R.I.P. Gump Worsley (500 hits)
Category: SportsRating: 1.16 on 7 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by <Fartman> (View user info) at 2007-01-28 13:11:28 EST
Gump Worsley, the Hall of Fame goalie who didn't wear a mask until the final season of his 21-year NHL career, has died. He was 77.
The 5-foot-7 Worsley began his NHL career in 1952-53, winning the Calder Trophy as the rookie of the year with the New York Rangers. He helped his hometown Montreal Canadiens win four Stanley Cup titles in a five-year span and finished his career with the Minnesota North Stars in 1973-74 _ playing only his final six games with a mask.
"He was a terrific goaltender," former North Stars teammate Lou Nanne said. "If I could pick any goalie to win a big game, it would be Gump."
Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1980, Worsley was 335-352-150 with a 2.88 goals-against average and 43 shutouts in 861 regular-season games. In the playoffs, he was 40-26 with a 2.78 GAA and five shutouts.
"He was one of the first real characters in the NHL," Nanne said. "He had a lot of personality and really showed the human side of the game. He didn't look like an athlete and smoked like a chimney between periods, but he was terrific when he put the pads on."
Asked to characterize his former teammate in one sentence, Nanne said: "Completely mental, I must say."
User Reviews
Submitted by Barnymeinhoff (user info) at 2007-02-01 14:36:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Fartman (user info) at 2007-02-01 14:28:00 (#)
Ranking: 1
Ha Ha Rabbi
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2007-01-29 13:36:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Fartman (user info) at 2007-01-28 17:14:13 (#)
Ranking: 0
Actually, I did. But Worsley won 29 of 36 playoff games in helping lead the Canadiens to Stanley Cup titles in 1965, '66, '68 and '69.
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damn right
Submitted by TheUniter (user info) at 2007-01-29 02:20:50 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Confuzitron (user info) at 2007-01-28 19:45:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Fartman (user info) at 2007-01-28 17:14:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Actually, I did. But Worsley won 29 of 36 playoff games in helping lead the Canadiens to Stanley Cup titles in 1965, '66, '68 and '69.
29 of 36 in playoffs + four Cups = Hall of Fame.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2007-01-28 14:32:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Did you know that the Gumper is the all time NHL record holder in LOSSES???
I bet you didn't.
Submitted by messmind (user info) at 2007-01-28 13:32:06 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
He didn't look like an athlete and smoked like a chimney between periods, but he was terrific when he put the pads on.
Yeah , that provoked a smile .