Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
Gerry Cheevers
Canadian ice hockey player (born 1940) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
Gerald Michael Cheevers (born December 7, 1940) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) and World Hockey Association (WHA) between 1961 and 1980. Cheevers is best known for his two stints with the Boston Bruins, whom he helped win the Stanley Cup in 1970 and 1972. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985.
 |
He was the first to decorate his goaltender mask with stitch markings where a puck had struck, leading to the contemporary tradition of goaltenders decorating their masks with distinctive stitches.
Remove ads
Playing career
Summarize
Perspective
Cheevers's hockey career began in 1956 at the age of 16 when he played for the St. Michael's Majors of the Ontario Hockey Association. Cheevers was the youngest goalie at St Michael's College and only played 1 game for the Majors in both the 1956-57 season and in 1957-58. He played 6 games during the 1958-59 season before becoming the Majors starting goalie for the 1959-60 season. While Cheevers played just average goaltending as a starter for the Majors, it was during the 1961 playoffs that he really found his game, leading the Majors to the J. Ross Robertson Cup championship, the George Richardson Memorial Trophy championship and finally the Memorial Cup championship, where he picked up his first important shutout in the first game of the finals. Cheevers would play part of that final junior season as a forward.[1]
The right to sign him to an NHL contract was held by the Toronto Maple Leafs (with whom he played two games) until the Boston Bruins drafted him in 1965, despite Toronto general manager Punch Imlach trying to slip Cheevers through unselected by listing him as a forward.[2] In the 1964–65 season he won 48 games in leading the Rochester Americans to their first Calder Cup championship, becoming the final goaltender in league history to play every game (coincidentally, he did this one season after his future Bruins teammate Eddie Johnston was the final goaltender to do so in the NHL). Cheevers still holds the AHL record for most victories in a season by a goaltender.
He was claimed that offseason by the Boston Bruins in the Intra-League Draft and saw his first action with the Bruins in the 1966 season, although he spent the bulk of the next two years with the Bruins' farm club, the Oklahoma City Blazers of the Central Professional Hockey League. During the 1965-66 season Cheevers would help lead the team to the Adam’s cup going 8-1 in the playoffs. Then in the following year, 1966-67 Cheevers would go 8-3 in the playoffs as he and the Blazers would repeat as Adam’s cup champions.
With the six-team expansion in 1967, and the Bruins losing goaltenders Bernie Parent and Doug Favell to the expansion Philadelphia Flyers, Cheevers became the number one goaltender in Boston for the next five seasons.
Cheevers would put up good numbers for the Bruins in his first to years as their starter in 1967-68 and 1968-69. However the following year Cheevers would have a break out year going 24-8-8 with a 2.72 GAA. Then going a nearly perfect 12-1 in the postseason as he and the Bruins won the 1970 Stanley Cup. But the best was yet to come as two seasons in 1971-72 he went 27-5-8 and had a 2.50 GAA. Then during the postseason he once again helped lead the Bruins to another Stanley Cup victory in 1972. Throughout this time he started gaining a reputation as a driven, "money" goaltender. Cheevers held the Boston Bruins' record for most playoff wins by a goaltender (with 53) until it was surpassed by Tuukka Rask in 2021. Cheevers had held the record since 1977 when he surpassed Frank Brimsek's mark of 32.
In 1972, he went undefeated in 32 consecutive games, an NHL record that still stands.[3][4]
He was known for playing his best when the lights were the brightest. Formers Bruins general manager Milt Schmidt once stated in his 2002 book that “Cheesy (Cheevers) was a big-money player, one of the greatest, Without Fear. When the need was there to make one big save to save a game, Cheesy was there."[5]
In the fall of 1972, he jumped to the fledgling World Hockey Association, where he played three and a half seasons for the Cleveland Crusaders. In his first year with the team during the 1972-73 season Cheevers went 32-20 overall with a 2.84 GAA. He also got the very 1st Shutout in the history of the WHA vs Quebec Nordiques on October 11, 1972.[1] Cheevers play resulted in him winning the leagues Ben Hatskin Award for best goaltender and also being named a First All-Star Team in 1973. He also finished 2nd in league MVP voting in the 1972-73 season.[6] He would continue to be one of the best goaltenders in the league being named a Second All-Star Team in 1974 and 1975. In 1974, he played seven of the eight games for Team Canada in the 1974 Summit Series.[7] Cheevers sat out the third game since his father was gravely ill in hospital.[8] Throughout his 3 and a half years in the WHA Cheevers played in the all star game every single year in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976.
Cheevers returned to the Bruins during the 1975–76 season after a financial dispute with the Crusaders' management. In his final four years with the Bruins Cheevers continued to put up remarkable numbers, going 95-37-29, with a 2.88 GAA. This included another lengthy unbeaten streak of 16 games during the 1978-79 season.[9] Cheevers was also selected as a NHL all star for the 1979 challenge cup. In the 1979–80 season Cheevers and Gilles Gilbert were runners-up for the Vezina Trophy, which was won by Don Edwards and Bob Sauvé of the Buffalo Sabres. He retired at the end of that season.
Cheevers had a career NHL goals against average of 2.89, recorded 230 NHL wins, played in 419 NHL games, and registered 26 NHL shutouts. He is second in the WHA's history in career GAA and shutouts, even though he played during only half the league's existence. If one combines both their NHL and WHA statistics, Gerry Cheevers (329), Mike Liut (325), and Bernie Parent (304) all would have at least 300 wins. Cheevers was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985, and is one of the few goaltenders in the Hall to have never been named to the All-Star Team or won the Vezina Trophy in the National Hockey League. He would later be inducted as an inaugural member into the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame in 2010.
Style
Cheevers was not afraid to stray from the crease to cut down the shooter's angle or to act as a "third defenseman". He was very aggressive with opposing players who strayed into or near the crease and was not afraid to hit opposing players with his goalie stick if they got too close to the crease.[10] Cheevers was also known to make some spectacular saves throughout his career.[10] Cheevers was also not afraid to handle the puck at his stick once famously skating the puck from his crease all the way to the center ice.[11]
Not a "stand-up" goalie, Cheevers could often be found on his knees or even his side. He perfected this "flopping" style while playing for Rochester during the 1962–63 season. Americans' coach Rudy Migay had Cheevers practice without his stick, thus requiring him to rely more on using his body and his pads.
His former coach Don Cherry has referred to him as "the best ever to play the game."[12]
Mask
Cheevers was inspired to create his distinctive stitch pattern mask when a puck hit him in the face during practice. Cheevers, never one to miss an opportunity to skip out of practice, went to the dressing room. Bruins coach Harry Sinden followed him to the dressing room, where he found Cheevers enjoying a beer and smoking a cigarette. Annoyed, Sinden ordered Cheevers, who wasn't injured, to get back on the ice. In jest, John "Frosty" Forristall, the Bruins' assistant trainer, drew a stitch mark on his mask, which amused the team.[13] After that, any time he was similarly struck, he had a new stitch-mark drawn on his mask. Cheevers later claimed that the mask spared him from over 150 medical stitches over his career and was the first to be custom decorated in the sport.[13] The mask became one of the most recognized of the era, and the original is now on the wall of his grandson's bedroom.
Years later, goalie Steve Shields paid tribute to Cheevers when he played for the Bruins in 2002 and 2003, sporting a modern airbrushed version of the stitch-covered mask.[14] In 2008, The Hockey News rated his mask the greatest ever by a wide margin. It received 221 of a possible 300 points; Gilles Gratton's mask was rated second with 66.[1]
Cheevers's mask design has appeared in rock-n-roll culture. Black Veil Brides' lead singer Andy Biersack cited it as the reason he got interested in hockey and played goalie when he was younger. In homage to Cheevers, Biersack painted stitches on his face for live shows.[15]
Publications
In 1971, Cheevers published the book Goaltender, detailing his experiences during the 1970–71 season, through to the unexpected loss in the first round to the underdog Montreal Canadiens.[16] In 2011 Along side author Marc Zappulla Cheevers would co write his autobiography titled “Unmasked”.[17]
Remove ads
Coaching career
Summarize
Perspective
Cheevers's final season as a player came in 1980 when popular coach Don Cherry was replaced by Fred Creighton. After winning their division in seven of the previous nine seasons, the Bruins were in third place late in the year, and general manager Harry Sinden fired Creighton and took over as coach for the remainder of the season. For the 1980–81 season, Cheevers was named coach. In that year's playoffs, the Bruins suffered a shocking sweep by the Minnesota North Stars, who had never before won a game in Boston Garden. Even so, Sinden stuck with Cheevers, which worked out in his favor as the next season Cheevers led the team to a second place finish in the division and a playoff appearance. The following season He led the team to the league's best record with 110 points in the 1982–83 season with a 50-20-10 record; in the playoffs, the team fell to the eventual Stanley Cup Champions, the New York Islanders, in the semifinals. The following season in 1983-84 Cheever’s led the team to another 100+ point season and a second Adams division title with a 49-25-9 record. However during the playoffs they lost in the divisional semifinals.
Cheevers was replaced by Sinden in the middle of the 1984–85 season. With a record of 204–126–46, he ranks seventh in career winning percentage (.604) among NHL coaches with more than 250 games experience.
Despite never having a losing record Cheevers was criticized by media for maintaining the same relaxed demeanor he had during his playing days. Cheevers later stated "After that, I decided I never wanted to coach again,” "It's just too tough. You have to be a 24/7 guy, and I just don't think I'm that type."[12]
Remove ads
Retirement
Summarize
Perspective
After his departure as Bruins' coach, Cheevers served as a color commentator for the Hartford Whalers from 1986 to 1995 and the Boston Bruins from 1999 to 2002. From 1995 to 2006 he was a member of the Bruins' scouting staff.
Cheevers has also devoted time to Thoroughbred racing. His most successful runner was the Grade 1 winner Royal Ski.[18] who was the country's leading 2-year-old money winner in 1976, finishing ahead of Seattle Slew. Cheevers frequently made allusions to horse racing during interviews. After playing a particularly good game in the 1972 Stanley Cup playoffs, Cheevers told reporters he "felt like Riva Ridge"—the horse that had recently won the 1972 Kentucky Derby. However after loyal Ski was sidelined with a virus Cheevers step away from the sport convinced that racing was not his game. Later stating "I don't own horses or watch racing anymore," "I got spoiled with a really good horse, and I got out of it."[12]
Cheevers lives in Everett, Massachusetts. He married his wife Elizebeth in 1964 the two had 3 children together Craig, Sherril and Rob. Elizebeth died in 2019.[19]
Cheevers has also been involved in charitable efforts raising money for the Ace Bailey Children's Fund. Which is named after his former teammate Garnet Bailey. In 2011 after the Bruins won the Stanley cup Cheevers brought the cup to the American Nutrition Center in Everett to help raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. As 2 of his granddaughters Laura and Cate suffer form the disorder.[20]
In 2015 Cheevers received the Hockey Legacy Award from The Sports Museum tradition event at the TD Garden.[21] He now spends time in Boca raton where he enjoys playing golf. As well as taking trips to Boston to visit his grandchildren. He is also still involved with the Boston Bruins as a part of their Alumni Association.[22]
Popular culture
In 1996, Canadian pop-punk band Chixdiggit released their self-titled album on SubPop, and included the song "I Feel Like Gerry Cheevers (Stitchmarks On My Heart)." The lyrics include references to Cheevers's undefeated streak, the stitch marks drawn for every shot that hit his cheek, and his number 30 jersey. The chorus includes the lyrics "he wore a mask just like my heart, it had stitch marks on every part."[1]
Remove ads
Awards
- Memorial Cup champion 1961
- 1965 Calder Cup champion
- Adams Cup champion in 1966 and 1967
- 1964–65 – Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award, which goes to the AHL goalie with the best goals against average
- Played in the 1969 NHL All-Star Game
- Stanley Cup champion in 1970 and 1972
- 1972–73 – WHA First Team All-Star, won Ben Hatskin Award for best goaltender
- Played in the WHA all star game in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976
- 1973–74 – World Hockey Association Second Team All-Star
- 1974–75 – World Hockey Association Second Team All-Star
- 1979–80 – Runner-up for the NHL's Vezina Trophy (Lowest goals-against average at the time)
- Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985
- Inducted into the Rochester Americans Hall of Fame in 1987
- The St. Michael's Majors had a banner in Cheevers honor at their home arena until the team folded in 2012
- Inducted as an inaugural member into the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame in 2010[23]
- Named One of the Top 100 Best Bruins Players of all Time.[24]
- Named to the Boston Bruins All-Centennial Team.[25]
Remove ads
International play
- 1974 – Played for Team Canada at the 1974 Summit Series
- 1976 – Spare goaltender for Team Canada in the Canada Cup
- 1979 – Played for NHL All-Stars in the Challenge Cup vs. Team Soviet Union
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
International
"Gerry Cheever's stats". The Goaltender Home Page. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
Remove ads
Coaching statistics
Remove ads
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads