# Claude Pronovost

Joseph Georges Claude Pronovost (July 22, 1935 – September 1, 2022) was a Canadian ice hockey goaltender who played three games in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens between 1956 and 1959, serving as an emergency goalie each time. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1952 to 1963, was spent in various minor leagues, mainly the Quebec Hockey League. He died on September 1. 2022 in Quebec, at the age of 87.

## Playing career

Pronovost was with the Montreal Canadiens as a practice goaltender in the 1955–56 season when he played his first NHL game. On January 14, 1956, the Boston Bruins arrived to play in Montreal. The Bruins were without regular starter Terry Sawchuk and were unable to use their backup John Henderson because of equipment problems. The Canadiens loaned Pronovost to the Bruins for the game, and he recorded a shutout against his own team.
Pronovost's hockey career lasted from 1952 to 1963. He spent most of his time playing in various semi-professional leagues, including the Quebec Hockey League and the Eastern Professional Hockey League. The only other time Pronovost played in the NHL was during the 1958–59 season, when he played two games for Montreal.
Claude's brothers Marcel Pronovost and Jean Pronovost also played in the NHL.

## Career statistics
### Regular season and playoffs

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% |
| 1952–53 | Shawinigan Falls Cataractes | QHL | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 120 | 5 | 0 | 2.50 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1953–54 | Montreal Junior Royals | QJHL | 21 | — | — | — | 1260 | 80 | 1 | 3.81 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1953–54 | Kitchener Greenshirts | OHA Sr | 33 | — | — | — | 1980 | 122 | 2 | 3.70 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1954–55 | Montreal Junior Canadiens | QJHL | 46 | 24 | 21 | 1 | 2760 | 143 | 2 | 3.10 | — | 5 | 1 | 4 | 315 | 23 | 0 | 4.38 | — |
| 1954–55 | Chicoutimi Sagueneens | QHL | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 10 | 0 | 3.33 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1955–56 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | 1.000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1955–56 | Chicoutimi Sagueneens | QHL | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 108 | 7 | 0 | 3.89 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1955–56 | Montreal Royals | QHL | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 540 | 31 | 0 | 3.44 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1956–57 | Chicoutimi Sagueneens | QHL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 1 | 0 | 1.00 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1956–57 | Montreal Royals | QHL | 9 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 554 | 36 | 0 | 3.90 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1956–57 | Shawinigan Falls Cataractes | QHL | 11 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 662 | 37 | 1 | 3.35 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1956–57 | Edmonton Flyers | WHL | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 190 | 10 | 0 | 3.16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1957–58 | Montreal Royals | QHL | 16 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 960 | 66 | 1 | 4.13 | — | 1 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 1 | 0 | 1.30 | — |
| 1957–58 | Shawinigan Falls Cataractes | QHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 60 | 5 | 0 | 5.00 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1958–59 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 60 | 7 | 0 | 7.00 | .774 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1958–59 | Montreal Royals | QHL | 37 | 18 | 14 | 5 | 2220 | 91 | 2 | 2.46 | — | 6 | 3 | 3 | 364 | 15 | 1 | 2.47 | — |
| 1959–60 | Calgary Stampeders | WHL | 37 | 15 | 21 | 1 | 2220 | 125 | 0 | 3.37 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1960–61 | Montreal Royals | EPHL | 27 | — | — | — | 1620 | 85 | 1 | 3.15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1961–62 | North Bay Trappers | EPHL | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 240 | 16 | 0 | 4.00 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1962–63 | Hull-Ottawa Canadiens | EPHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 60 | 5 | 0 | 5.00 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 120 | 7 | 0 | 3.50 | .887 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |