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Gilles Mayer

(Redirected fromGil Mayer)

Joseph Gilles Camille Mayer(August 24, 1930 – September 29, 2015) was a Canadianprofessionalice hockeygoaltender. He played 9 games in theNational Hockey Leaguewith theToronto Maple Leafsbetween 1949 and 1956. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1946 to 1963, was mainly spent in theAmerican Hockey League(AHL). Mayer stood 5'6 "tall, and weighed 128 lbs, which earned him the nickname" The Needle. "During his time with the Cleveland Barons, Mayer became the first AHL goaltender to wear a mask.

Gilles Mayer
Born (1930-08-24)August 24, 1930
Ottawa,Ontario,Canada
Died September 29, 2015(2015-09-29)(aged 86)
Rhode Island,US
Height 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Weight 135 lb (61 kg; 9 st 9 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 1946–1963

Early life and junior career

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Mayer was born inOttawa,Ontario,Canada.[1]He began playing goaltender at the age of six due to liking the position.[2]Mayer then played amateur hockey with the Hull Volants of theOttawa City Hockey LeagueandLake Placid Roamers,an independent, intermediate senior level ice hockey team.[3][4]During his time with the Roamers, he was noticed byJohnny Gagnonwho helped place him with theBarrie Flyers.[5]

Mayer subsequently made the jump from amateur hockey with the Lake Placid Roamers tojunior ice hockeyin 1949. He was the goalie of the Barrie Flyers who lost theEastern Canadachampionship final series 5-4 to theMontreal Royals.He was subsequently the recipient of theGeorge Richardson Memorial TrophyandRed Tilson Trophy.[6]He began his professional hockey career in 1949 with thePittsburgh Hornetsafter his playing rights were purchased from theMontreal Canadiens.Due to his short stature, he was given the nickname "Needle" by the team.[7]

Professional career

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Pittsburgh Hornets and Toronto Maple Leafs

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During his first year with the Hornets in theAmerican Hockey League(AHL), Mayer led all goaltenders with an average of 2.50 goals in 22 games after replacingBaz Bastien.[8]As a result of his play, Mayer made his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs against theDetroit Red Wingson December 1, 1949. During his debut, theOttawa Citizenreported that they received dozens of telephone calls for the score of the Detroit-Toronto game and to know whether or not Mayer was in the Leafs' nets in place ofTurk Broda.[9]

During the 1950–51 season, Mayer nearly surpassedNick Damore's league shutout record after recording three consecutive shutouts. During a game against theProvidence Redson December 16, 1950, Mayer required a shutout within the first period to beat the record.[10]However, Reds wingerChuck Scherzascored a goal after 12 minutes of play and the Hornets lost 3–2.[11]As a result of his play during the season, Mayer was named to the 1951 AHL All-Star Team.[12]

Early in the second period of Pittsburgh's game against theSyracuse Warriors,on February 6, 1952, Mayer was cut by a puck that struck his face. His nose haemorrhaged but he returned to the ice after thirty minutes.[13]He finished the season second toJohnny Bowerin goals against average with 2.57 goals within 68 games and topped the league in shutouts.[14]The following year, he won theHarry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Awardand a $300 bonus with a 3.25goals against average.[15]He allowed 146 goals in 52 games. During his career he was on 3 Calder Cup winning teams; 2 with the Pittsburgh Hornets and 1 with the Hershey Bears.

During his final season with the Hornets, coachHowie Meekerbegan to become frustrated with his "indifferent play." Following two losses, Meeker fined Mayer $100 for his play and sent him home before a game against theSpringfield Indians.In response, Mayer said, "I try awfully hard, but I'm not the only player on the team."[16]Despite this, Mayer was the 1956 recipient of the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award for the fourth time in five seasons after averaging 2.70 goals per game.[17]

Hershey Bears

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Mayer was traded to theHershey Bearson July 5, 1956. The Bears also obtained from PittsburghdefencemanJack Price,centresWillie Marshall,Bob Hassard,andforwardBobby Solinger.[18]After being dissatisfied with the terms of his contract, Mayer left Hershey's pre-season training camp and was placed under suspension.[19][20]As a result, his debut season was held off for a few days due to a contract dispute.[21]During his first season with the Bears, Mayer suffered a knee injury and required weeks to recover. As part of his rehabilitation, Mayer traveled toHarrisburg, Pennsylvania,every day to get into a whirlpool bath at theHarrisburg hospital.[22]

In 1958, theDetroit Red Wingsasked the Bears to loan Mayer to theEdmonton Flyersas an emergency goaltender. After refusing to travel to Edmonton, Mayer was benched by coachFrank Mathersand fined $200 as a disciplinary measure.[23]

Cleveland Barons and Providence Reds

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As goalie of theCleveland Baronshe sustained a broken jaw during practice and missed three weeks of competition in 1959.[24]Following this, Mayer became the first goalie in the AHL to wear aGoalie mask.[25]The mask had been sent to him fromJacques Plante,the first NHL goaltender to wear a mask.[26]

During the 1962–63 season, Mayer was replaced byEddie Giacominas the starting goaltender and subsequently found a stable job with a rug company. As the Reds lost 12 of their 15 games the following season with Giacomin in net, they asked Mayer to step in as the starting goaltender but he refused. Mayer listed his age, a good job, and his long period of inactivity as the reasons for his refusal. As a result, he was suspended from the team.[27]

Size

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Gil stood 5'6 "and weighed between 128 and 135 pounds during his career. He was" nicknamed "The Needle". Mayer had a natural weight of 128 pounds but tipped the scales at 166 pounds wearing all of his equipment. The 38 pounds of steel, wood, leather, and wool cost $300 and required 30 minutes for dressing and removal.[28]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
1944–45 Hull Volants OCHL 7 6 1 0 420 15 1 2.14 — — — — — — — — —
1945–46 Hull Volants OCHL 5 — — — 300 35 0 7.00 — — — — — — — — —
1947–48 Barrie Flyers OHA 19 — — — 1140 59 3 3.11 — 10 8 2 600 36 0 3.60 —
1947–48 Barrie Flyers M-Cup — — — — — — — — — 5 4 1 300 20 0 4.00 —
1948–49 Barrie Flyers OHA 46 26 16 4 2760 134 5 2.91 — 8 8 0 480 21 1 2.63 —
1948–49 Barrie Flyers M-Cup — — — — — — — — — 8 4 4 490 22 1 2.69 —
1949–50 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 50 20 19 11 3000 142 4 2.84 — — — — — — — — —
1949–50 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 1 0 1 0 60 2 0 2.00 — — — — — — — — —
1950–51 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 71 31 33 7 4350 174 6 2.40 — 13 9 4 835 26 2 1.87 —
1951–52 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 68 46 19 3 4120 175 5 2.57 — 11 8 3 753 24 1 1.91 —
1952–53 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 62 36 20 6 3760 146 6 2.33 — 10 6 4 695 20 0 1.73 —
1953–54 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 68 33 30 5 4080 212 3 3.12 — 5 2 3 330 13 1 2.36 —
1953–54 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 1 0 0 1 60 3 0 3.00 — — — — — — — — —
1954–55 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 64 31 25 8 3840 179 3 2.80 — 20 7 3 639 28 1 2.63 —
1954–55 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 1 1 0 0 60 1 0 1.00 .947 — — — — — — — —
1955–56 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 56 40 12 4 3360 151 5 2.70 — 4 1 3 312 14 0 2.69 —
1955–56 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 6 1 5 0 360 18 0 3.00 .871 — — — — — — — —
1956–57 Hershey Bears AHL 29 14 12 3 1740 103 1 3.55 — — — — — — — — —
1957–58 Hershey Bears AHL 22 12 7 3 1358 62 0 2.82 — — — — — — — — —
1958–59 Hershey Bears AHL 19 — — — 1140 61 0 3.21 — — — — — — — — —
1959–60 Cleveland Barons AHL 41 19 19 3 2460 126 3 3.07 — 7 3 4 420 22 1 3.14 —
1960–61 Cleveland Barons AHL 66 32 34 0 3960 222 3 3.36 — — — — — — — — —
1961–62 Providence Reds AHL 30 16 13 1 1800 122 1 4.07 — 3 1 2 185 11 0 3.57 —
1962–63 Providence Reds AHL 34 16 15 3 2040 99 1 2.91 — — — — — — — — —
AHL totals 680 346 258 57 41008 1974 40 2.89 — 63 37 26 6 4169 158 2.27 —
NHL totals 9 2 6 1 540 24 0 2.67 — — — — — — — — —

References

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  1. ^"Gil Mayer".eliteprospects.com.Elite Prospects.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021.
  2. ^Livingston, Pat (December 21, 1949)."Gil Mayer, Hornets Rookie Goalie, Makes Pros Sit Up, Take Notice".The Pittsburgh Press.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021– via newspapers.com.
  3. ^Halpin, Charlie (February 14, 1947)."Lake Placid Budding Puck Centre Under New York Ranger Guidance".Montreal Gazette.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021– via newspapers.com.
  4. ^"Myre Coaching Ottawa-Packed Lake Placid Team".The Ottawa Journal. December 13, 1946.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021– via newspapers.com.
  5. ^Campbell, Don (November 21, 2006)."AHL HALL OF FAMER'S NEMNDING RECORDS LIKELY TO ENDURE".Ottawa Citizen.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021– via newspapers.com.
  6. ^"Goalie Honored".The Ottawa Citizen. March 30, 1949.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021– via newspapers.com.
  7. ^"Gatineau's Gil Mayer League's Best".Ottawa Journal. February 6, 1953.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021– via newspapers.com.
  8. ^"128-pound Goalie Stars for Hornets".Burlington Daily News. December 8, 1949.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021– via newspapers.com.
  9. ^"The phones were ringing".Ottawa Citizen.December 2, 1949.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021– via newspapers.com.
  10. ^"Gil Mayer Can Shatter Shutout Lead Tonight".Ottawa Citizen. December 16, 1950.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021– via newspapers.com.
  11. ^"Hornets' Gil Mayer's Attempt For Hockey Record falls Short".The Daily American. December 18, 1950.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021– via newspapers.com.
  12. ^"Gil Mayer Selected AHL AIl-Sfar".Ottawa Journal. April 30, 1951.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021– via newspapers.com.
  13. ^"Wasps' Lead Reduced To Nine Points".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.February 7, 1952.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021– via newspapers.com.
  14. ^"Powell, Bower Win AHL Honors".The Pittsburgh Press. March 18, 1952.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021.
  15. ^"Goalie Award".The Leader-Post. March 25, 1953.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021– via newspapers.com.
  16. ^"Gil Mayer Fined $100 For 'Indifferent Play'".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.November 23, 1955.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021– via newspapers.com.
  17. ^"MAYER HOLMES WINNER".Intelligencer Journal. May 1, 1956.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021– via newspapers.com.
  18. ^"Hershey Bears Buy Six Players From Pittsburgh".The Daily News. July 5, 1956 – via newspapers.com.
  19. ^"Mayer Dissatisfied, Quits Hershey Cam".Lebanon Daily News. October 2, 1956.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021– via newspapers.com.
  20. ^"Mayer Quits Hershey Post".Lancaster New Era. October 2, 1956.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021– via newspapers.com.
  21. ^"Hershey Bears At Full Strength With Gil Mayer".Lebanon Daily News. October 9, 1956.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021– via newspapers.com.
  22. ^"Dots and Dashes".Lancaster New Era. February 9, 1957.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021– via newspapers.com.
  23. ^"Hershey Bears Plaster $200 Fine On Mayer".Lebanon Daily News. November 13, 1958.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021– via newspapers.com.
  24. ^"Gil Mayer Suffers Broken Jaw".Montreal Gazette. October 29, 1959.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021– via newspapers.com.
  25. ^"Gil Mayer Wears Mask".The Morning Herald. January 9, 1960.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021– via newspapers.com.
  26. ^"Mike Nykoluk, Dick Gamble, Gil Mayer and late Bun Cook inducted by AHL".si.com.Sports Illustrated. January 29, 2007.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021.
  27. ^"Gil Mayer Refuses To Play, Reds Suspend Him".Democrat and Chronicle. January 22, 1964.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021– via newspapers.com.
  28. ^"Armored Mite".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. November 13, 1949.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021– via newspapers.com.
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