Gerry Cheevers

Gerald Michael "Cheesey" Cheevers (born on December 7, 1940, in St. Catharines, Ontario) is a former goaltender in the National Hockey League and World Hockey Association between 1961 and 1980.
==Playing Career==
Cheevers' professional hockey career began in 1956 at the age of 16 when he played for the St. Michael's Majors of the Ontario Hockey Association. He was owned by the Toronto Maple Leafs until the Boston Bruins drafted him in 1965. Cheevers still holds the American Hockey League single-season record for most victories by a goalkeeper. In 1965 he totaled 48 victories in leading the Rochester Americans to their first Calder Cup championship. He spent six years in all in the minors until, by 1967, he was Boston's number one goalie. He was a member of both the 1970 and 1972 Stanley Cup winning teams, gaining a reputation as a driven, "money" goaltender. 
In 1972, he went undefeated in 33 consecutive games, a NHL record that still stands.
In the fall of 1972, he jumped to the fledgling World Hockey Association, playing three and a half seasons for the Cleveland Crusaders as one of the league's best goalies, winning First Team All-Star honors in 1973 and Second Team honors in 1974 and 1975. 
Returning to the Bruins during the 1976 season after financial disputes with Cleveland management, Cheevers finished out his playing career at the end of the 1980 season. 
His career NHL goals against average was 2.89. He recorded 230 NHL wins, played in 419 NHL games, and recorded 26 NHL shutouts. He was also second in the WHA's history in career GAA and shutouts, despite playing in only half the league's seasons.
===Mask===
Cheevers' iconic stitch-pattern goaltender mask came after 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. Sinden told Cheevers, who wasn't injured, to get back on the ice. In jest, John Forestall, the team trainer, painted a stitch mark on his mask. Ever after, any time he was similarly struck, he would have a new stitch-mark painted on. The mask became one of the most recognized of the era, and the original mask is now on the wall of his grandson's bedroom.
Cheevers was not afraid to stray from the crease both to cut down the shooter's angle and to act as a "third defenseman". He was very aggressive with opposing players who strayed into or near the crease. Many an opposing player who got too close to the goal crease got a quick smack from Cheevers' goal stick. 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. From that point on Cheevers became one of hockey's best goalkeepers.
In 2008, The Hockey News rated his mask the greatest ever with a wide margin. Cheevers received 221 of possible 300 points, while second-placed Gilles Gratton got 66.
===Publications===
In 1971, Cheevers published the book Goaltender, detailing his experiences during the previous season, through to the unexpected loss in the first round to the underdog Montreal Canadiens. 
==Coaching Career==
Cheevers' final season as a player came in 1980, when popular coach Don Cherry was replaced by Fred Creighton. After winning their division seven of the previous nine seasons, the Bruins were in third place late in the year, and general manager Harry Sinden fired Creighton, serving as interim coach for the remainder of the season himself. For the 1981 season, Cheevers was named as coach. Despite a shocking sweep in the 1981 playoffs to the Minnesota North Stars - the North Stars had never before won a game in Boston Garden in the sixteen years the team had been in the league - Sinden stuck with Cheevers, who led the Bruins to two first place and two second place finishes in their division, including to the league's best record in 1983, where the team fell only to the eventual Stanley Cup champion New York Islanders in the semifinals.
Cheevers was replaced by Sinden midseason two years later. With a record of 204-126-46, he ranks 7th in career winning percentage (.604) for NHL coaches with more than 250 games experience.
==Retirement==
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 1995-2006 he was a member of the Bruins' scouting staff. Cheevers has also devoted his time to his interests in thoroughbred horse racing, and has even tried Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment or WWE were he fought "The Bush".
==Career Statistics==
===Regular Season===
  	  	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Season 	Team 	League 	 	GP 	W 	L 	T 	MIN 	GA 	SO	GAA 	SV%
1956-57 	Toronto St. Michael's Majors	OHA 	 	1 	0 	0 	0 	60 	4 	0 	4.00	—
1957-58 	Toronto St. Michael's Majors	OHA 	 	1 	0 	0 	0 	60 	3 	0 	3.00	—
1958-59 	Toronto St. Michael's Majors	OHA 	 	6 	0 	0 	0 	360 	28 	0 	4.67	—
1959-60 	Toronto St. Michael's Majors	OHA 	 	36 	18 	13 	5 	2160 	111 	5 	3.08	—
1960-61 	Toronto St. Michael's Majors	OHA 	 	30 	12 	20 	5 	— 	— 	2 	3.18	—
1961–62 	Pittsburgh Hornets 	AHL 	 	5 	2 	2 	1 	— 	— 	0 	4.20	—
1961–62 	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 	EPHL 	 	29 	13 	13 	3 	— 	— 	1 	3.55	—
1961–62 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	NHL 	 	2 	1 	1 	0 	— 	— 	0 	3.00	.917
1961–62 	Rochester Americans 	AHL 	 	19 	9 	9 	1 	— 	— 	1 	3.63	—
1962–63 	Rochester Americans 	AHL 	 	19 	7 	9 	3 	— 	— 	1 	3.95	—
1962–63 	Sudbury Wolves 	EPHL 	 	51 	17 	24 	10	— 	— 	4 	4.15	—
1963–64 	Rochester Americans 	AHL 	 	66 	38 	25 	2 	4359 	195 	3 	2.84	—
1964–65 	Rochester Americans 	AHL 	 	72 	48 	21 	3 	— 	— 	5 	2.68	—
1965–66 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	7 	0 	4 	1 	— 	— 	0 	6.00	.827
1965–66 	Oklahoma City Blazers 	CPHL 	 	30 	16 	9 	5 	— 	— 	3 	2.49	—
1966–67 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	22 	5 	10 	6 	1284 	72 	1 	3.33	.923
1966–67 	Oklahoma City Blazers 	CPHL 	 	26 	14 	6 	5 	— 	— 	1 	2.80	—
1967–68 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	47 	23 	17 	5 	2646 	125 	3 	2.83	—
1968–69 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	52 	28 	12 	12	3112 	145 	3 	2.80	—
1969–70 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	41 	24 	8 	8 	2384 	108 	4 	2.72	—
1970–71 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	40 	27 	8 	5 	2400 	109 	3 	2.73	.918
1971–72 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	41 	27 	5 	8 	2420 	101 	2 	2.50	—
1972–73 	Cleveland Crusaders 	WHA 	 	52 	32 	20 	0 	3144 	149 	5 	2.84	.912
1973–74 	Cleveland Crusaders 	WHA 	 	59 	30 	20 	6 	3562 	180 	4 	3.03	.906
1974–75 	Cleveland Crusaders 	WHA 	 	52 	26 	24 	2 	3076 	167 	4 	3.26	.905
1975–76 	Cleveland Crusaders 	WHA 	 	28 	11 	14 	1 	1570 	95 	1 	3.63	.886
1975–76 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	15 	8 	2 	5 	900 	41 	1 	2.73	.911
1976–77 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	45 	30 	10 	5 	2700 	137 	3 	3.04	—
1977–78 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	21 	10 	5 	2 	1086 	48 	1 	2.65	—
1978–79 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	43 	23 	9 	10	2509 	132 	1 	3.16	—
1979–80 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	42 	24 	11 	7 	2479 	116 	4 	2.81	—
NHL totals	NHL totals 	NHL totals	 	418	230	102	74	24394	1175	26	2.89	—
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==Awards==
* 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.
* 1973 WHA First Team All-Star, won Ben Hatskin Award for best goaltender.
* 1979–80 Runner-up for the NHL's Vezina Memorial Trophy (Lowest goals against average).
* Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985.
* Inducted into the Rochester Americans Hall of Fame in 1987.
==International Play==
* 1974 Played for Team Canada at the Summit-74 series
* 1976 Spare goaltender for Team Canada in the Challenge Cup
* 1979 Played for NHL All Stars in the Challenge Cup vs. Team Soviet Union
==Gallery==
27Oct1965-Mahovlich_Cheevers_Awrey.jpg|Frank Mahovlich, Gerry Cheevers (playing in his first game for the Bruins), Don Awrey, October 27, 1965.
10Nov1966-Orr_Cheevers_Martin_Watson.jpg|Bobby Orr, Gerry Cheevers, Pit Martin, Joe Watson, November 10, 1966.
12Dec1966-Westfall_Larose_Green_Cheevers.jpg|Ed Westfall, Claude Larose, Ted Green, Gerry Cheevers, December 28, 1966.
1966-67-Connelly_Cheevers.jpg|Wayne Connelly, Glen Sather, Dave Balon, Gerry Cheevers, December 28, 1966.
8Nov1967-Orr_Cheevers_NYR.jpg|Bobby Orr playing with a broken nose. Note that Gerry Cheevers hasn't painted stitches on his mask yet, November 8, 1967.
23Mar1969-Cheevers_Green_NYR.jpg|Gerry Cheevers, Ted Green and #19 Jean Ratelle, March 23, 1969.
1968-69-Cheevers_Howe_Green_Westfall.jpg|Gerry Cheevers, Ted Green, Gordie Howe and Ed Westfall during the 1968-69 season.
1968-69-Orr_Cheevers.jpg|Bobby Orr and Gerry Cheevers during the 1968-69 season. Note the beginning of the stitches on Cheever's mask.
5Feb1970-Awrey_Cheevers_Flyers.jpg|Don Awrey and Gerry Cheevers, February 5, 1970.
Apr1971-Cheevers_w_puck.jpg|Gerry Cheevers during a playoff game, April 1971.
Cheevers_skates-26Feb1972.gif|Gerry Cheevers makes a rush to center ice, February 26, 1972.
1972-Oct2-Cheevers-Morenz.jpg|Brian Morenz and Gerry Cheevers, October 2, 1972.
1974-Jan3-Cheevers-Walton.jpg|Mike Walton scores on Gerry Cheevers, 2nd WHA All-Star Game, January 3, 1974.
1974-Apr15-Game5-Sentes-Cheevers.jpg|Gerry Cheevers stops Rick Sentes, 1974 Quarter-finals Game 5, April 15, 1974.
==References==
==External Links==
* Gerry Cheevers Personal Site: http://www.gerrycheevers.com/ 
* 
Category:Born in 1940
Category:Boston Bruins coaches
Category:Boston Bruins players
Category:Canadian ice hockey players
Category:Cleveland Crusaders players
Category:Hockey Hall of Fame
Category:NHL broadcaster
Category:Pittsburgh Hornets players
Category:Rochester Americans players
Category:Stanley Cup champions
Category:Toronto Maple Leafs players
Category:St. Michael's Majors alumni
Category:Sudbury Wolves (EPHL) players
Category:Sault Ste. Marie Thunderbirds players