Hockey Heroes of the Past: Cecil Ralph Thompson
- Big Kaluwski
- Mar 14, 2017
- 2 min read
Welcome to another blog article, where I will be featuring Hockey Heroes of the Past. For now, I will be focusing on player who played between 1900-1970. Why that time period? Well, it is important to remember these pioneer's, that paved the way for current NHL superstars. Without these legends, who knows where our game would be. So I find it is essential that these Hockey Heroes get the recognition they deserve. Today we look the All Star goalie, Cecil Ralph Thompson
Born: May 31st, 1903
Birthplace: Sandon, BC (Canada)
Height: 5f10
Weight: 160 lbs
Position:Goalie
Teams: Boston Bruins, Detroit Red wings
Nickname: "Tiny"
NHL Career Stats;
GP:553
W: 284
L: 194
T/O: 81
Shutouts: 744
GAA: 2.08
***Awards***
-Vezina Trophy: 1930, 1933, 1936, 1938
First All-Star Team Goaltender: 1936, 1938
Second All-Star Team Goaltender: 1931, 1935
Stanley Cup: 1929
***Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1959***
- A legend who played over 10 years with the Boston Bruins, "Tiny" Thompson helped lead the Bruins to their first Stanley Cup in 1929. He did this all during his rookie campaign! (Similar to what Ken Dryden did with Montreal) He will forever be remember as the goalie in the 1933 marathon playoff game between Boston and Toronto. The game featured over 104 minutes of overtime in addition to the regulation 60 minutes. That's alot of hockey. He also became the first goalie to assist on a goal in the NHL.
After retiring from professional play, Thompson became the head coach of the Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League / AHL in the 1940–41 season. He coached 56 games in two seasons. Some interesting facts about him are that he was the 1st person born in British Columbia to play in the NHL.Also Thompson was one of the first NHL goaltenders to catch the puck with his hand to make a save, and helped popularize the technique.His signature technique, very often featured in photographs of him, involved dropping to one knee with the paddle of his goalstick covering the five-hole, and extending his glove to cover the left side of the net.
A true superstar of his time, Cecil Ralph Thompson passed away on February 9th in 1981, at the age of 77.
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