Clint Benedict

Clinton Stevenson "Clint" Benedict (September 25, 1892 – November 12, 1976) was a Canadian professional goaltender who played for the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Maroons. He played on four Stanley Cup-winning squads. He was the first goaltender in the National Hockey League (NHL) to wear a face mask. He led league goaltenders in shutouts seven times over his professional career. He is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Benedict was one of the first great goalies in professional hockey and a great innovator in the sport. He was the first goalie to drop to his knees to stop the puck along the ice. At the time, dropping to the ice was illegal, but Benedict circumvented the rules by pretending to pray on his knees. This earned him the nickname "praying Benny." The first rule change of the NHL was made to legalize his playing style.
==Playing Career==
Benedict played senior-level hockey at 17, playing for the Ottawa Stewartons of the Ottawa City Senior League in 1909–10, moving to the Ottawa New Edinburgh of the Interprovincial Hockey Union the following season. Benedict joined the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey Association (NHA) in the 1912–13 season. Although the Senators had at the time future Hall of Famer Percy LeSueur as their starting goaltender, Benedict played 10 games for the club. He played one more season as backup to LeSueur and took over as starting goaltender in the 1914–15 season. He led the league in Goals Against Average (GAA) that season and the following two seasons to start his career. He played 12 seasons overall for the Senators.
After winning three Stanley Cups with the Senators, his career changed in the 1923–24 season. Benedict developed a problem with drinking, which at first was kept secret by the Senators. Benedict occasionally played for the Senators while under the effects. In the playoffs, Benedict and the Senators played poorly and were quickly eliminated. Management withheld some of his salary for his behaviour. Benedict sued the team in return and the Senators countersued, revealing in court documents the extent of Benedict's behaviour. Once the Ottawa papers found out about the court case, the secret was out. The two sides quickly settled to minimize the publicity.
Benedict's career with the Senators was finished. On October 20, 1924, Benedict was sold along with Punch Broadbent to the expansion Montreal Maroons. It was a new lease on life for Benedict who played for six seasons with the Maroons. In 1926, he won another Stanley Cup with the Maroons.
In 1930, some 30 years before Jacques Plante popularized the goalie mask, Clint was the first goalie to wear facial protection in the NHL with the Montreal Maroons using it for five games during the 1929–30 season. On January 7, 1930, he was hit by a shot from Howie Morenz in the face, breaking his nose and cheekbone, knocking him unconscious. Benedict was out of action for six weeks. He returned on February 20, 1930 against the New York Americans wearing the mask. He played with the mask on for five games, the last being on March 4, 1930 when he got hit in the face during a goal-mouth scramble. He had to leave the game due to blood coming from his nose. It was his last game in the NHL. The next season he played for the Windsor Bulldogs minor pro hockey team and the Maroons farm team, leading them to the IHL championship.
In 1932, Benedict became manager and coach of Saint John Beavers of the Maritime Senior Hockey League, a position he held for two seasons.
Benedict was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1965, much later than would be expected of a player of his ability and career and possibly due to the events of 1924. Benedict lived to 84 years of age, dying in 1976 in Ottawa.
===Career Statistics===
  	  	  	 	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 	 	GPI 	W 	L 	T 	MIN 	GA 	SO 	GAA 	 	GPI 	W 	L 	T 	MIN 	GA 	SO 	GAA
1909–10 	Ottawa Stewartons 	OCSL 	 	7 	5 	2 	0 	420 	21 	0 	3.0 	 	1 	0 	1 	0 	60 	2 	0 	2.0
1910–11 	Ottawa New Edinburgh	OCSL 	 	6 	2 	3 	1 	360 	24 	0 	4.0 	 	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	 
1910–11 	Ottawa New Edinburgh	IPHU 	 	5 	5 	0 	0 	300 	18 	0 	3.6 	 	3 	3 	0 	0 	180 	13 	0 	4.25
1911–12 	Ottawa New Edinburgh	IPHU 	 	7 	5 	2 	0 	420 	21 	0 	3.0 	 	1 	0 	1 	0 	60 	2 	0 	2.0
1912–13 	Ottawa Senators 	NHA 	 	10 	7 	2 	1 	275 	16 	1 	3.49 	 	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	 
1913–14 	Ottawa Senators 	NHA 	 	9 	5 	3 	0 	474 	29 	0 	3.67 	 	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	 
1914–15 	Ottawa Senators 	NHA 	 	20 	14 	6 	0 	1243 	65 	0 	3.14 	 	2 	1 	1 	0 	120 	2 	1 	0.5
1914–15 	Ottawa Senators 	Stanley Cup	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	3 	0 	3 	0 	360 	26 	1 	8.6
1915–16 	Ottawa Senators 	NHA 	 	24 	13 	11 	0 	1447 	72 	2 	1.99 	 	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	 
1916–17 	Ottawa Senators 	NHA 	 	18 	14 	4 	0 	1103 	50 	1 	2.72 	 	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	 
1917–18 	Ottawa Senators 	NHL 	 	7 	5 	2 	0 	420 	21 	0 	3.0 	 	1 	0 	1 	0 	60 	2 	0 	2.0
1918–19 	Ottawa Senators 	NHL 	 	18 	12 	6 	0 	1149 	53 	2 	2.77 	 	5 	1 	4 	0 	300 	26 	0 	5.2
1919–20 	Ottawa Senators 	NHL 	 	24 	19 	5 	0 	1443 	64 	5 	2.66 	 	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	 
1919–20 	Ottawa Senators 	Stanley Cup	 	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	 	5 	3 	2 	0 	300 	11 	1 	2.2
1920–21 	Ottawa Senators 	NHL 	 	24 	14 	10 	0 	1457 	75 	2 	3.09 	 	7 	5 	2 	0 	420 	12 	2 	2.0
1920–21 	Ottawa Senators 	Stanley Cup	 	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	 	5 	3 	2 	0 	300 	12 	0 	2.4
1921–22 	Ottawa Senators 	NHL 	 	24 	14 	8 	2 	1508 	84 	2 	3.32 	 	2 	0 	1 	1 	120 	5 	1 	3.0
1922–23 	Ottawa Senators 	NHL 	 	24 	14 	9 	1 	1486 	54 	4 	2.18 	 	8 	6 	2 	0 	480 	10 	3 	1.00
1922–23 	Ottawa Senators 	Stanley Cup	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	6 	5 	1 	0 	361 	8 	1 	1.33
1923–24 	Ottawa Senators 	NHL 	 	22 	16 	6 	0 	1356 	45 	3 	1.99 	 	2 	0 	2 	0 	120 	5 	0 	2.5
1924–25 	Montreal Maroons 	NHL 	 	30 	9 	19 	2 	1843 	65 	2 	2.12 	 	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	 
1925–26 	Montreal Maroons 	NHL 	 	36 	20 	11 	5 	2288 	73 	6 	1.91 	 	8 	5 	1 	2 	480 	8 	4 	1.0
1925–26 	Montreal Maroons 	Stanley Cup	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	4 	3 	1 	0 	249 	3 	3 	0.75
1926–27 	Montreal Maroons 	NHL 	 	43 	20 	19 	4 	2748 	65 	13 	1.42 	 	2 	0 	1 	1 	132 	2 	0 	1.0
1927–28 	Montreal Maroons 	NHL 	 	44 	24 	14 	6 	2690 	76 	7 	1.7 	 	9 	5 	3 	1 	555 	8 	4 	1.0
1928–29 	Montreal Maroons 	NHL 	 	37 	14 	16 	7 	2300 	57 	11 	1.49 	 	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	 
1929–30 	Montreal Maroons 	NHL 	 	14 	6 	6 	1 	420 	33 	0 	2.63 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
1930–31 	Windsor Bulldogs 	IHL 	 	40 	20 	15 	5 	752 	90 	1 	2.18 	 	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	 
NHL totals	NHL totals 	NHL totals 	 	362 	191 	142 	28 	22357 	858 	58 	2.30 	 	28 	11 	12 	5 	1707 	53 	9 	1.86
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==Awards and Achievements==
*1965 - Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
*1966 - Inducted into Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame.
*1998 - Ranked number 77 on List of 100 greatest hockey players by The Hockey News.
==Gallery==
1926-Noble-Benedict-Munro.jpg|Reg Noble, Clint Benedict, Dunc Munro in 1926. 
==External Links==
*
Category:Born in 1892
Category:Dead in 1976
Category:Hockey Hall of Fame
Category:Canadian ice hockey players
Category:Stanley Cup champions
Category:Ottawa Senators (original) players
Category:Montreal Maroons players
Category:Windsor Bulldogs (1929–1936) players
Category:Retired in 1931
Category:Ottawa New Edinburgh players
Category:Ottawa Stewartons players