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Gump Worsley

Gump Worsley
Hockey Hall of Fame, 1980
Worsley with the Montreal Canadiens in the 1960s
Born (1929-05-14)May 14, 1929
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Died January 26, 2007(2007-01-26) (aged 77)
Beloeil, Quebec, Canada[1]
Height 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for New York Rangers
Montreal Canadiens
Minnesota North Stars
Playing career 1952–1974

Lorne John "Gump" Worsley (May 14, 1929 – January 26, 2007) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, 'Gump' was given his nickname because friends thought he looked like comic-strip character Andy Gump.

Career

Worsley played his first four years as a professional 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), and the Saskatoon Quakers of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Between 1950 and 1952 he was named to the First All-Star Team three times and led the league in goaltending.

Photo with New York, 1962

In the fall of 1952 he was signed by the New York Rangers of the NHL. Although he played for a last-place team, he won the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year. However, after asking for a pay increase of $500 a year, he was sent back down to the minor leagues the following season. In 1953-54, playing for the Vancouver Canucks of the WHL, he won the league's most valuable player award.

In 1954-55, Worsley returned to the Rangers, replacing Johnny Bower. He toiled for the Rangers for the next nine seasons, generally playing well for a poor team. In the 1955–56 New York Rangers season opener against the Chicago Blackhawks, Worsley made 43 saves, setting a franchise record.[2]

In the summer of 1963, Worsley became involved in the establishment of a players' union, and the Rangers promptly traded him to the Montreal Canadiens. He spent much of the next two seasons in the American Hockey League with the Quebec Aces and was named to the AHL's First All-Star Team in 1964. Returning to the NHL, Worsley played his best years for the Canadiens as the team won the Stanley Cup in 1965, 1966, 1968 and 1969. His best season was 1968, when he won the Vezina Trophy, attained a goals-against average of 1.98 — the lowest in his career — and earned eleven straight wins in the playoffs. In 1969–70, however, he had a dispute with general manager Sam Pollock over being demoted to the minors, and head coach Claude Ruel's decision to favor Rogatien Vachon made Worsley quit in the middle of the season. Pollock suggested Worsley accept a two-week conditioning stint to work his way back to the Canadiens, but the veteran netminder refused. Worsley was suspended for not reporting to the Canadiens' Montreal Voyageurs farm team and told Pollock he intended to retire.

Later in the season, however, the Minnesota North Stars expressed interest in Worsley, and the Canadiens traded him for future considerations. He starred with Minnesota for most of the following five years; his best season with the team was 1972, when he came second in the league with a 2.12 goals-against average and was named to play in the 25th National Hockey League All-Star Game. He retired after the 1973–74 season at the age of 44. Worsley was the second goaltender to win 300 games and lose 300 games, after Harry Lumley.[3]

Worsley was known for his wry sense of humour and various eccentricities. Early in his career with the lacklustre Rangers, regularly facing 40 to 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."

Worsley refused to wear a mask long after almost all other goaltenders adopted one. He was the second-to-last professional hockey goaltender to play without a mask; Andy Brown of the WHA's Indianapolis Racers was the last. Worsley finally put one on in the last six games of his career. Asked why he never wore a mask, Worsley told reporters: "My face is my mask."[4]

Worsley was also well known for his fear of flying. On November 25, 1968,[5] en route to Los Angeles, he suffered a nervous breakdown after a rough flight from Montreal's Dorval Airport to Chicago. It has been reported that a stewardess upon landing came over the PA system and said that if passengers wished to claim refunds for drycleaning they should submit receipts. Worsley is reported to have quipped, "Does that include underwear?"[6] Later, he received psychiatric treatment and missed action. It is said upon emerging from retirement to play for the North Stars he was assured, as Minnesota was in the middle of the continent, the team travelled less than any other in the league.

Soccer career

Worsley was an excellent soccer player, beginning his career as a junior with Westmount. In 1948 he was a member of the Montreal youth all-star team. As a promising young player, he soon attracted attention; the following year he moved up to McMasterville in the Montreal League. There he was selected to play in a trial game from which the Montreal all-stars were chosen to play the touring English club Fulham FC on 29th May 1951 (the game was drawn 2-2).

In the summer of 1952, while a member of the Saskatoon Quakers, he played centre forward for the Saskatoon All-stars against the touring Tottenham Hotspur football club from England. In 1953, he joined Montréal Hakoah FC and helped his new club to the Canadian final, but they lost the three-game series to the Westminster Royals.[7] In 1954, he played with Montreal Vickers. His father was also an outstanding soccer player and won a Canadian championship medal with Montreal Grand Trunk in 1919.

Injuries

Worsley suffered many injuries during his career. While with Vancouver of the WHL, he sustained a back injury that nearly ended his career when Gus Kyle hit him from behind. He also suffered a knee problem in the 1956 playoffs that required surgery; a severed tendon in 1960; a blistering shot from Bobby Hull that hit him in the forehead in 1961; a pulled hamstring that same year; another pulled hamstring in 1963–64; knee surgery in 1966; a sprained knee, then a concussion from a hard-boiled egg thrown by a New York fan; a broken finger in the 1969 playoffs; a pulled hamstring in 1972–73 that forced his temporary retirement. The blast to the forehead from Bobby Hull knocked him unconscious and sent him to Montreal's Royal Victoria Hospital. Upon awakening, asked how he was feeling, Gump replied: "Good thing the puck hit me flat!"[8]

Retirement and death

At the time of his retirement, Worsley had played more games than any goalie except Terry Sawchuk and Glenn Hall. He retired with a record of 335 wins, 352 losses and 150 ties, 43 shutouts, and a goals-against average of 2.91.

Worsley suffered a heart attack on January 22, 2007, and died at Hôpital Honoré-Mercier in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec on January 26, 2007. He was survived by his wife, Doreen Chapman and his children Lorne, Dean, Drew, and Lianne.[9][10]

Legacy

Two Canadian indie rock bands recorded tributes to Worsley — Huevos Rancheros released "Gump Worsley's Lament" and The Weakerthans released "Elegy for Gump Worsley". Canadian band Sons of Freedom named their second album Gump after Worsley. In the TV series Law & Order: Criminal Intent a property management company is named "Gump and Worsley."

Career achievements and facts

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
1946–47 Verdun Cyclones QJHL 25 6 18 1 1500 138 3 5.52 — — — — — — — — —
1947–48 Verdun Cyclones QJHL 29 13 11 5 1740 95 1 3.28 — 5 1 4 317 21 0 3.97 —
1948–49 Montreal St. Francis Xavier MMJHL 47 24 21 2 2840 122 7 2.58 — 5 2 3 310 16 0 3.10 —
1948–49 New York Rovers QSHL 2 — — — 120 5 0 2.50 — — — — — — — — —
1949–50 New York Rovers EAHL 47 25 17 5 2830 133 7 2.86 — 12 8 2 720 27 1 2.25 —
1949–50 New Haven Ramblers AHL 2 2 0 0 120 4 0 2.00 — — — — — — — — —
1950–51 St. Paul Saints USHL 64 33 26 5 3920 184 3 2.82 — 4 1 3 257 9 0 2.19 —
1951–52 Saskatoon Quakers PCHL 66 33 19 14 3960 206 5 3.07 — 13 10 3 818 31 1 2.27 —
1952–53 Saskatoon Quakers WHL 13 5 7 1 780 50 0 3.84 — — — — — — — — —
1952–53 Edmonton Flyers WHL 1 1 0 0 60 2 0 2.00 — — — — — — — — —
1952–53 New York Rangers NHL 50 13 29 8 3000 153 2 3.06 .901 — — — — — — — —
1953–54 Vancouver Canucks WHL 70 39 24 7 4200 168 4 2.40 — 12 7 4 709 29 0 2.45 —
1954–55 New York Rangers NHL 65 15 33 17 3900 197 4 3.03 .916 — — — — — — — —
1955–56 New York Rangers NHL 70 32 28 10 4200 198 4 2.83 .922 3 0 3 190 14 0 4.67 .861
1956–57 New York Rangers NHL 68 26 28 14 4080 216 3 3.18 .906 5 1 4 316 21 0 3.99 .893
1957–58 New York Rangers NHL 37 21 10 6 2200 86 4 2.32 .929 6 2 4 365 28 0 4.60 .872
1957–58 Providence Reds AHL 25 12 11 2 1528 83 0 3.26 — — — — — — — — —
1958–59 New York Rangers NHL 67 26 30 11 4001 198 2 2.97 .907 — — — — — — — —
1959–60 New York Rangers NHL 39 7 23 8 2301 135 0 3.52 .899 — — — — — — — —
1959–60 Springfield Indians AHL 15 11 3 1 900 33 3 2.20 — — — — — — — — —
1960–61 New York Rangers NHL 59 20 29 8 3473 190 1 3.28 .912 — — — — — — — —
1961–62 New York Rangers NHL 60 22 27 9 3531 172 2 2.92 .912 6 2 4 384 21 0 3.28 .918
1962–63 New York Rangers NHL 67 22 34 10 3980 217 2 3.27 .915 — — — — — — — —
1963–64 Montreal Canadiens NHL 8 3 2 2 444 22 1 2.97 .897 — — — — — — — —
1963–64 Quebec Aces AHL 47 30 16 1 2820 128 5 2.72 — 9 4 5 543 29 0 3.20 —
1964–65 Quebec Aces AHL 37 24 12 1 2247 101 2 2.70 — — — — — — — — —
1964–65 Montreal Canadiens NHL 19 10 7 1 1020 50 1 2.94 .906 8 5 3 501 14 2 1.68 .936
1965–66 Montreal Canadiens NHL 51 29 14 6 2899 114 2 2.36 .920 10 8 2 602 20 1 1.99 .931
1966–67 Montreal Canadiens NHL 18 9 6 2 888 47 1 3.18 .900 2 0 1 80 2 0 1.50 .956
1967–68 Montreal Canadiens NHL 40 19 9 8 2213 73 6 1.98 .922 12 11 0 672 21 1 1.88 .930
1968–69 Montreal Canadiens NHL 30 19 5 4 1703 64 5 2.25 .920 7 5 1 370 14 0 2.27 .921
1969–70 Montreal Canadiens NHL 5 3 1 2 360 14 0 2.33 .915 — — — — — — — —
1969–70 Minnesota North Stars NHL 8 5 1 1 453 20 1 2.65 .932 3 1 2 180 14 0 4.67 .880
1970–71 Minnesota North Stars NHL 24 4 10 8 1369 57 0 2.50 .920 4 3 1 240 13 0 3.25 .888
1971–72 Minnesota North Stars NHL 34 16 10 7 1923 68 2 2.12 .934 4 2 1 194 7 1 2.16 .935
1972–73 Minnesota North Stars NHL 12 6 2 3 624 30 0 2.88 .906 — — — — — — — —
1973–74 Minnesota North Stars NHL 29 8 14 5 1601 86 0 3.22 .901 — — — — — — — —
NHL totals 861 335 352 150 50,183 2,407 43 2.88 .913 70 40 26 4,084 189 5 2.78 .912

"Gump Worsley's stats". The Goaltender Home Page. Retrieved 2017-08-07.

References

  1. ^ "Hall of Famer Worsley dies at 77". ESPN. January 28, 2007. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  2. ^ @NYRStatsInfo (4 October 2019). "Henrik Lundqvist's 43 saves in tonight's game are tied for the most by a Rangers goaltender in a season-opening gam…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ^ Hockey’s Book of Firsts, p.18, James Duplacey, JG Press, ISBN 978-1-57215-037-9
  4. ^ Litsky, Frank (29 January 2007). "Gump Worsley, 77, Hall of Famer Who Won Four Titles, Is Dead". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  5. ^ Toronto Star, Monday 25 November 1968, page 15
  6. ^ MacCabe, Eddie (February 13, 1971). "MacCABE SAYS". The Ottawa Journal. p. 13.
  7. ^ Norm Gillespie (August 19, 1953). "Draw with Hakoah". Google. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  8. ^ "Gump Worsley". Legends of Hockey. The Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  9. ^ url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104612522/
  10. ^ Associated Press (28 January 2007). "Worsley, who helped Montreal to four Cups, dies at 77". ESPN. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  11. ^ Cohen, Russ; Halligan, John; Raider, Adam (2009). 100 Ranger Greats: Superstars, Unsung Heroes and Colorful Characters. John Wiley & Sons. p. 178. ISBN 978-0470736197. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  • They Call Me Gump by Lorne "Gump" Worsley with Tim Moriarty
  • The Trail of the Stanley Cup, Volume 3 by Charles L. Coleman
  • The Complete Encyclopedia of Hockey edited by Zander Hollander
Preceded by Winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy
1953 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the Vezina Trophy
with Charlie Hodge
1966 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the Vezina Trophy
with Rogatien Vachon
1968 		Succeeded by
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