Dave Gatherum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dave Gatherum |
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| Born | March 28, 1932 Fort William, Ontario, Canada |
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| Died | June 20, 2024 (aged 92) Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada |
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| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | ||
| Weight | 165 lb (75 kg; 11 st 11 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Caught | Left | ||
| Played for | Detroit Red Wings | ||
| Playing career | 1952–1959 | ||
David Robert Gatherum (March 28, 1932 – June 20, 2024) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He was a goaltender, which means he was the player who defends the goal. David played a few games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Detroit Red Wings during the 1953–54 season. Most of his hockey career was spent playing in minor leagues from 1952 to 1959.
David Gatherum's Hockey Journey
David Gatherum made his big debut in the National Hockey League (NHL) on October 11, 1953. He stepped in for the injured star goalie, Terry Sawchuk, for the Detroit Red Wings. In his very first NHL game, David achieved something amazing: a shutout! This means he stopped every single shot, and the Red Wings won 4–0 against Toronto.
He played two more games for Detroit on October 16 and 17. After these games, Terry Sawchuk returned from his injury. David Gatherum then went back to playing in the minor leagues. What's cool is that David never lost an NHL game! He had two wins and one tie in his short time in the league.
David also set an NHL record for the longest shutout streak to start a career. He kept opponents from scoring for 100 minutes and 21 seconds between October 11 and 16, 1953. This record stood for a very long time, until 2011!
Even though he only played three regular season games, David was called back to the team for the playoffs as a spare goalie. Because of this, his name was added to the Stanley Cup when the Detroit Red Wings won it in 1954. This is a huge honor for any hockey player.
After that exciting season, David Gatherum never played in the NHL again. He continued to play in minor leagues and senior hockey until he retired after the 1959 season.
