Gump Worsley

Lorne John"Gump"Worsley(May 14, 1929 – January 26, 2007) was a Canadian professionalice hockeygoaltender.Born and raised inMontreal,Quebec,'Gump' was given his nickname because friends thought he looked like comic-strip characterAndy Gump.

Gump Worsley
Hockey Hall of Fame,1980
Worsley with theMontreal Canadiensin the 1960s
Born	(1929-05-14)May 14, 1929 Montreal,Quebec, Canada
Died	January 26, 2007(2007-01-26)(aged 77) Beloeil, Quebec,Canada
Height	5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight	180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Played for	New York Rangers Montreal Canadiens Minnesota North Stars
Playing career	1952–1974

Career

Worsley played his first four years as a professional in the minor leagues, most notably for theNew York Roversof theEastern Hockey League(EHL), theSt. Paul Saintsof theUnited States Hockey League(USHL), and theSaskatoon Quakersof theWestern Hockey League(WHL). Between 1950 and 1952 he was named to the FirstAll-StarTeam three times and led the league in goaltending.

Photo with New York, 1962

Inthe fall of 1952he was signed by theNew York Rangersof theNHL.Although he played for a last-place team, he won theCalder Memorial Trophyasrookie of the year.However, after asking for a pay increase of $500 a year, he was sent back down to the minor leagues the following season. In 1953-54, playing for theVancouver Canucksof the WHL, he won the league's most valuable player award.

In1954-55,Worsley returned to the Rangers, replacingJohnny Bower.He toiled for the Rangers for the next nine seasons, generally playing well for a poor team. In the1955–56 New York Rangers seasonopener against theChicago Blackhawks,Worsley made 43 saves, setting a franchise record.

In the summer of1963,Worsley became involved in the establishment of a players' union, and the Rangers promptly traded him to theMontreal Canadiens.He spent much of the next two seasons in theAmerican Hockey Leaguewith theQuebec Acesand was named to the AHL's First All-Star Team in 1964. Returning to the NHL, Worsley played his best years for the Canadiens as the team won theStanley Cupin1965,1966,1968and1969.His best season was1968,when he won theVezina Trophy,attained a goals-against average of 1.98 — the lowest in his career — and earned eleven straight wins in the playoffs. In1969–70,however, he had a dispute with general managerSam Pollockover being demoted to the minors, and head coachClaude Ruel's decision to favorRogatien Vachonmade Worsley quit in the middle of the season. Pollock suggested Worsley accept a two-week conditioning stint to work his way back to the Canadiens, but the veteran netminder refused. Worsley was suspended for not reporting to the Canadiens'Montreal Voyageursfarm team and told Pollock he intended to retire.

Later in the season, however, theMinnesota North Starsexpressed interest in Worsley, and the Canadiens traded him for future considerations. He starred with Minnesota for most of the following five years; his best season with the team was1972,when he came second in the league with a 2.12 goals-against average and was named to play in the25th National Hockey League All-Star Game.He retired after the1973–74 seasonat the age of 44. Worsley was the second goaltender towin 300 gamesand lose 300 games, afterHarry Lumley.

Worsley was known for his wry sense of humour and various eccentricities. Early in his career with the lacklustre Rangers, regularly facing 40 to 50 shots a night, he was asked: "Which team gives you the most trouble?" His reply: "The New York Rangers." Accused by Rangers' coachPhil Watsonof having abeer belly,he replied, "Just goes to show you what he knows. I only drinkJohnnie WalkerRed. "

Worsley refused to wear a mask long after almost all other goaltenders adopted one. He was the second-to-last professional hockey goaltender to play without a mask;Andy Brownof the WHA'sIndianapolis Racerswas the last. Worsley finally put one on in the last six games of his career. Asked why he never wore a mask, Worsley told reporters: "My faceismy mask. "

Worsley was also well known for hisfear of flying.On November 25, 1968,en route to Los Angeles, he suffered anervous breakdownafter a rough flight from Montreal'sDorval Airportto Chicago. It has been reported that a stewardess upon landing came over the PA system and said that if passengers wished to claim refunds for drycleaning they should submit receipts. Worsley is reported to have quipped, "Does that include underwear?"Later, he receivedpsychiatric treatmentand missed action. It is said upon emerging from retirement to play for the North Stars he was assured, as Minnesota was in the middle of the continent, the team travelled less than any other in the league.

Soccer career

Worsley was an excellent soccer player, beginning his career as a junior with Westmount. In 1948 he was a member of the Montreal youth all-star team. As a promising young player, he soon attracted attention; the following year he moved up to McMasterville in the Montreal League. There he was selected to play in a trial game from which the Montreal all-stars were chosen to play the touring English clubFulham FCon 29th May 1951 (the game was drawn 2-2).

In the summer of 1952, while a member of the Saskatoon Quakers, he played centre forward for the Saskatoon All-stars against the touringTottenham Hotspur football clubfrom England. In 1953, he joined Montréal Hakoah FC and helped his new club to theCanadian final,but they lost the three-game series to the Westminster Royals.In 1954, he played with Montreal Vickers. His father was also an outstanding soccer player and won a Canadian championship medal with Montreal Grand Trunk in 1919.

Injuries

Worsley suffered many injuries during his career. While with Vancouver of the WHL, he sustained a back injury that nearly ended his career whenGus Kylehit him from behind. He also suffered a knee problem in the 1956 playoffs that required surgery; a severed tendon in 1960; a blistering shot fromBobby Hullthat hit him in the forehead in 1961; a pulled hamstring that same year; another pulled hamstring in 1963–64; knee surgery in 1966; a sprained knee, then a concussion from a hard-boiled egg thrown by a New York fan; a broken finger in the 1969 playoffs; a pulled hamstring in 1972–73 that forced his temporary retirement. The blast to the forehead from Bobby Hull knocked him unconscious and sent him to Montreal'sRoyal Victoria Hospital.Upon awakening, asked how he was feeling, Gump replied: "Good thing the puck hit me flat!"

Retirement and death

At the time of his retirement, Worsley had played more games than any goalie exceptTerry SawchukandGlenn Hall.He retired with a record of 335 wins, 352 losses and 150 ties, 43 shutouts, and a goals-against average of 2.91.

Worsley suffered aheart attackon January 22, 2007, and died atHôpital Honoré-MercierinSaint-Hyacinthe, Quebecon January 26, 2007. He was survived by his wife, Doreen Chapman and his children Lorne, Dean, Drew, and Lianne.

Legacy

Two Canadianindie rockbands recorded tributes to Worsley —Huevos Rancherosreleased "Gump Worsley's Lament" andThe Weakerthansreleased "Elegy for Gump Worsley". Canadian bandSons of Freedomnamed their second albumGumpafter Worsley. In the TV seriesLaw & Order: Criminal Intenta property management company is named "Gump and Worsley."

Career achievements and facts

• Won theCalder Memorial Trophyin1953.
• Stanley Cupchampion in1965,1966,1968,and1969.
• Won theVezina Trophyin1966and1968.
• Named to theNHL First All-Star Teamin 1968.
• Named to theNHL Second All-Star Teamin 1966.
• Played in theNHL All-Star Gamein1961,1962,1965, and 1972.
• Tied withCurtis Josephfor the second-most career losses in the NHL with 352.
• Currently 7th in all-time games played, 15th in career wins and 24th in shutouts.
• Inducted into theHockey Hall of Famein 1980.
• The last goaltender to play in the NHL without a face mask, doing so until his last six games. (Andy Browncontinued to play without one in the WHA for some time thereafter.)
• Was affectionately known toMinnesota North Starsfans as "the Gumper".
• The term "stacking the Gumpers," denoting the way a goaltender makes a save by lying on his side and making a "wall" out of his leg pads or "Gumpers," originated with Worsley.
• In the 2009 book100 Ranger Greats,he was ranked No. 17 of the901 New York Rangerswho had played during the team's first82 seasons

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%
1946–47	Verdun Cyclones	QJHL		25	6	18	1	1500	138	3	5.52	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1947–48	Verdun Cyclones	QJHL		29	13	11	5	1740	95	1	3.28	—		5	1	4	317	21	0	3.97	—
1948–49	Montreal St. Francis Xavier	MMJHL		47	24	21	2	2840	122	7	2.58	—		5	2	3	310	16	0	3.10	—
1948–49	New York Rovers	QSHL		2	—	—	—	120	5	0	2.50	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1949–50	New York Rovers	EAHL		47	25	17	5	2830	133	7	2.86	—		12	8	2	720	27	1	2.25	—
1949–50	New Haven Ramblers	AHL		2	2	0	0	120	4	0	2.00	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1950–51	St. Paul Saints	USHL		64	33	26	5	3920	184	3	2.82	—		4	1	3	257	9	0	2.19	—
1951–52	Saskatoon Quakers	PCHL		66	33	19	14	3960	206	5	3.07	—		13	10	3	818	31	1	2.27	—
1952–53	Saskatoon Quakers	WHL		13	5	7	1	780	50	0	3.84	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1952–53	Edmonton Flyers	WHL		1	1	0	0	60	2	0	2.00	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1952–53	New York Rangers	NHL		50	13	29	8	3000	153	2	3.06	.901		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1953–54	Vancouver Canucks	WHL		70	39	24	7	4200	168	4	2.40	—		12	7	4	709	29	0	2.45	—
1954–55	New York Rangers	NHL		65	15	33	17	3900	197	4	3.03	.916		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1955–56	New York Rangers	NHL		70	32	28	10	4200	198	4	2.83	.922		3	0	3	190	14	0	4.67	.861
1956–57	New York Rangers	NHL		68	26	28	14	4080	216	3	3.18	.906		5	1	4	316	21	0	3.99	.893
1957–58	New York Rangers	NHL		37	21	10	6	2200	86	4	2.32	.929		6	2	4	365	28	0	4.60	.872
1957–58	Providence Reds	AHL		25	12	11	2	1528	83	0	3.26	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1958–59	New York Rangers	NHL		67	26	30	11	4001	198	2	2.97	.907		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1959–60	New York Rangers	NHL		39	7	23	8	2301	135	0	3.52	.899		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1959–60	Springfield Indians	AHL		15	11	3	1	900	33	3	2.20	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1960–61	New York Rangers	NHL		59	20	29	8	3473	190	1	3.28	.912		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1961–62	New York Rangers	NHL		60	22	27	9	3531	172	2	2.92	.912		6	2	4	384	21	0	3.28	.918
1962–63	New York Rangers	NHL		67	22	34	10	3980	217	2	3.27	.915		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1963–64	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		8	3	2	2	444	22	1	2.97	.897		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1963–64	Quebec Aces	AHL		47	30	16	1	2820	128	5	2.72	—		9	4	5	543	29	0	3.20	—
1964–65	Quebec Aces	AHL		37	24	12	1	2247	101	2	2.70	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1964–65	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		19	10	7	1	1020	50	1	2.94	.906		8	5	3	501	14	2	1.68	.936
1965–66	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		51	29	14	6	2899	114	2	2.36	.920		10	8	2	602	20	1	1.99	.931
1966–67	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		18	9	6	2	888	47	1	3.18	.900		2	0	1	80	2	0	1.50	.956
1967–68	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		40	19	9	8	2213	73	6	1.98	.922		12	11	0	672	21	1	1.88	.930
1968–69	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		30	19	5	4	1703	64	5	2.25	.920		7	5	1	370	14	0	2.27	.921
1969–70	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		5	3	1	2	360	14	0	2.33	.915		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1969–70	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		8	5	1	1	453	20	1	2.65	.932		3	1	2	180	14	0	4.67	.880
1970–71	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		24	4	10	8	1369	57	0	2.50	.920		4	3	1	240	13	0	3.25	.888
1971–72	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		34	16	10	7	1923	68	2	2.12	.934		4	2	1	194	7	1	2.16	.935
1972–73	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		12	6	2	3	624	30	0	2.88	.906		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		29	8	14	5	1601	86	0	3.22	.901		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				861	335	352	150	50,183	2,407	43	2.88	.913		70	40	26	4,084	189	5	2.78	.912

"Gump Worsley's stats".The Goaltender Home Page.Retrieved2017-08-07.

References

• They Call Me Gumpby Lorne "Gump" Worsley with Tim Moriarty
• The Trail of the Stanley Cup,Volume 3 by Charles L. Coleman
• The Complete Encyclopedia of Hockeyedited by Zander Hollander

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics fromNHL.com,orEliteprospects.com,orHockey-Reference.com,orLegends of Hockey,orThe Internet Hockey Database
• Subject of The Weakerthans song, Elegy for Gump WorsleyArchived2010-07-03 at theWayback Machine