Gump Worsley

Lorne John "Gump" Worsley (May 14, 1929 – January 26, 2007) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, 'Gump' was given his nickname because friends thought he looked like comic-strip character Andy Gump.

Gump Worsley
Hockey Hall of Fame, 1980
Worsley with the Montreal Canadiens in 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 19521974

Career

At the outset of his career, Worsley played four years in the minor leagues, most notably for the New York Rovers of the Eastern Hockey League (EHL), the St. Paul Saints of the United States Hockey League (USHL), and the Saskatoon Quakers of the Western Hockey League (WHL). For three straight seasons between 1950 and 1952, he garnered First Team All-Star and leading goaltender recognition.

Photo with New York, 1962

In the fall of 1952 he was signed by the New York Rangers of the NHL; though playing for a last-place team, won the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year. However, after asking for a $500 a year pay increase, he was promptly returned to the minor leagues the following season. In 1954, playing for the Vancouver Canucks of the WHL, he won the league's most valuable player award.

Later in 1954, Worsley resumed as the Rangers starting goaltender, beating out future NHL star Johnny Bower. Wearing the traditional number 1 for goaltenders, he toiled for the Rangers for the next nine seasons, generally playing well for poor-performing teams. Worsley made 43 saves in the 1955–56 New York Rangers season opener against the Chicago Blackhawks, setting a franchise record.[1]

In the summer of 1963, he became involved in a proposed players' union, and was promptly traded to the Montreal Canadiens. While he was relegated to the minor-league Quebec Aces for parts of two seasons—and characteristically winning First Team All-Star honors in the AHL in 1964—Worsley played his best years for the Canadiens as a member of four Stanley Cup-winning teams: 1965, 1966, 1968 and 1969. His best season was 1968, where he followed up a Vezina-winning performance and a career-low 1.98 goals-against average by going undefeated in the playoffs with eleven straight wins. However, he soon had a dispute with general manager Sam Pollock over being demoted to the minors; the decision by head coach Claude Ruel to favor Rogatien Vachon (who like Worsley was also a future Hall of Fame goaltender) over Worsley made him quit in the midst of the 1969–70 season. Suspended for not reporting to the Canadiens' Montreal Voyageurs farm team, he was replaced by Phil Myre.

Worsley was lured from retirement by the Minnesota North Stars to play in tandem with Cesare Maniago; he starred for parts of five more years, retiring at the age of 44 after the 1973–74 season. His best season with the North Stars was 1972, where he was second in the league with a 2.12 goals-against average. Named to play in the 25th National Hockey League All-Star Game, Worsley was the second goaltender to have won 300 games and lost 300 games, after Harry Lumley.[2] This feat was later accomplished by several other goaltenders.

Worsley was known for his wry sense of humour and various eccentricities. Early in his career with the Rangers, regularly facing 40–50 shots a night, he was asked: "Which team gives you the most trouble?" His reply – "The New York Rangers." Accused by Rangers' coach Phil Watson of having a beer belly, he replied, "Just goes to show you what he knows. I only drink Johnnie Walker Red."

Worsley was vehemently opposed to wearing a mask. He was the second-to-last professional hockey goaltender to play without a mask. Andy Brown of the Indianapolis Racers was the last, the following season—wearing a mask in the last six games of his career. Asked about why he chose to go without, Worsley told reporters: "My face is my mask."[3]

Worsley was also well known for his fear of flying. On November 25, 1968,[4] en route to Los Angeles, he suffered a nervous breakdown after a rough flight from Montreal's Dorval Airport to 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. Gump apparently quipped "Does that include underwear?"[5] Subsequently, he received psychiatric treatment and missed action. It is said upon emerging from retirement to play for the North Stars he was assured, as Minnesota was in the central part of the continent, the team traveled 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 club Fulham in 1951.

In the summer of 1952, while playing hockey for the Saskatoon Quakers, he played centre forward for the Saskatoon All-stars against the touring Tottenham Hotspur from England. In 1953, he joined Montréal Hakoah FC and helped his new club to the Canadian final, but they lost the three-game series to the Westminster Royals.[6] In 1954, continued his soccer career 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, including: a near career-ending back injury while with Vancouver of the WHL, when Gus Kyle hit him from behind; a knee problem in the 1956 playoffs that required surgery; a severed tendon in 1960; in 1961, a blistering shot from Bobby Hull that hit him in the forehead; a pulled hamstring that same year; a pulled hamstring in 1963–64; knee surgery in 1966, followed by 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 reduced his effectiveness to the point he temporarily retired from hockey. The blast to the forehead from Bobby Hull landed him, unconscious, in Montreal's Royal Victoria Hospital. Upon awakening, asked how he was feeling, Gump replied: "Good thing the puck hit me flat!"[7]

Retirement and death

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

Worsley suffered a heart attack on January 22, 2007, and died at Hôpital Honoré-Mercier in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec on January 26, 2007. He was survived by his wife, Doreen Chapman and his children Lorne, Dean, Drew, and Lianne.[8][9]

Legacy

Two Canadian indie rock bands, Huevos Rancheros ("Gump Worsley's Lament") and The Weakerthans ("Elegy for Gump Worsley"), have recorded tribute songs to Worsley. Canadian band Sons of Freedom also named their second album Gump after Worsley. A property management company in the Law & Order: Criminal Intent series is named "Gump and Worsley."

Career achievements and facts

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPWLTMINGASOGAASV% GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
1946–47 Verdun Cyclones QJHL 256181150013835.52
1947–48 Verdun Cyclones QJHL 291311517409513.28 5143172103.97
1948–49 Montreal St. Francis Xavier MMJHL 4724212284012272.58 5233101603.10
1948–49 New York Rovers QSHL 2120502.50
1949–50 New York Rovers EAHL 4725175283013372.86 12827202712.25
1949–50 New Haven Ramblers AHL 2200120402.00
1950–51 St. Paul Saints USHL 6433265392018432.82 413257902.19
1951–52 Saskatoon Quakers PCHL 66331914396020653.07 131038183112.27
1952–53 Saskatoon Quakers WHL 135717805003.84
1952–53 Edmonton Flyers WHL 110060202.00
1952–53 New York Rangers NHL 5013298300015323.06.901
1953–54 Vancouver Canucks WHL 7039247420016842.40 12747092902.45
1954–55 New York Rangers NHL 65153317390019743.03.916
1955–56 New York Rangers NHL 70322810420019842.83.922 3031901404.67.861
1956–57 New York Rangers NHL 68262814408021633.18.906 5143162103.99.893
1957–58 New York Rangers NHL 372110622008642.32.929 6243652804.60.872
1957–58 Providence Reds AHL 251211215288303.26
1958–59 New York Rangers NHL 67263011400119822.97.907
1959–60 New York Rangers NHL 397238230113503.52.899
1959–60 Springfield Indians AHL 1511319003332.20
1960–61 New York Rangers NHL 5920298347319013.28.912
1961–62 New York Rangers NHL 6022279353117222.92.912 6243842103.28.918
1962–63 New York Rangers NHL 67223410398021723.27.915
1963–64 Montreal Canadiens NHL 83224442212.97.897
1963–64 Quebec Aces AHL 4730161282012852.72 9455432903.20
1964–65 Quebec Aces AHL 3724121224710122.70
1964–65 Montreal Canadiens NHL 19107110205012.94.906 8535011421.68.936
1965–66 Montreal Canadiens NHL 5129146289911422.36.920 10826022011.99.931
1966–67 Montreal Canadiens NHL 189628884713.18.900 20180201.50.956
1967–68 Montreal Canadiens NHL 40199822137361.98.922 121106722111.88.930
1968–69 Montreal Canadiens NHL 30195417036452.25.920 7513701402.27.921
1969–70 Montreal Canadiens NHL 53123601402.33.915
1969–70 Minnesota North Stars NHL 85114532012.65.932 3121801404.67.880
1970–71 Minnesota North Stars NHL 24410813695702.50.920 4312401303.25.888
1971–72 Minnesota North Stars NHL 341610719236822.12.934 421194712.16.935
1972–73 Minnesota North Stars NHL 126236243002.88.906
1973–74 Minnesota North Stars NHL 29814516018603.22.901
NHL totals 86133535215050,1832,407432.88.913 7040264,08418952.78.912

"Gump Worsley's stats". The Goaltender Home Page. Retrieved 2017-08-07.

References

  1. @NYRStatsInfo (4 October 2019). "Henrik Lundqvist's 43 saves in tonight's game are tied for the most by a Rangers goaltender in a season-opening gam…" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  2. Hockey’s Book of Firsts, p.18, James Duplacey, JG Press, ISBN 978-1-57215-037-9
  3. Litsky, Frank (29 January 2007). "Gump Worsley, 77, Hall of Famer Who Won Four Titles, Is Dead". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  4. Toronto Star, Monday 25 November 1968, page 15
  5. MacCabe, Eddie (February 13, 1971). "MacCABE SAYS". The Ottawa Journal. p. 13.
  6. Norm Gillespie (August 19, 1953). "Draw with Hakoah". Google. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  7. "Gump Worsley". Legends of Hockey. The Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  8. url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104612522/
  9. Associated Press (28 January 2007). "Worsley, who helped Montreal to four Cups, dies at 77". ESPN. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  10. Cohen, Russ; Halligan, John; Raider, Adam (2009). 100 Ranger Greats: Superstars, Unsung Heroes and Colorful Characters. John Wiley & Sons. p. 178. ISBN 978-0470736197. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  • They Call Me Gump by Lorne "Gump" Worsley with Tim Moriarty
  • The Trail of the Stanley Cup, Volume 3 by Charles L. Coleman
  • The Complete Encyclopedia of Hockey edited by Zander Hollander
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