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Hall, Glenn Henry
Glenn Henry Hall, hockey player (b at Humboldt, Sask 3 Oct 1931). Glenn Hall was one of hockey's most consistent and successful goaltenders. He was nicknamed "Mr. Goalie" (in contrast to Gordie Howe's nickname "Mr. Hockey") for much of his career in the NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE.
Hall began his career in junior hockey with the Ontario Hockey Association's Windsor Spitfires. He turned pro with Indianapolis of the AHL and played for the Edmonton Flyers of the WHL before joining the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL in 1951. Despite winning the CALDER TROPHY (best rookie) in his first full season with the Red Wings, 1955-56, he was traded to the Chicago Black Hawks the next year. He was drafted by the St Louis Blues in the expansion draft 1967. In 1968 Jacques PLANTE joined the Blues and the two shared net-minding duties. Hall, who estimated that he had endured close to 300 stitches at the time (mainly near his mouth), decided to follow Plante's lead and wear a protective mask.
Hall had a propensity for throwing himself on the ice to block the corners of the net and he was a master of the "butterfly style," the ability to splay one's pads along the ice while keeping the knees together. Though his unorthodox style of goaltending was often criticized by purists of the game, it was nonetheless effective as evidenced by his many successes. Hall won the VÉZINA TROPHY 1963, 1967 (shared) and 1969 (shared), and the CONN SMYTHE TROPHY (most outstanding player in the playoffs) for his spectacular performance in the 1968 playoffs. He was first all-star goalie 7 times and, despite his notorious bout of nerves and nausea before each game, he played more games than any other goalie except Terry SAWCHUK, 502 of them in a row; he still ranks 3rd in shutouts. Over 18 NHL seasons he played 906 games, with a 2.51 goals against average and 84 shutouts, and a 2.79 average in 115 playoff games.
Glenn Hall retired from the game in 1971, but he continued to play a supporting role as consultant and goaltending coach for the Blues and the CALGARY FLAMES while pursuing outside interests as a hobby farmer. Hall was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975. In 2005 his hometown of Humboldt honoured him by erecting a monument to his career in Glenn Hall Park on Highway #5.
