a 6-2 Islanders win.
Resch would make the Islanders full time the next season, sharing his goaltending duties with Billy Smith. He got his 1st NHL shutout vs Los Angeles Kings on December 14, 1974 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in a 3-0 Islanders win.
Resch was in goal for the 2nd time in history that a North American professional sports team won a best-of-seven series after losing the first three games. Resch and the Islanders did it vs Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1975 NHL playoff quarter final. They almost did it twice in that playoff year, as the Islanders fell behind 3 games to 0 vs the Philadelphia Flyers in the semi-final, forcing a game 7 they lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champs.
Resch would become the Islanders number 1 goalie the next season and was a fan favourite with his mask painted with a image of Long Island above his eyes, plus he liked to kiss the pipes of his net.
Resch would eventually help the Islanders win their 1st Stanley Cup in 1980, playing in 4 games during that playoff run.
Resch was traded to Colorado Rockies in the spring of 1981, playing 8 games to finish the season, then 61 games during the 1981-82 season, winning the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
Resch then played almost 4 full seasons with New Jersey Devils, before they traded him to Philadelphia in March. 1986.
Resch helped the Flyers win the Prince of Wales Trophy in 1987 and retired at seasons end.
Resch played for Canada at the 1976 Canada Cup. He also represented the United States at the World Hockey Championships in 1981 and the Canada Cup in 1984.
Resch played in 571 NHL regular season games, winning 231 (26 shutouts), 224 losses, 82 ties with 70 penalty minutes and 41 NHL playoff games, winning 34 (2 shutouts), 17 losses with 4 penalty minutes.
Resch later became a goaltending coach and television commentator.
Glenn Resch was inducted into the University of Minnesota-Duluth Hall of Fame in 1991.
Glenn “Chico” Resch was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 2007
NOTE
The Chico Resch Mask is one of the earliest painted goalie masks in NHL History.