Georges Vezina

There is no possible comparison between the goaltenders of Georges Vezina's days and those of modern times. Vezina played at a time when the goalies were unable to throw themselves on the ice to stop the puck, and during fifteen seasons he never broke that rule. From 1910 to 1925 he enjoyed a more then glorious career.

This excellent goaltender who started playing at Lac St. Jean, was born in Chicoutimi, Quebec in 1887. He was 23 when the management of the Canadians showed a strong interest in his services. At that time, Vezina was playing with a Chicoutimi amateur team.

The story began in February 1910, when the Canadians were on a province wide tour playing exhibition games. One games had been scheduled between the powerful Blue, White and Red and an amateur team from Chicoutimi whose leader was its young goalie, Gorges Vezina. That night, Vezina certainly did not play like an amateur, because he beat the Canadians by himself, registering a shut-out. By the following fall, Vezina was the Canadian's goaltender.

Vezina quickly became the favourite of the Montreal public, and was becoming the star of his own team. With Georges in the net, the Canadians won the NHA championship twice, crowned champion of the National Hockey League three times, as well as having won the Stanley cup twice (1916 and 1924).

According to those who followed his adventures as a goalie, Vezina's trademark was his extraordinary coolness. In a short time, he was nicknamed the "Chicoutimi Cucumber" in every city of the National League. Even when the opposing players were buzzing around his cage, Vezina would always be stoically calm and radiate a disconcerting dignity. During a championship game against Ottawa, which made history, he stopped 78 of the 79 pucks shot against him.

Also nicknamed "l'Habitant silencieux," the "Silent Habitat," Vezina talked very little. Father of 22 children, Georges loved the family atmosphere. He complained so little that nobody realized that he was fighting for his life while at post in the Canadiens' net. Pittsburgh was playing against the Canadiens that night at the old Mount Royal arena in Montreal. After a scoreless first period, Vezina left the rink bleeding from the mouth. After falling unconscious in the locker room, he returned to the net for the second period, but after a few minutes, he fell again and had to leave the game. It was at that moment that the members of his family realized he had tuberculosis. Vezina died four months later at the age of 39.

The memory of Georges Vezina, the man who excluded peace and tranquillity, has been perpetuated by the creation of the trophy that bears his name. The trophy is given year after year to the best goaltender in the NHL. Member of the Hall of Fame, Georges Vezina will always be recognized as one of the greatest goaltenders in the history of our national sport.