Born December 28, 1929, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, was Hockey Hall of Fame Goalie Terry Sawchuk. This legend was a seven-time NHL All-Star and four-time Vezina Trophy winner. Sawchuk stood the crease for multiple teams, including the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings, and the New York Rangers.
Sports History
Terry Sawchuk - Hockey HOF GoalieThe Goalie with 1000 Stitches
His early career was a whirlwind of brilliance and misfortune. He won the Calder Trophy at 21, but also endured facial reconstruction after a skate blade sliced his cheek. This set the stage for a career marked by both dominance and tragedy.
He won four Vezina Trophies, backstopped four Stanley Cup championships, and faced over 37,000 shots, earning him the nickname "The Count." But the price of excellence was high. He played with blurry vision from a detached retina, suffered mental health struggles, and endured an accidental stick to the eye that nearly ended his career.
Yet, Sawchuk rose each time, his passion for the game burning brighter than any pain. He pioneered mask technology, forever changing the goalie landscape. His final years were bittersweet, marked by injuries and declining play, but his contributions to the game remained undisputed.
Terry Sawchuk died tragically in 1970, leaving behind a legacy that transcends statistics. He was a warrior, a pioneer, a flawed hero who wore his scars with pride. He redefined toughness, not just on the ice, but in the face of adversity. His story is a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit, forever etched in the annals of hockey history.
May 9 Numbers
Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore. 4 - 5 -19 May 9, 1901 - Cleveland Blue's rookie pitcher, Earl Moore threw a no-hit ballgame for a full nine innings...
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May 8 Numbers
Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore. 10 - 17 - 32 - 4 - 22 May 8, 1878 - Paul Hines made the very first recorded triple play in professional baseball as a member of th...
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May 7 Numbers
Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore. 3 - 51 - 34 May 7, 1917 - Babe Ruth was an outstanding hitter right? Well he was a pretty good pitcher too. On this day in history...
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May 6 Numbers
Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore. 3 - 5 - 22 - 7 - 8 May 6, 1915 - The Sultan of Swing, Future Baseball Hall of Fame hitter, Babe Ruth smacked his first M...
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May 5 Numbers
Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore. May 5, 1904 - Did you ever wonder how you get your name on an iconic award? This next story is a great step towards doing just that...
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