Gerry Cheevers

Gerry Cheevers
Hockey Hall of Fame, 1985
Cheevers in 1983
Born	(1940-12-07) 7 December 1940 (age 83) St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Played for	Toronto Maple Leafs Boston Bruins Cleveland Crusaders
National team	Canada
Playing career	1961–1980
Website	www.gerrycheevers.com

Gerald Michael Cheevers (born December 7, 1940) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) and World Hockey Association (WHA) between 1961 and 1980. Cheevers is best known for his two stints with the Boston Bruins, whom he helped win the Stanley Cup in 1970 and 1972. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985.

He was the first to decorate his goaltender mask with stitch markings where a puck had struck, leading to the contemporary tradition of goaltenders decorating their masks with distinctive visual stylings.

Playing career

Cheevers's hockey career began in 1956 at the age of 16 when he played for the St. Michael's Majors of the Ontario Hockey Association.

The right to sign him to an NHL contract was held by the Toronto Maple Leafs (with whom he played two games) until the Boston Bruins drafted him in 1965, despite Toronto general manager Punch Imlach trying to slip Cheevers through unselected by listing him as a forward. ^[1] In the 1964–65 season he won 48 games in leading the Rochester Americans to their first Calder Cup championship, becoming the final goaltender in league history to play every game (coincidentally, he did this one season after his future Bruins teammate Eddie Johnston was the final goaltender to do so in the NHL). Cheevers still holds the AHL record for most victories in a season by a goaltender.

He was claimed that offseason by the Boston Bruins in the Intra-League Draft and saw his first action with the Bruins in the 1966 season, although he spent the bulk of the next two years with the Bruins' farm club, the Oklahoma City Blazers of the Central Professional Hockey League.

With the six-team expansion in 1967, and the Bruins losing goaltenders Bernie Parent and Doug Favell to the expansion Philadelphia Flyers, Cheevers became the number one goaltender in Boston for the next five seasons.

He was a member of both the 1970 and 1972 Stanley Cup winning teams, gaining a reputation as a driven, "money" goaltender. Cheevers held the Boston Bruins' record for most playoff wins by a goaltender (with 53) until it was surpassed by Tuukka Rask in 2021. Cheevers had held the record since 1977 when he surpassed Frank Brimsek's mark of 32.

In 1972, he went undefeated in 32 consecutive games, an NHL record that still stands. ^{[2] [3]}

In the fall of 1972, he jumped to the fledgling World Hockey Association, where he played three and a half seasons for the Cleveland Crusaders. He made the First All-Star Team in 1973 and Second All-Star Team in 1974 and 1975. In 1974, he played seven of the eight games for Team Canada in the 1974 Summit Series. ^[4] Cheevers sat out the third game since his father was gravely ill in hospital. ^[5]

Cheevers returned to the Bruins during the 1975–76 season after a financial dispute with the Crusaders' management. In the 1979–80 season Cheevers and Gilles Gilbert were runners-up for the Vezina Trophy, which was won by Don Edwards and Bob Sauvé of the Buffalo Sabres. He retired at the end of that season.

Cheevers had a career NHL goals against average of 2.89, recorded 230 NHL wins, played in 419 NHL games, and registered 26 NHL shutouts. He is second in the WHA's history in career GAA and shutouts, even though he played during only half the league's existence. If one combines both their NHL and WHA statistics, Gerry Cheevers (329), Mike Liut (325), and Bernie Parent (304) all would have at least 300 wins. Cheevers was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985, and is one of the few goaltenders in the Hall to have never been named to the All-Star Team or won the Vezina Trophy.

Style

Cheevers was not afraid to stray from the crease to cut down the shooter's angle or to act as a "third defenseman". He was very aggressive with opposing players who strayed into or near the crease and was not afraid to hit opposing players with his goalie stick if they got too close to the crease.^{[ citation needed ]}

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.

Cheevers wearing his distinctive mask with the Boston Bruins in 1980

Mask

Cheevers was inspired to create his distinctive stitch pattern mask when 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. Annoyed, Sinden ordered Cheevers, who wasn't injured, to get back on the ice. In jest, John "Frosty" Forristall, the Bruins' assistant trainer, drew a stitch mark on his mask, which amused the team. ^[6] After that, any time he was similarly struck, he had a new stitch-mark drawn on his mask. Cheevers later claimed that the mask spared him from over 150 medical stitches over his career and was the first to be custom decorated in the sport. ^[6] The mask became one of the most recognized of the era, and the original is now on the wall of his grandson's bedroom.

Years later, goalie Steve Shields paid tribute to Cheevers when he played for the Bruins in 2002 and 2003, sporting a modern airbrushed version of the stitch-covered mask. ^[7] In 2008, The Hockey News rated his mask the greatest ever by a wide margin. It received 221 of a possible 300 points; Gilles Gratton's mask was rated second with 66.

Cheevers's mask design has appeared in rock-n-roll culture. Black Veil Brides' lead singer Andy Biersack cited it as the reason he got interested in hockey and played goalie when he was younger. In homage to Cheevers, Biersack painted stitches on his face for live shows. ^[8]

Publications

In 1971, Cheevers published the book Goaltender, detailing his experiences during the 1970–71 season, through to the unexpected loss in the first round to the underdog Montreal Canadiens. ^[9]

Coaching career

Cheevers's final season as a player came in 1980 when popular coach Don Cherry was replaced by Fred Creighton. After winning their division in seven of the previous nine seasons, the Bruins were in third place late in the year, and general manager Harry Sinden fired Creighton and took over as coach for the remainder of the season. For the 1980–81 season, Cheevers was named coach. In that year's playoffs, the Bruins suffered a shocking sweep by the Minnesota North Stars, who had never before won a game in Boston Garden. Even so, Sinden stuck with Cheevers, who led the Bruins to two first-place and two second-place finishes in their division over the next three years. He led the team to the league's best record in the 1982–83 season; in the playoffs, the team fell to the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the New York Islanders, in the semifinals.

Cheevers was replaced by Sinden in the middle of the 1984–85 season. With a record of 204–126–46, he ranks seventh in career winning percentage (.604) among 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 to 2006 he was a member of the Bruins' scouting staff. Cheevers has also devoted time to Thoroughbred racing. His most successful runner was the Grade 1 winner Royal Ski. ^[10] Cheevers frequently made allusions to horse racing during interviews. After playing a particularly good game in the 1972 Stanley Cup playoffs, Cheevers told reporters he "felt like Riva Ridge"—the horse that had recently won the 1972 Kentucky Derby.

Cheevers lives in Everett, Massachusetts.

Popular culture

In 1996, Canadian pop-punk band Chixdiggit released their self-titled album on SubPop, and included the song "I Feel Like Gerry Cheevers (Stitchmarks On My Heart)." The lyrics include references to Cheevers' undefeated streak, the stitch marks drawn for every shot that hit his cheek, and his number 30 jersey. The chorus includes the lyrics "he wore a mask just like my heart, it had stitch marks on every part."^{[ citation needed ]}

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
• 1972–73 – WHA First Team All-Star, won Ben Hatskin Award for best goaltender
• 1973–74 – World Hockey Association Second Team All-Star
• 1974–75 – World Hockey Association Second Team All-Star
• 1979–80 – Runner-up for the NHL's Vezina Trophy (Lowest goals-against average at the time)
• Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985
• Inducted into the Rochester Americans Hall of Fame in 1987
• Inducted as an inaugural member into the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame in 2010 ^[11]

International play

• 1974 – Played for Team Canada at the 1974 Summit Series
• 1976 – Spare goaltender for Team Canada in the Canada Cup
• 1979 – Played for NHL All-Stars in the Challenge Cup vs. Team Soviet Union

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season										Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%		GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1956–57	St. Michael's Midget Majors	THL		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1956–57	St. Michael's Majors	OHA-Jr.		1	—	—	—	60	4	0	4.00	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1957–58	St. Michael's Majors	OHA-Jr.		1	0	0	0	60	3	0	3.00	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1958–59	St. Michael's Buzzers	MetJHL		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1958–59	St. Michael's Majors	OHA-Jr.		6	—	—	—	360	28	0	4.67	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1959–60	St. Michael's Majors	OHA-Jr.		36	18	13	5	2,160	111	5	3.08	—		10	—	—	600	33	0	3.30	—
1960–61	St. Michael's Majors	OHA-Jr.		30	12	20	5	1,775	94	2	3.18	—		20	—	—	1,200	52	1	2.60	—
1960–61	St. Michael's Majors	MC		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		9	7	2	540	21	1	2.33	—
1961–62	Sault Thunderbirds	EPHL		29	13	13	3	1,740	103	1	3.55	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1961–62	Pittsburgh Hornets	AHL		5	2	2	1	300	21	0	4.20	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1961–62	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		2	1	1	0	120	6	0	3.00	.905		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1961–62	Rochester Americans	AHL		19	9	9	1	1,140	69	1	3.63	—		2	2	0	120	8	0	4.00	—
1962–63	Rochester Americans	AHL		19	7	9	3	1,140	75	1	3.95	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1962–63	Sudbury Wolves	EPHL		51	17	24	10	3,060	212	4	4.15	—		8	4	4	485	29	1	3.59	—
1963–64	Rochester Americans	AHL		66	38	25	2	4,359	195	3	2.84	—		2	0	2	120	8	0	4.00	—
1964–65	Rochester Americans	AHL		72	48	21	3	4,359	195	5	2.68	—		10	8	2	615	24	0	2.34	—
1965–66	Boston Bruins	NHL		7	0	4	1	340	34	0	6.00	.829		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1965–66	Oklahoma City Blazers	CPHL		30	16	9	5	1,760	73	3	2.49	—		9	8	1	540	19	0	2.11	—
1966–67	Boston Bruins	NHL		22	5	10	6	1,284	72	1	3.33	.896		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1966–67	Oklahoma City Blazers	CPHL		26	14	6	5	1,520	71	1	2.80	—		11	8	3	677	29	1	2.57	—
1967–68	Boston Bruins	NHL		47	23	17	5	2,646	125	3	2.83	.907		4	0	4	240	15	0	3.75	.895
1968–69	Boston Bruins	NHL		52	28	12	12	3,112	145	3	2.80	.912		9	6	3	572	16	3	1.68	.947
1969–70	Boston Bruins	NHL		41	24	8	8	2,384	108	4	2.72	.919		13	12	1	781	29	0	2.23	.925
1970–71	Boston Bruins	NHL		40	27	8	5	2,400	109	3	2.73	.918		6	3	3	360	21	0	3.50	.892
1971–72	Boston Bruins	NHL		41	27	5	8	2,420	101	2	2.50	.920		8	6	2	483	21	2	2.61	.915
1972–73	Cleveland Crusaders	WHA		52	32	20	0	3,144	149	5	2.84	.912		9	5	4	548	22	0	2.41	.921
1973–74	Cleveland Crusaders	WHA		59	30	20	6	3,562	180	4	3.03	.906		5	1	4	303	18	0	3.56	.908
1974–75	Cleveland Crusaders	WHA		52	26	24	2	3,076	167	4	3.26	.905		5	1	4	300	23	0	4.60	—
1975–76	Cleveland Crusaders	WHA		28	11	14	1	1,570	95	1	3.63	.886		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1975–76	Boston Bruins	NHL		15	8	2	5	900	41	1	2.73	.902		6	2	4	392	14	1	2.14	.917
1976–77	Boston Bruins	NHL		45	30	10	5	2,700	137	3	3.04	.882		14	8	5	858	44	1	3.08	.865
1977–78	Boston Bruins	NHL		21	10	5	2	1,086	48	1	2.65	.887		12	8	4	731	35	1	2.87	.883
1978–79	Boston Bruins	NHL		43	23	9	10	2,509	132	1	3.16	.865		6	4	2	360	15	0	2.50	.891
1979–80	Boston Bruins	NHL		42	24	11	7	2,479	116	4	2.81	.881		10	4	6	619	32	0	3.10	.875
NHL totals				418	230	102	74	24,394	1,175	26	2.89	.901		88	53	34	5,396	242	8	2.69	.902
WHA totals				191	99	78	9	11,352	591	14	3.12	.905		19	7	12	1,151	63	0	3.28	—

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA
1974	Canada	SS		7	1	3	3	420	24	0	3.43

"Gerry Cheever's stats". The Goaltender Home Page. Retrieved August 6, 2017.

Coaching statistics

Team	Year	Regular season						Postseason
		G	W	L	T	Pts	Finish	Result
BOS	1980–81	80	37	20	13	87	2nd in Adams	Lost in preliminary round
BOS	1981–82	80	43	37	10	96	2nd in Adams	Lost in Division Finals
BOS	1982–83	80	50	20	10	110	1st in Adams	Lost in Conference Finals
BOS	1983–84	80	49	25	9	104	1st in Adams	Lost in Division Semifinals
BOS	1984–85	56	25	24	7	(57)	(fired)	—
Total		376	204	126	46			4 playoff appearances

References

1. Monahan, Tom (April 7, 1972). "B'S CHEEVERS RANKED AS MOST CONSISTENT OF ALL NHL GOALIES". The Hockey News. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
2. McLaren, Ian (March 19, 2014). "This Day in Hockey History". The Score. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
3. "Bruins Keep Rolling". The New York Times . February 14, 1983. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
4. "The Summit in 1974: Team Canada Players". www.chidlovski.net. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
5. Proudfoot, Jim (September 23, 1974). "Gerry Cheevers expects to complete series". Toronto Star . p. 18. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
6. O'Reilly, Terry (January 5, 2017). "The Crazy World of Trademarks". Under the Influence. CBC Radio. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . Retrieved January 7, 2017.
7. "Masked Marvels" . Retrieved January 10, 2017.
8. "Hockey, music part of singer's makeup". January 4, 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
9. Goaltender. Dodd Mead. OCLC   70356023.
10. "Royal Ski". Equibase Co. LLC. December 17, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
11. "WHA Hall of Fame Members". Archived from the original on January 15, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2013.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  Legends of Hockey , or  The Internet Hockey Database

Preceded by Harry Sinden	Head coach of the Boston Bruins 1980–1985	Succeeded by Harry Sinden
Preceded by Roger Crozier	Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award 1964–65	Succeeded by Les Binkley