Les Binkley

Last updated
Les Binkley
Born (1934-06-06) June 6, 1934 (age 89)
Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Right
Played for Pittsburgh Penguins
Ottawa Nationals
Toronto Toros
Playing career 19671976

Leslie John Binkley (born June 6, 1934) [1] is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Pittsburgh Penguins and in the World Hockey Association (WHA) for the Ottawa Nationals and Toronto Toros between 1967 and 1976. He later served as a scout for both the Pittsburgh Penguins and Winnipeg Jets.

Contents

Career

Les Binkley spent his early career in the minor leagues and did not play in the NHL until his thirties. After spending the 1960–61 season as the trainer and emergency goalie for the Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League (AHL), [2] he won the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL's top rookie in 1962, and was awarded the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award four years later for allowing the fewest goals in the league. Binkley was the starting goaltender for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the team's inaugural season in the NHL. During the 1970 Stanley Cup playoffs, Binkley won six games--the first postseason victories for the Penguin franchise. After five seasons with the Penguins, he played in the WHA with the Ottawa Nationals and Toronto Toros. Binkley played in 196 NHL regular season games and retired with a career GAA of 3.12. [3]

He won two Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992 as a scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins. [4]

Personal life

Binkley currently resides in Walkerton, Ontario. His wife Eleanor passed away in September 2021. [5] He has two children, Randall and Leslie, five grandchildren, Jana, Jonathan, Curtis, Kara and Jordan and one great grandchild, Clara. Curtis Binkley is also a goaltender, and was drafted by the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League in 2002.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGPWLTMINGA SO GAA SV% GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
1950–51 Owen Sound Mintos OHA 10160808.00
1951–52 Galt Black Hawks OHA 4731132278017843.843031901605.05
1952–53 Galt Black HawksOHA55330021313.87116605104.64
1953–54 Galt Black HawksOHA5420331324025004.63
1953–54 Kitchener Greenshirts OHA42202401704.254132401604.00
1954–55 Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen OHA Sr 31801204.00
1955–56 Fort Wayne Komets IHL 31201801304.33
1955–56 Baltimore Clippers/Charlotte Checkers EHL 5921371354030205.11
1956–57Charlotte CheckersEHL6450131384023903.7913857803522.69
1957–58Charlotte CheckersEHL6438251384023703.7012577204613.83
1958–59 Toledo Mercurys IHL52310020513.97
1958–59 Cleveland Barons AHL 101060303.00
1959–60 Toledo-St. Louis Mercurys IHL6728354402029424.39
1960–61 Toledo MercurysIHL110060010.001.000
1960–61 Cleveland BaronsAHL84114501101.474042401804.50
1961–62 Cleveland BaronsAHL6031263360018153.023122011002.99
1962–63 Cleveland BaronsAHL6328277378020343.227434202213.14
1963–64 Cleveland BaronsAHL6534273388518032.77
1964–65 Cleveland BaronsAHL4014232233015203.91
1965–66 Cleveland BaronsAHL6634302393219222.9312846962712.33
1966–67 San Diego Gulls WHL 5515362320019013.56
1967–68 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 54202410314115162.88.905
1968–69 Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL5010318288515803.29.902
1969–70 Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL271013114777933.21.8867524291502.10.924
1970–71 Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL3411111018708922.86.900
1971–72 Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL31715516739803.51.883
1972–73 Ottawa Nationals WHA 3010171170910603.72.8824132231704.57
1973–74 Toronto Toros WHA27149114127713.27.9015221821705.60
1974–75 Toronto TorosWHA176407724703.65.88810159505.08
1975–76 Toronto TorosWHA70603353205.73.849
1975–76 Buffalo Norsemen NAHL 24118011958504.27
WHA totals8130362422826213.72.88610364643905.04
NHL totals19658943411,046575113.12.8987524291502.10.924

Achievements and awards

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Biron</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1977)

Martin Gaston Biron is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerry Cheevers</span> Ice hockey player

Gerald Michael "Cheesie" Cheevers 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Crozier</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Roger Allan Crozier was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played fourteen seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals. During his career, Crozier was named to the NHL First All-Star Team once, was a Calder Memorial Trophy winner, and was the first player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy while playing for the losing team in the Stanley Cup Finals. He was the last goaltender in the NHL to start all of his team's games in the regular season, in 1964–65.

Michel Raymond "Bunny" Larocque was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues in the National Hockey League. He was a four-time Stanley Cup winner with the Montreal Canadiens.

Corey Schwab is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He was drafted in the 10th round, 200th overall in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils. Schwab won the 2003 Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils and the 1995 Calder Cup with the Albany River Rats.

William Lawrence Hicke was a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger. A native of Regina, Saskatchewan, Hicke played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Oakland Seals/California Golden Seals and Pittsburgh Penguins, winning the Stanley Cup with Montreal in 1959 and 1960. Hicke's younger brother is Ernie Hicke.

Felix "The Cat" Potvin is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baltimore Skipjacks</span> Former minor league hockey team in Baltimore, Maryland

The Baltimore Skipjacks were a minor league professional ice hockey team from Baltimore, Maryland, United States. The Skipjacks originated in 1979, and played as the Baltimore Clippers in the Eastern Hockey League for two seasons. The team was renamed to Skipjacks in 1981, and played the following season in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League. The Skipjacks then played eleven seasons as members of the American Hockey League (AHL), from 1982 until 1993. The Skipjacks were one of three AHL teams to have been based in Baltimore, including the Baltimore Clippers, and the Baltimore Bandits. The Skipjacks operated as a farm team to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals for five seasons each, and were previously a farm team to the Minnesota North Stars for two seasons, the Boston Bruins for one season. The team played its home games at the Baltimore Civic Center, which was renamed to the Baltimore Arena in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pittsburgh Hornets</span> Ice hockey team in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Pittsburgh Hornets were a minor-league professional men's ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler Moss</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Tyler Moss is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Moss played for the Carolina Hurricanes, Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason LaBarbera</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1980)

Antonio Jason LaBarbera is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played parts of 11 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corey Hirsch</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Corey Hirsch is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He spent the majority of his National Hockey League career with the Vancouver Canucks. He is also the former goaltending coach for the St. Louis Blues, having previously served the Toronto Maple Leafs along with François Allaire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick St. Croix</span> Canadian ice hockey player and coach

Richard St. Croix is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played 131 games in the National Hockey League with the Philadelphia Flyers and Toronto Maple Leafs between 1978 and 1985. After his playing career he worked as an assistant coach for the Maple Leafs. He also served as a goaltending coach for the Dallas Stars, and an assistant coach and goaltending coach for the Manitoba Moose and St. John's IceCaps of the American Hockey League. He was selected in the fourth round of the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft by the Flyers, and his two sons would also be drafted, though neither played in the NHL.

Joseph Marcel Rejean Paille was a Canadian ice hockey goaltender. He played 107 games in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers from 1957 to 1965, and 15 games in the World Hockey Association with the Philadelphia Blazers during the 1972–73 season. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1953 to 1974, was mainly spent in the minor American Hockey League (AHL) with the Providence Reds, and he set several AHL career playoff records. Paille was born in Shawinigan Falls, Quebec and died of cancer in Quebec City.

Jonathon James Casey is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played in the National Hockey League with the Minnesota North Stars, Boston Bruins, and St. Louis Blues from 1984 to 1997.

Edwin Walter Chadwick was a Canadian ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins between 1955 and 1962. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1952 to 1968, was spent in various minor leagues. Chadwick died on April 23, 2024, at the age of 90.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Zatkoff</span> American ice hockey player

Jeff Zatkoff is an American professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently an unrestricted free agent who most recently played for the Straubing Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Murray (ice hockey, born 1994)</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1994)

Matthew Murray is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). Murray was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the third round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. In 2016, Murray won his first Stanley Cup championship as the starting goaltender for the Penguins during the playoffs after having replaced then-starter Marc-André Fleury. Murray would split the net with Fleury during the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs, winning the Stanley Cup again in 2017. Murray became the first goaltender to win back-to-back Stanley Cups as a rookie. In recent years, his career has been plagued by injuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tristan Jarry</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1995)

Tristan Seth Michael Jarry is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Jarry was selected by the Penguins in the second round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. During the 2023-24 season, Jarry scored an empty net goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casey DeSmith</span> American ice hockey goaltender

Casey DeSmith is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He holds the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins record for most saves in a playoff game. DeSmith was named to the AHL's 2016–17 All-Rookie Team and was a co-recipient of the 2017 Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award.

References

  1. "Binkley excited for Murray, Penguins". NHL.com.
  2. Fischler, Stan (20 February 2019). "Soap, towels and save percentage: How an AHL trainer became an NHL netminder". The Hockey News. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  3. "Les Binkley - Stats - NHL.com - Players". NHL. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  4. "Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Les Binkley". HHOF.com. Archived from the original on August 2, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  5. "Eleanor Binkley Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information" . Retrieved 20 July 2022.