Grant Fuhr

Grant S. Fuhr (born September 28, 1962), is a former goaltender in the National Hockey League and currently the goaltending coach for the Phoenix Coyotes. In 2003, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Born of biracial parents, Fuhr was adopted as a baby and raised in Spruce Grove, Alberta.
==Career==
In 1979, at the age of seventeen, Fuhr joined the Victoria Cougars of the WHL. After two stellar seasons in Victoria, which included the league championship and a trip to the Memorial Cup in 1981, Fuhr was drafted 8th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft. He played for the Oilers for ten seasons, where he teamed up with Andy Moog for several of them to form one of the most formidable goaltending tandems in history, and won five Stanley Cups. He was the team's starting goaltender on the first four teams, but was injured and did not play in the 1990 playoffs, when the Oilers won for the fifth time. Fuhr played in the National Hockey League All-Star Game in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, and 1989. In 1987, he played in goal for the NHL All-Stars in both games of the Rendez-Vous '87 series against the Soviet National Team. In 1987-88, Fuhr backstopped Canada to a victory at the Canada Cup, playing in all nine games, then played in 75 regular season and 19 playoff games. He won his only Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender that year and finished second in voting for the Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP, behind Mario Lemieux and ahead of teammate Wayne Gretzky. He battled shoulder injuries and substance abuse problems at the tail end of his career with Edmonton, and was suspended by the NHL for the first half of the 1990–91 season.
In 1991 Fuhr was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a seven-player deal during the Oilers' post-Gretzky fire sale. After a season and a half in Toronto, he was again traded, this time to the Buffalo Sabres, during the 1992-93 season. In Buffalo, he played a role in the Sabres' dramatic first-round playoff victory over the Boston Bruins, helped instill a winning attitude in the organization, and mentored a young goalie named Dominik Hasek. Fuhr then had a successful 1993–94 season with the Sabres, sharing time in goal with Hasek and winning the William M. Jennings Trophy for the fewest goals scored against in the league with him. However, when Fuhr went down with multiple injuries, Hasek stepped into the starting role, and played well enough to hold onto the job.
With Hasek now ensconced in the Sabres' net, Fuhr was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings, playing briefly with Gretzky again for 14 games. Out of shape and possibly past his prime, his career saw a resurgence when he signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Blues before the 1995–96 campaign. He played 79 games that season, 76 consecutively, both St. Louis franchise records. The 1996 playoff run for Fuhr ended prematurely as Maple Leafs forward Nick Kypreos ran him in the crease in the first round, causing him to tear several knee ligaments. Jon Casey had to play the rest of the playoffs. They beat Toronto in the first round but Detroit was their next opponent and they didn't even get to the conference finals. Even though over the next three years he became one of the three winningest goaltenders in Blues history (along with Mike Liut and Curtis Joseph), he never quite recovered from the knee injury fully. After the Blues signed Roman Turek as their new number one goaltender in 1999, Fuhr was traded to the Calgary Flames. He spent one season there being a mentor for Calgary's young goalies, including Fred Brathwaite, and on October 22, 1999, he earned his 400th career win versus the Florida Panthers. Before the 2000–01 season he announced his retirement.
In 1990 Fuhr came forward about his drug use after spending two weeks in a counseling center in Florida. A one-year suspension was handed down in September 1990 by NHL president John Ziegler, who called Fuhr's conduct "dishonorable and against the welfare of the league." Once Fuhr was re-instated, fans of opposing teams taunted him at games with bags of sugar.
Fuhr was hired to be the Phoenix Coyotes goaltending coach on July 22, 2004. Fuhr maintains this position at present. He held a similar post with the Calgary Flames in the 2000–2001 and 2001–2002 seasons.
==Hall of Fame induction==
Grant Fuhr was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 2, 2003. In the press at the time, it was frequently noted that Fuhr was the first black person inducted into the hall. Fuhr himself found the insistence on his race surprising for two reasons. Firstly, Fuhr never experienced any racism during his formative years in Spruce Grove, Alberta, or within the NHL. Secondly, Fuhr was adopted and raised by a white Canadian family.
Arguably, the focus on race took away from a ceremony remembering one of the greatest goaltenders in the history of hockey. 
==International play==
Fuhr was named to the 1984 Canada Cup team but saw limited action during the tournament. Grant was again selected to represent Canada for the 1987 Canada Cup. It was here that he cemented his reputation as one of the best goaltenders in the game. Playing against a tough Soviet Union squad, Fuhr turned away shot after shot during the three-game final. He also played for Canada at the 1989 IIHF World Championships.
==Awards==
*Named to NHL Second All-Star Team in 1982
*Stanley Cup Champion 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990
*Canada Cup Champion 1984, 1987
*Named to NHL First All-Star Team in 1988
*Won Vezina Trophy in 1988
*Won William M. Jennings Trophy in 1994 (shared with Dominik Hašek)
*Participated in NHL All-Star Game in 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986 (MVP), 1988, 1989
*In 1997, he was ranked number 70 on List of 100 greatest hockey players by The Hockey News
==Transactions==
*Traded to Toronto by Edmonton with Glenn Anderson and Craig Berube for Vincent Damphousse, Peter Ing, Scott Thornton and Luke Richardson, September 19, 1991.
*Traded to Buffalo by Toronto with Toronto's 5th round choice (Kevin Popp) in 1995 Entry Draft for Dave Andreychuk, Daren Puppa and Buffalo's 1st round choice (Kenny Jönsson) in 1993 Entry Draft, February 2, 1993.
*Traded to Los Angeles by Buffalo with Philippe Boucher and Denis Tsygurov for Alexei Zhitnik, Robb Stauber, Charlie Huddy and Los Angeles' 5th round choice (Marian Menhart) in 1995 Entry Draft, February 14, 1995.
*Signed as a free agent by St. Louis, July 14, 1995.
*Traded to Calgary by St. Louis for Calgary's 3rd round choice (Justin Papineau) in 2000 Entry Draft, September 4, 1999.
*Officially announced retirement, September 6, 2000.
== Career statistics==
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Season 	Team 	League 		GP 	W 	L 	T 	MIN 	GA 	SO	GAA 	SV%
1979–80 	Victoria Cougars 	WHL 		43 	30 	12 	0 	2488 	130 	3 	3.14	.911
1980–81 	Victoria Cougars 	WHL 		59 	48 	9 	1 	3448 	160 	4 	2.78	.908
1981–82 	Edmonton Oilers 	NHL 		48 	28 	5 	14 	2847 	157 	0 	3.31	.899
1982–83 	Edmonton Oilers 	NHL 		32 	13 	12 	5 	1803 	129 	0 	4.29	.868
1982–83 	Moncton Alpines 	AHL 		10 	- 	- 	- 	604 	40 	0 	3.98	-
1983–84 	Edmonton Oilers 	NHL 		45 	30 	10 	4 	2625 	171 	1 	3.91	.883
1984–85 	Edmonton Oilers 	NHL 		46 	26 	8 	7 	2559 	165 	1 	3.87	.884
1985–86 	Edmonton Oilers 	NHL 		40 	29 	8 	0 	2184 	143 	0 	3.93	.890
1986–87 	Edmonton Oilers 	NHL 		44 	22 	13 	3 	2388 	137 	0 	3.44	.881
1987–88 	Edmonton Oilers 	NHL 		75 	40 	24 	9 	4304 	246 	4 	3.43	.881
1988–89 	Edmonton Oilers 	NHL 		59 	23 	26 	6 	3341 	213 	1 	3.83	.875
1989–90 	Cape Breton Oilers 	AHL 		2 	2 	- 	- 	120 	6 	0 	3.00	.919
1989–90 	Edmonton Oilers 	NHL 		21 	9 	7 	3 	1081 	70 	1 	3.89	.868
1990–91 	Cape Breton Oilers 	AHL 		4 	2 	2 	0 	240 	17 	0 	4.25	.870
1990–91 	Edmonton Oilers 	NHL 		13 	6 	4 	3 	778 	39 	1 	3.01	.897
1991–92 	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL 		65 	25 	33 	5 	3774 	230 	2 	3.66	.881
1992–93 	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL 		29 	13 	9 	4 	1665 	87 	1 	3.14	.895
1992–93 	Buffalo Sabres 	NHL 		29 	11 	15 	2 	1694 	98 	0 	3.47	.891
1993–94 	Rochester Americans	AHL 		5 	3 	0 	2 	310 	10 	0 	1.94	.935
1993–94 	Buffalo Sabres 	NHL 		32 	13 	12 	3 	1726 	106 	2 	3.68	.883
1994–95 	Buffalo Sabres 	NHL 		3 	1 	2 	0 	180 	12 	0 	4.00	.859
1994–95 	Los Angeles Kings 	NHL 		14 	1 	7 	3 	698 	47 	0 	4.04	.876
1995–96 	St. Louis Blues 	NHL 		79 	30 	28 	16 	4365 	209 	3 	2.87	.903
1996–97 	St. Louis Blues 	NHL 		73 	33 	27 	11 	4261 	193 	3 	2.72	.901
1997–98 	St. Louis Blues 	NHL 		58 	29 	21 	6 	3274 	138 	3 	2.53	.883
1998–99 	St. Louis Blues 	NHL 		39 	16 	11 	8 	2193 	89 	2 	2.44	.892
1999–00 	Saint John Flames 	AHL 		2 	0 	2 	0 	99 	10 	0 	6.05	.839
1999–00 	Calgary Flames 	NHL 		23 	5 	13 	2 	1205 	77 	0 	3.83	.856
NHL totals	NHL totals 	NHL totals		868	403	295	114	48,924	2,756	25	3.38	—
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==External links==
*
Category:Born in 1962
Category:Buffalo Sabres players
Category:Calgary Flames players
Category:Canadian ice hockey players
Category:Cape Breton Oilers players
Category:Edmonton Oilers draft picks
Category:Edmonton Oilers players
Category:Hockey Hall of Fame
Category:Los Angeles Kings players
Category:Moncton Alpines players
Category:NHL All-Stars
Category:National Hockey League first round draft picks
Category:National Hockey League players with retired numbers
Category:Phoenix Coyotes coaches
Category:Rochester Americans players
Category:Saint John Flames players
Category:St. Louis Blues players
Category:Stanley Cup champions
Category:Toronto Maple Leafs players
Category:Vezina Trophy winners
Category:Victoria Cougars alumni
Category:Retired in 2000