Today in Sports History: May 2

In 1967, the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Montreal Canadiens, 3-1 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final to win the series, 4-2. Maple Leafs’ goalie, Terry Sawchuk, recorded 40 saves.

Sawchuk played for the Detroit Red Wings from 1949 until 1964, where he was then traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs and played from 1964 until 1967. He was then traded to the Los Angeles Kings for one season in 1967 until 1968. He was then traded back to the Detroit Red Wings for a single season in 1968 until 1969. His final season was in 1969 when he was traded to the New York Rangers for a year until 1970. 

He played a total of 971 games with a record of 447 wins, 330 losses, and 172 ties. Out of 971 games, he started in 955 games. His average goal against him was 2.50, save percentage of 1.812 with 103 shutouts. He also played a total of 57,155:51 minutes within his career. 

Sawchuk was a four-time Stanley Cup Champion, (1952, 1954, 1955, 1967), and helped the Red Wings win three times within four seasons. He also was a four-time Vezina Trophy recipient in 1952, 1953, 1955, and 1965. He also won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 1951 and the Lester Patrick Trophy in 1971. 

He was an 11-time All-Star, three-time National Hockey League (NHL) First All-Star Team, and four-time NHL Second All-Star Team. 

When Sawchuk retired in 1970, he had more shutouts, games played, and games won, more than any other goalie in National Hockey League history. Unfortunately, Sawchuk would not see what life was like post hockey career because he was terribly injured in a fight with Rangers teammate Ron Stewart on April 29, and died in the hospital on May 31, only at 40-years-old.

Within his 21-year career, Sawchuk was one of the best goaltenders the NHL had ever seen. After his death, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1971 for his incredible career and outstanding accomplishments. He will always be remembered.