Denis DeJordy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Denis DeJordy |
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| Born | November 15, 1938 Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada |
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| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | ||
| Weight | 175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Caught | Left | ||
| Played for | Chicago Black Hawks Los Angeles Kings Montreal Canadiens Detroit Red Wings |
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| Playing career | 1959–1974 | ||
Joseph Denis Emile DeJordy (born November 15, 1938) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He was a talented goalie who played for four different teams in the National Hockey League (NHL). He is best known for his time with the Chicago Black Hawks. In the 1966–67 season, he and fellow goalie Glenn Hall won the Vezina Trophy. This award goes to the goalie (or goalies) who allow the fewest goals in the league.
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Denis DeJordy's Hockey Journey
Early Days in Junior Hockey
Denis DeJordy started his hockey career playing junior hockey. He played for the Junior B Dixie Beehives in 1956–57. After that, he joined the Major Junior A St. Catharines Teepees in the Ontario Hockey Association. For two seasons, he helped the Teepees become one of the best teams in the Ontario League. A famous player named Stan Mikita was the top scorer on that team. Later, Mikita and DeJordy became teammates again with the Chicago Black Hawks.
Starting His Professional Career
DeJordy began playing professionally with the Sault Ste. Marie Thunderbirds in the EPHL. He also played for the Buffalo Bisons in the AHL. He was first called up to the Chicago Black Hawks during the 1960-61 playoffs. Even though he didn't play in a game, his name was still carved onto the Stanley Cup. He also appeared in the team's Stanley Cup winning picture!
His first actual NHL game was on November 7, 1962. He stepped in for Glenn Hall, who had to leave the game because of a back injury. That injury ended Hall's amazing record of 502 straight complete games. DeJordy played five games for Chicago that season. In the 1966–67 season, DeJordy and Hall shared the Vezina Trophy. This showed they were the best goalies in the league for letting in the fewest goals.
Moving to Other NHL Teams
In 1969, the Black Hawks got another great goalie, Tony Esposito. This meant DeJordy became the backup goalie for the 1969–70 season. He then moved to the Los Angeles Kings and played there for three seasons.
In November 1971, DeJordy was traded to the Montreal Canadiens. He joined the Canadiens as a backup to Ken Dryden, who had just helped the team win the Stanley Cup. DeJordy played seven games for Montreal that season. After that, he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings. He played parts of two seasons with the Red Wings, also spending some time in the minor leagues.
A New Role: Goaltending Coach
After his playing career, Denis DeJordy became a goaltending coach for the Detroit Red Wings. He was actually the very first goaltending coach in the entire NHL! This shows how important his knowledge and experience were to the sport.
During his playing days, DeJordy also owned a sporting goods store in his hometown in Quebec. His brother, Roger DeJordy, was also a hockey player. Roger played for many years in the minor leagues and was honored in the Hershey Bears Hockey Club Hall of Fame in 2015.
Awards and Achievements
Denis DeJordy earned several awards during his hockey career:
- Selected to the OHA-Jr. First All-Star Team in 1959.
- Won the EPHL Best Rookie Award in 1960.
- Won the Stanley Cup Championship in 1961 (with the Chicago Black Hawks, though he didn't play in the playoffs).
- Won the Les Cunningham Award in 1963.
- Won the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award in 1963.
- Selected to the AHL First All-Star Team in 1963.
- Selected to the CPHL First All-Star Team in 1966.
- Won the Vezina Trophy in 1967 (shared with Glenn Hall).
- Selected to the AHL Second All-Star Team in 1974.
