No "Cheesy" Titles Here, This Hall of Famer's Piece Belongs In A Museum (And It's In One Now)

[IrbeFan4Life]

The final of our four new additions to the vaults of Heroes of the Crease is here, and it is by far my favorite and of a goalie whose mask and career is something of NHL legend. Alright, onto the show and it is definitely not for sale, trade, or donation.

Gerry Cheevers was born on December 7, 1940 in St. Catharines, Ontario. An OHA-Jr league star, Cheevers' rights were initially held by the Toronto Maple Leafs. On December 2, 1961, it happened. Cheevers got the start in goal for the Maple Leafs vs the Blackhawks and he stopped 35 of 39 shots in a 6-4 win. He played one more game with the Maple Leafs that year before he was stuck in the minors from there. Cheevers put himself back on the radar when he was in the AHL by winning the Harry Hap Holmes Award and also by leading the Rochester Americans to the Calder Cup. Cheevers was thus claimed by the Boston Bruins in the Intra-League Draft of 1965. Stuck behind Bernie Parent and Ed Johnston, Cheevers got into 7 winless appearances with the Bruins that year. In his second year, he got a heftier workload in that 3 goalie rotation, though excelled above his teammates. With expansion in 1967, Parent was lost to the Flyers, so it was Cheevers' show from then on in Boston. He was a starter/split-starter (with Ed Johnston) for the next five seasons. He was an NHL All-Star in 1969, then in 1969-70, he led the Bruins to a Stanley Cup. In 1971-72, he won another Stanley Cup with Boston and he also set an all-time NHL record by recording a 32 game undefeated streak (which still holds 50 years later). After that year, he joined the Cleveland Crusaders of the WHA and played 191 games there from 1972-76. The WHA Best Goaltender in 1973 was also Team Canada's goalie during the 1974 Summit Series. He returned to the NHL in 1975-76 and started off by wearing the uncharacteristic #31 as Dave Reece held Cheevers' #30. Cheevers was also on Team Canada as a spare for the 1976 Canada Cup, though Rogie Vachon played all of the games. Cheevers played five more seasons in the NHL before retiring from play in 1980. After retiring, he took up coaching duties on the Bruins and from 1980-81 to 1984-85 as the Head Coach, where he led the team to 204 victories. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985-86, was a color commentator for the Whalers from the time of his induction until 1995, then from 1995-96 to 2002-03 Cheevers was a Scout and Goaltending Coach with the Bruins.

In his NHL career, Gerry Cheevers appeared in 418 games, recording a 227-104-76 record with 26 shutouts, 11 assists, a 2.89GAA, and a 0.901% save average. He also appeared in 88 playoff games, recording a 53-34 record with 8 shutouts, a 2.69GAA, and a 0.902% save average.

What you are looking at right now is a game used Northland goalie stick that was utilized by Gerry Cheevers during the late 1970s with the Bruins. It features excellent wear and highlights many of the tell-tale signs of a Cheevers gamer. From the stick knob to the brilliant name stamp, to the taping style on the blade and top of the paddle, it has it all. What a piece of a Hall of Fame goalie!

Acquired From: Donated to museum by long-time patron. Authenticity verified from multiple sources.

Dates of game use:
Unknown at this time.

Photomatched: No, referenced to identical stick and taping style.

[jameslacarte]

Wow!! I check out your posts all the time, you always get some cool stuff!! Sure would like to see that museum too. Congrats

[odjickfan]

Very cool!