Rogie Vachon

Rogie Vachon
Rogie Vachon
Hockey Hall of Fame, 2016
	Vachon in 2008
Born	September 8, 1945 (age 77); Palmarolle, Quebec, Canada
Height	5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight	160 lb (73 kg; 11 st 6 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Played for	Montreal Canadiens ; Los Angeles Kings ; Detroit Red Wings ; Boston Bruins
National team	Canada
Playing career	1965–1982
Representing Canada
Men's ice hockey
Canada Cup

Last updated August 31, 2023

Rogatien Rosaire "Rogie" Vachon (born September 8, 1945) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Montreal Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League between 1967 and 1982.

Montreal Canadiens

Vachon entered the National Hockey League in 1966-67 with the Montreal Canadiens, as a backup goaltender to Gump Worsley. He played only 19 games during the season, but played most of the games in the playoffs and led the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup Finals. They lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs, but Vachon now had a permanent spot on the Canadiens roster. Punch Imlach, the coach of the Leafs, referred to Vachon as a junior B goaltender in an attempt to rattle him during the Stanley Cup finals.

Vachon played 39 games in the 1967–68 season and won 23 of them. He and Worsley shared the Vezina Trophy, with a combined 2.26 GAA, the lowest since 1958-59. Montreal won the Stanley Cup that season and in 1968–69 as well. During the 1969–70 season, Worsley was traded to the Minnesota North Stars and Vachon got the starting job, but the Canadiens missed the playoffs.

Los Angeles Kings

After losing the Canadiens' starting job to rookie Ken Dryden early in 1971–72, Vachon requested a trade to a team that needed a starter, which happened on November 4, 1971 when he was sent to the Los Angeles Kings for Denis DeJordy, Dale Hoganson, Noel Price and Doug Robinson.^[1] It was with the Kings that Vachon had the finest moments of his NHL career. He was runner-up for the Vezina Trophy in 1974–75, and he was named to the NHL second All-Star team in 1974-75 and 1976-77. He was named the team MVP four times between 1973 and 1977. In one game in 1976–77, it appeared he was due credit for scoring a goal when the New York Islanders scored on themselves during a delayed penalty; however, after video review, the goal was credited to Vic Venasky after it was determined that Vachon was the second-to-last Kings player to touch the puck before it went in the net.^[2] Vachon also set many goaltending records in Kings history that still stand. His number 30 was the first number retired by the Kings, in a ceremony on February 14, 1985. He has since served in a variety of executive positions with the Kings organization.

Canada Cup

In 1976, Vachon was chosen to play for Canada, along with fellow goaltenders Gerry Cheevers and Glenn Resch. He was given the top spot and played in every game of the tournament. He recorded six wins and one loss, two shutouts and a 1.39 goals against average. Canada won the tournament, and Vachon was selected for the All-Star team and named team MVP.

Detroit Red Wings

Vachon became a restricted free agent following the 1977–78 season and signed with the Detroit Red Wings. The five-year deal paid Vachon $1.9 million and made him the league's highest paid goaltender.^[3] Vachon struggled from the beginning in Detroit. In his first game, he managed just nine saves against 14 shots in a game Detroit lost 5-4.^[3] As the year wore on, things did not improve for Vachon. Red Wings coach Bobby Kromm told Sports Illustrated : "When we signed Vachon, we thought we'd improved our club and give ourselves as good a 1-2 goaltending punch as there was in hockey. But it hasn't worked out that way."^[3] Further complicating things was the distraction that Vachon's signing created for the hockey club. Because he was a restricted free agent, the Red Wings were required to give compensation to the Los Angeles Kings, Vachon's former club. An arbitrator ruled that young centre Dale McCourt, whom the Red Wings had selected first overall in the 1977 NHL amateur draft, would go to the Kings. McCourt, who had led the Red Wings in scoring as a rookie in the 1977-78 season, refused to report to Los Angeles and sued the league.^[3]

In his first season with the Wings, Vachon allowed a goal more per game than he had the previous season, and in his second season he continued to struggle, posting numbers below his career averages. To his credit, he gained the distinction of recording the Red Wings' first victory in their new home, the Joe Louis Arena. ^[4]

Boston Bruins

After two disappointing seasons in Detroit, the Red Wings traded Vachon to the Boston Bruins in the summer of 1980 for fellow netminder Gilles Gilbert.^[5] In Boston, Vachon served as a mentor to rookie goalies Marco Baron and Jim Craig, who had starred for the US National Team at the 1980 Winter Olympics. Vachon played 53 games for the Bruins and improved his numbers marginally from his time in Detroit; he also won more games than he lost for his first time since leaving Los Angeles. However, in the playoffs, things went poorly as the Bruins were swept in three games by the Minnesota North Stars and surrendered twenty goals in the process. Vachon allowed five goals in the first game, then gave up six in game two before getting pulled. He gave up five more goals in game three and ended the playoffs with a 5.85 goals against average. In the 1981-82 season, Baron took over the starting job from Vachon, who played 38 games as the back-up. Vachon's final NHL appearance came in the 1982 playoffs, when he played one period in relief of starter Mike Moffat in a 7-2 loss to the Quebec Nordiques. He faced just three shots in twenty minutes and allowed a power-play goal to Peter Stastny. Vachon hung up his pads for good six days later.

Legacy

Known for his great reflexes and quick glove hand, Vachon was considered one of the premier one-on-one goaltenders of his era. He never allowed a goal on a penalty shot in his entire career.^[6] After retiring, Vachon served as general manager of the Kings from 1984 to 1992.^[7] He was the Kings' general manager in 1988 when they acquired Wayne Gretzky from the Edmonton Oilers. He also served as interim head coach of the Kings on three separate occasions.^[8]^{[ citation needed ]} On June 27, 2016, Vachon was named an Honored Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame,^[9] and was inducted on November 14, 2016.^[10]

Personal life

Vachon had seven siblings and grew up on a dairy farm.^[11] He was persuaded to play senior level hockey at the age of 14 by a coach who was in need of a goaltender.^[12] He married Nicole Blanchard on November 30, 1971,^[13] and they had three children; Nicholas (who also played professional hockey), Jade and Marie-Joie, as well as three grandchildren.^[12]^[13] Nicole died from brain cancer in February 2016, after 44 years of marriage.^[12]

Achievements

Named to the QJHL first All-Star team in 1966.
Stanley Cup Championships in 1968, 1969, 1971.
Canada Cup Winner in 1976.
Vezina Trophy Winner in 1968.
Named to the Canada Cup All-Star team in 1976.
Named Team MVP during the 1976 Canada Cup.
Played in 1973, 1975, 1978 NHL All-Star Games.
Named to the NHL second All-Star team in 1975, 1977.
#30 retired by the Los Angeles Kings.
Named to the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Players category in 2016.

Los Angeles Kings records

Most career ties (66) (shared with Kelly Hrudey).

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%
1963–64	Montreal NDG Monarchs	MMJHL	29	—	—	—	1740	71	4	2.45	—	18	12	6	1080	57	1	3.17	—
1963–64	Montreal Junior Canadiens	OHA	7	—	—	—	400	29	0	4.35	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1963–64	Montreal NDG Monarchs	M-Cup	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	10	7	3	600	34	4	3.40	—
1964–65	Thetford Mines Aces	QJHL	13	10	3	0	780	35	0	2.69	—	5	1	4	300	30	0	6.00	—
1964–65	Montreal Junior Canadiens	OHA	14	—	—	—	840	58	0	4.14	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1965–66	Thetford Mines Aces	QJHL	39	25	13	1	2340	117	2	3.00	—	11	7	4	659	31	1	2.82	—
1965–66	Quebec Aces	AHL	10	6	4	0	601	30	0	3.00	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1966–67	Houston Apollos	CPHL	34	17	12	5	2020	99	2	2.91	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1966–67	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	19	11	3	4	1137	47	1	2.48	.915	9	6	3	555	22	0	2.38	.926
1967–68	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	39	23	13	2	2227	92	4	2.48	.913	2	1	1	113	4	0	2.12	.933
1968–69	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	36	22	9	3	2051	98	2	2.87	.902	8	7	1	507	12	1	1.42	.953
1969–70	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	64	31	18	12	3697	162	4	2.63	.917	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1970–71	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	47	23	12	9	2676	118	2	2.64	.914	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1971–72	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	1	0	1	0	20	4	0	12.00	.765	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1971–72	Los Angeles Kings	NHL	28	6	18	3	1586	107	0	4.05	.884	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1972–73	Los Angeles Kings	NHL	52	22	20	10	3120	148	4	2.85	.899	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	Los Angeles Kings	NHL	65	28	26	10	3751	175	5	2.80	.904	4	0	4	240	7	0	1.75	.927
1974–75	Los Angeles Kings	NHL	54	27	14	13	3239	121	6	2.24	.926	3	1	2	199	7	0	2.11	.929
1975–76	Los Angeles Kings	NHL	51	26	20	5	3060	160	5	3.14	.891	7	4	3	438	17	1	2.33	.912
1976–77	Los Angeles Kings	NHL	68	33	23	12	4059	184	8	2.72	.903	9	4	5	520	36	0	4.15	.868
1977–78	Los Angeles Kings	NHL	70	29	27	13	4107	196	4	2.86	.891	2	0	2	120	11	0	5.50	.784
1978–79	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	50	10	27	11	2908	189	0	3.90	.863	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	59	20	30	8	3474	209	4	3.61	.873	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Boston Bruins	NHL	53	25	19	6	3021	168	1	3.34	.863	3	0	2	164	16	0	5.85	.846
1981–82	Boston Bruins	NHL	38	19	11	6	2165	132	1	3.66	.859	1	0	0	20	1	0	3.00	.667
NHL totals			795	355	291	127	46,298	2,310	51	2.99	.896	48	23	23	2,876	133	2	2.77	.907

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1976	Canada	CC		7	6	1	0	432	10	2	1.39	.940
Senior totals				7	6	1	0	432	19	2	1.39	.940

"Rogie Vachon's stats". The Goaltender Home Page. Retrieved 2017-08-06.

Coaching record

Team	Year	Regular season						Post season
Team	Year	G	W	L	T	Pts	Finish	Result
Los Angeles Kings	1983–84	2	1	0	1	3	5th in Smythe	Interim; returned to GM's role
Los Angeles Kings	1987–88	1	0	1	0	0	4th in Smythe	Interim; returned to GM's role
Los Angeles Kings	1994–95	7	3	2	2	8	4th in Pacific	Missed Playoffs
NHL totals		10	4	3	3

Related Research Articles

Terrance Gordon Sawchuk was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played 21 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings and the New York Rangers between 1950 and 1970. He won the Calder Trophy, earned the Vezina Trophy in four different seasons, was a four-time Stanley Cup champion, and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame the year after his final season, one of ten players for whom the three year waiting period was waived.

Glenn Henry Hall is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. During his National Hockey League career with the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Black Hawks, and St. Louis Blues, Hall seldom missed a game and was a consistent performer, winning the Vezina Trophy, which at the time was awarded to the goaltender on the team allowing the fewest goals against, three times, being voted the First team All-Star goaltender a record seven times, and winning the Calder Memorial Trophy as best rookie. Nicknamed "Mr. Goalie", he was the first goaltender to develop and make effective use of the butterfly style of goalkeeping. In 2017 Hall was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history. He is the grandfather of Grant Stevenson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luc Robitaille</span> Canadian ice hockey player, executive (b. 1966)

Luc Jean-Marie Robitaille is a Canadian–American professional ice hockey executive and former player. He currently serves as president of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Charles Edward Hodge was a Canadian ice hockey player who played as a goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, and Oakland Seals of the National Hockey League between 1954 and 1971.

Cecil Ralph "Tiny" Thompson was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL), first for the Boston Bruins, and later for the Detroit Red Wings. A four-time Vezina Trophy winner, Thompson was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1959. He was a member of one Stanley Cup-winning team, as a rookie in the 1928–29 season with the Boston Bruins. At the start of the 1938–39 season, after ten full seasons with Boston, he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings, where he completed the season, and played another full one before retiring. During his NHL career, he recorded 81 shutouts, the sixth-highest of any goaltender. After retiring from playing, he coached lower-league teams before becoming a noted professional scout. Thompson helped popularize the technique of the "glove save" which was catching the puck with his hands as a method of making a save. A competent puckhandler, he was the first goaltender in the NHL to record an assist in 1936 by passing the puck with his stick to a fellow player.

The 1984–85 NHL season was the 68th season of the National Hockey League. The Edmonton Oilers won their second straight Stanley Cup by beating the Philadelphia Flyers four games to one in the final series.

The 1967–68 NHL season was the 51st season of the National Hockey League. The league expanded to 12 teams, putting the new six in the newly created West Division, while the "Original Six" were all placed in the newly created East Division. The regular season schedule was expanded to 74 games per team and featured the first time all twelve teams played games on the same day on October 18, 1967. The Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup against the new St. Louis Blues, in four games.

The 1968–69 NHL season was the 52nd season of the National Hockey League. Twelve teams each played 76 games. For the second time in a row, the Montreal Canadiens faced the St. Louis Blues in the Stanley Cup Finals. Montreal won their second consecutive Stanley Cup as they swept the Blues in four, an identical result to the previous season.

The 1969–70 NHL season was the 53rd season of the National Hockey League. For the third straight season, the St. Louis Blues reached the Stanley Cup Finals, and for the third straight year, the winners of the expansion West Division were swept four games to none. This time, however, it was at the hands of the Boston Bruins, as the defending champions Montreal Canadiens narrowly missed the playoffs, something that did not happen again for the next quarter century. With both the Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs missing the 1970 Stanley Cup playoffs, it was the first time in league history that no Canadian team in the NHL qualified for the playoffs. It was also the final season that teams wore their colored jerseys at home until the 2003–04 season.

The 1967 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 6, 1967, in the ballroom of the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's six expansion teams for the 1967–68 season: the California Seals, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and the St. Louis Blues.

Joseph Denis Emile DeJordy, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played goal for four National Hockey League teams, most notably the Chicago Black Hawks. In 1966–67, he and Glenn Hall won the Vezina Trophy for the best goals-against average in the NHL.

Philippe Louis Myre is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Montreal Canadiens, Atlanta Flames, St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia Flyers, Colorado Rockies and Buffalo Sabres. He featured in the 1980 Stanley Cup Finals with the Flyers.

Garry Noel Price is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played in the National Hockey League with seven teams between 1957 and 1976. He also spent considerable time in the minor American Hockey League during his career, which lasted from 1956 to 1976.

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

Dale Gordon Hoganson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played 344 games in the National Hockey League and 378 games in the World Hockey Association between 1969 and 1982. He played for the Los Angeles Kings, Montreal Canadiens, Quebec Nordiques, and Birmingham Bulls. He was traded along with Denis DeJordy, Noel Price and Doug Robinson from the Kings to the Canadiens for Rogie Vachon on November 4, 1971. In 1973 Dale was included with Montreal Canadiens official Stanley Cup winning picture, and was awarded a Stanley Cup ring. His name was left off the Stanley Cup, because did not officially qualify. He is cousin with Paul Hoganson.

The 1969 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1968–69 season, and the culmination of the 1969 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested between the defending champion Montreal Canadiens and the St. Louis Blues, a rematch of the previous year's finals. As they did in the previous matchup, the Canadiens won the series in four games.

The 1968–69 St. Louis Blues season was the second in the history of the franchise. The Blues won the NHL's West Division title for the first time in their history. In the playoffs, the Blues swept the Philadelphia Flyers and the Los Angeles Kings, winning both series four games to none, before losing the Stanley Cup Finals in four straight to the Montreal Canadiens for the second straight season.

Douglas Garnet Robinson is a Canadian former ice hockey player. He played 240 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Chicago Black Hawks, New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings from 1964 to 1971. Robinson's son, Rob Robinson, also played in the NHL.

The 1975–76 Los Angeles Kings season was the Kings' ninth season in the National Hockey League.

The 1974–75 Los Angeles Kings season was the Kings' eighth season in the National Hockey League.

References

↑ Elliott, Helene "Rogatien Vachon’s long journey to the Hockey Hall of Fame finally ends Monday," Los Angeles Times, Sunday, November 13, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
↑ UPI (1977-02-17). "Vachon Didn't Score Goal". The Montreal Gazette. p. 29. Retrieved 2010-03-24.
1 2 3 4 "What Has Red Wings but Won't Fly?". Vault. Sports Illustrated. 4 December 1978. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
↑ Duff, Bob (13 November 2016). "Rogie cherishes his Detroit memories". Windsor Star . Retrieved 24 October 2018.
↑ "Rogatien Vachon trades - NHL Trade Tracker". www.nhltradetracker.com. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
↑ Commito, Mike (2016-11-10). "Throwback Thursday: NHL Introduces the Penalty Shot". Vice Sports. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
↑ "Rogie Vachon Inducted Into The Hockey Hall Of Fame". NHL.com. 2016-11-14. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
↑ "Rogie Vachon Inducted Into The Hockey Hall Of Fame". NHL.com. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
↑ Matsuda, Gann (June 27, 2016). "An Honor Long Overdue: LA Kings Great Rogie Vachon To Be Inducted Into Hockey Hall of Fame". FrozenRoyalty.net. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
↑ Hornsby, Lance (2016-11-14). "Emotions run high at Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony". Toronto Sun . Retrieved 2016-12-04.
↑ Lefebvre, Robert (January 16, 2008). "Habs Goalies: Rogatien Vachon 1966-71". SB Nation. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
1 2 3 Elliot, Helen (November 14, 2016). "Former Kings goalie Rogie Vachon has an emotional induction to the Hall of Fame". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved March 26, 2017.
1 2 Stubbs, Dave (October 26, 2014). "Kings legend Rogie Vachon drops into town where his goaltending career began". Montreal Gazette . Retrieved March 26, 2017.

External links

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

Preceded by Denis DeJordy and Glenn Hall	Winner of the Vezina Trophy with Gump Worsley 1968	Succeeded by Glenn Hall and Jacques Plante
Preceded by George Maguire	General manager of the Los Angeles Kings 1984-92	Succeeded by Nick Beverley
Preceded by Don Perry	Head coach of the Los Angeles Kings 1984	Succeeded by Roger Neilson
Preceded by Pat Quinn	Head coach of the Los Angeles Kings 1987	Succeeded by Robbie Ftorek
Preceded by Barry Melrose	Head coach of the Los Angeles Kings 1995	Succeeded by Larry Robinson

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] Elliott, Helene "Rogatien Vachon’s long journey to the Hockey Hall of Fame finally ends Monday," Los Angeles Times, Sunday, November 13, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2023.

[2] UPI (1977-02-17). "Vachon Didn't Score Goal". The Montreal Gazette. p. 29. Retrieved 2010-03-24.

[SI-3] 1 2 3 4 "What Has Red Wings but Won't Fly?". Vault. Sports Illustrated. 4 December 1978. Retrieved 24 October 2018.

[duff-4] Duff, Bob (13 November 2016). "Rogie cherishes his Detroit memories". Windsor Star . Retrieved 24 October 2018.

[TradeTracker-5] "Rogatien Vachon trades - NHL Trade Tracker". www.nhltradetracker.com. Retrieved 30 October 2017.

[6] Commito, Mike (2016-11-10). "Throwback Thursday: NHL Introduces the Penalty Shot". Vice Sports. Retrieved 2018-03-28.

[7] "Rogie Vachon Inducted Into The Hockey Hall Of Fame". NHL.com. 2016-11-14. Retrieved 2018-03-28.

[8] "Rogie Vachon Inducted Into The Hockey Hall Of Fame". NHL.com. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

[FR-9] Matsuda, Gann (June 27, 2016). "An Honor Long Overdue: LA Kings Great Rogie Vachon To Be Inducted Into Hockey Hall of Fame". FrozenRoyalty.net. Retrieved August 5, 2016.

[10] Hornsby, Lance (2016-11-14). "Emotions run high at Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony". Toronto Sun . Retrieved 2016-12-04.

[PR2-11] Lefebvre, Robert (January 16, 2008). "Habs Goalies: Rogatien Vachon 1966-71". SB Nation. Retrieved March 26, 2017.

[PR3-12] 1 2 3 Elliot, Helen (November 14, 2016). "Former Kings goalie Rogie Vachon has an emotional induction to the Hall of Fame". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved March 26, 2017.

[PR1-13] 1 2 Stubbs, Dave (October 26, 2014). "Kings legend Rogie Vachon drops into town where his goaltending career began". Montreal Gazette . Retrieved March 26, 2017.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]