Dressed for success: Goalies through the years

posted by Dave Stubbs at 23h00 EST on Mar 17


0plante.jpg

Canadiens Hall of Famer Jacques Plante, the 1950s innovator of the face mask. He's part of our Canadiens goalie gallery below.
David Bier Studios, Gazette files

Canadiens goalie Carey Price took delivery of his new pads and gloves on Monday, the fifth set of pads he'll wear this season and ones that are guaranteed to cause a stir among goalies everywhere. You'll find that story here.

So we thought it would be timely to sift through our files to show you a number of Montreal netminders through the years – from Georges Vézina through Price. Enjoy the tour!



All photos from Montreal Gazette, Star and Herald files, unless otherwise indicated:

1. Georges Vézina, early 1900s.
2. George Hainsworth, late 1920s.
3. Claude Bourque, 1930s. Rice Studios
4. Wilf Cude, 1930s. Note the skates drying atop the radiator, with the elbow pads stitched into the longjohn top.
5. Ambidextrous Bill Durnan, wearing "trappers" on both hands, 1940s. Rice Studios
6. Jacques Plante, 1950s. Classic Collectibles
7. Gump Worsley, 1960s.
8. Gump Worsley (left) and Charlie Hodge, mid-1960s.
9. Rogatien Vachon, late 1960s.
10. Ken Dryden, 1970s. Denis Brodeur, NHLI via Getty Images
11. Patrick Roy, early 1990s.
12. Gerry McNeil, 1953 Stanley Cup champion, compares his equipment with that of José Theodore, 2004.
13. Carey Price with Canada's gold medal-winning world juniors, 2007.
14. Carey Price in action this season.

 

1.vezina.jpg
2.hainsworth.jpg
3.bourque.jpg
3a.cude.jpg
5.durnan.jpg
4a.plante.jpg
6.gumper1.jpg
7.charlie-hodge.jpg
8.rogie.jpg
9.dryden.jpg
10.roy.jpg
15.gerry-mcneil.jpg
11.carey.jpg
12.carey.jpg

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P St. Pierre's picture
Submitted by P St. Pierre on Wed, 03/19/2008 - 00:25.
Dave, I love the gallery. It's so nice to see all these great goaltenders.

Odie Cleghorn's picture
Submitted by Odie Cleghorn on Tue, 03/18/2008 - 16:37.
Dave, Great photos especially that one of Wilf Cude - you can almost smell the sweat emanating from the top of the radiator. It looks like George Vezina and I shared the same photographer! Love these old time hockey shots.

Gr8stFranchizEvr's picture
Submitted by Gr8stFranchizEvr on Tue, 03/18/2008 - 09:24.
I have played many years between the pipes and totally respect those who've inspired us over the years with their courage and excellence. Playing street hockey with minimal protection, I can still feel that hard orange ball stinging my unprotected regions - not just the most sensitive one. So, looking at those pics from the early years of goaltending with its primitive padding stirs up incredible respect for those warriors who regularly faced hard rubber pucks!!! They were brave beyond measure. Today, my reverie of NHL goalies remains, but not so much for their guts as their athletic prowess, technique, and mental strength and focus. No doubt, it helps that they don't have to think about the dangers their predecessors experienced. The game and the equipment have certainly evolved. Who knows what things might look like in 20 years from today? Let's hope the 'game' doesn't get lost in the equipment bags!

Corporate's picture
Submitted by Corporate on Tue, 03/18/2008 - 09:15.
I know this is a stupid question but why can't a goalie be captain anymore. I am sure Roy, Brodeur could lead their team and speak up when needed. I know you don't need a C to do that but sometimes the goalie is the leader of the team... can anyone answer please???

cautiousoptimist's picture
Submitted by cautiousoptimist on Tue, 03/18/2008 - 09:34.
Not a stupid question - I've wondered the same thing. But I think it's because a captain spends a lot of time stirring up the troops on the bench and getting explanations from the ref. The goalie - if he's any good - doesn't spend much ti9me on the bench, and the ref is often a long ways away from him. which is not to say it would be impossible, just impractical. www.flickeringpictures.com - not a hockey site, but still kinda neat

frank81's picture
Submitted by frank81 on Tue, 03/18/2008 - 09:37.
Wikipedia agrees with you: "Goaltenders may not be designated as captains or alternate captains because of the logistical challenges of having the goaltender relay rules discussions between referees and coaches and then return to the crease." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_%28ice_hockey%29

Corporate's picture
Submitted by Corporate on Tue, 03/18/2008 - 09:48.
Thank you for the information...

johnnyhab's picture
Submitted by johnnyhab on Tue, 03/18/2008 - 07:53.
Thanks for the great pic's Dave. Quite a lot of history in those pictures.

habs33's picture
Submitted by habs33 on Tue, 03/18/2008 - 07:30.
My one and only pet peeve, and only because I idolized Patrick Roy growing up, is that the photo of him is not from the 80's. The paint job on the helmet and the Koho gear he's using is from around 1992-1993. Great job on the rest of the pics! It's crazy to watch the evolution of styles, stances and gear from Vezina to Price.

Dave Stubbs's picture
Submitted by Dave Stubbs on Tue, 03/18/2008 - 07:42.
Consider that Roy time reference fixed, with thanks for your sharp eye. Dave Stubbs
Habs Inside/Out
Sports Feature Writer, Montreal Gazette

 


habs33's picture
Submitted by habs33 on Tue, 03/18/2008 - 11:01.
Thanks Dave! Where do you get your images? Your photos section is always well stocked with the latest and greatest, and your archival shots are superb! You must have better access than the everyday Joe using Google Images.

Dave Stubbs's picture
Submitted by Dave Stubbs on Tue, 03/18/2008 - 11:31.
Well, our library has literally thousands of photo files, some of which go back to the turn of the 20th century. The modern stuff? We've got a lot of talented photographers on staff who shoot every Canadiens home game, and we have access to several major wire services and agencies to which we subscribe. But it's the stuff in our library that appeals to me most. Some of the historical images we have in those files is truly incredible. Dave Stubbs
Habs Inside/Out
Sports Feature Writer, Montreal Gazette

 


Chuck's picture
Submitted by Chuck on Tue, 03/18/2008 - 16:08.
Put 'em in a coffeetable book and sell it, Dave. I'd be the first in line to buy! . . . ______________________________________ "All bow down before the Komisaurus Rex!"

habs33's picture
Submitted by habs33 on Tue, 03/18/2008 - 20:59.
Damnit! I'd be second, then!

J.T.'s picture
Submitted by J.T. on Tue, 03/18/2008 - 06:03.
Thanks for the shots. Love the goalies! http://habsloyalist.blogspot.com

Submitted by skoehn on Tue, 03/18/2008 - 01:55.
Garth Brooks is awesome and a goalies mask reflects him...and not what you fans thinks.....prices ask is nicer then most....

Habs-Kat's picture
Submitted by Habs-Kat on Tue, 03/18/2008 - 00:57.
1. Vladislav Tretiak 2. Patrick Roy 3. Bill Durnan My three favourite goaltenders of all time, all Canadiens. I consider Tretiak a Hab since he was drafted by them :)

Chuck's picture
Submitted by Chuck on Tue, 03/18/2008 - 01:10.
Bill Durnan rocked. He was the only Hab goaltender to wear the captain's C, I believe. . . . ______________________________________ "All bow down before the Komisaurus Rex!"

gmd's picture
Submitted by gmd on Tue, 03/18/2008 - 00:04.
Love the old skool goalies and not today's Michelin men.

Wayne's picture
Submitted by Wayne on Mon, 03/17/2008 - 23:16.
Great shots Dave, though i think we need an equipment measurement on Hainsworth there... his hat looks a bit biggish ;-)

Chuck's picture
Submitted by Chuck on Mon, 03/17/2008 - 23:11.
I love these old photos, Dave. They're always a treat to see. Thanks for sharing them! Y'know, I've probably seen that photo of George Hainsworth a million times, but have never before clued into the fact that his sweater doesn't have the stripes on the arms. Was that at one time a design feature of the unform, or was it just that way for the goalie? Also, the blue and white stripes around the bottom of his sweater are reversed; though I've heard that they flipped back-and-forth several times in the early years. In fact, Vezina's is blue over white too. And it looked like Claude Bourque could have used a larger sweater, what with having to wear his arm protection over his uniform. :) . . . ______________________________________ "All bow down before the Komisaurus Rex!"

GHG33's picture
Submitted by GHG33 on Mon, 03/17/2008 - 22:06.
I agree Price's mask needs to change. Halak's is awesome though! Great pics btw!!

Chuck's picture
Submitted by Chuck on Mon, 03/17/2008 - 23:12.
Not a fan of country music, are you? ;) . . . ______________________________________ "All bow down before the Komisaurus Rex!"

GHG33's picture
Submitted by GHG33 on Tue, 03/18/2008 - 13:25.
Was it that obvious? :)

yukonhab's picture
Submitted by yukonhab on Mon, 03/17/2008 - 21:49.
Good pics, couldnt imagine playing net back in the day with the little amount of gear they had.

yukonhab's picture
Submitted by yukonhab on Mon, 03/17/2008 - 21:49.
Good pics, couldnt imagine playing net back in the day with the little amount of gear they had.

THE CHOSEN ONE's picture
Submitted by THE CHOSEN ONE on Mon, 03/17/2008 - 21:36.
I would like for Price to lose his Mask. He should go to Dryden and ask for his permission to use his design on the new mask. It would be awesome. The "Chosen One" has cometh. His name is "CAREY PRICE".

Revolution No. 9's picture
Submitted by Revolution No. 9 on Tue, 03/18/2008 - 09:59.
"The "Chosen One" has cometh. His name is "CAREY PRICE"." *Pedant Alert* 'has cometh' is not quite right. You either mean just 'cometh' as in 'is coming' or 'has come'. I don't think you can mix them together.

Habs-Kat's picture
Submitted by Habs-Kat on Mon, 03/17/2008 - 21:25.
Price's Team Canada pads are pretty sweet-looking.