Eddie Giacomin facts for kids

Edward "Eddie" Giacomin (born June 6, 1939 – died September 14, 2025) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He was a goaltender, which is the player who guards the net. Eddie played for the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1965 to 1978. He was known for his exciting style and strong determination on the ice.

Eddie Giacomin: A Hockey Legend

Early Career and Rise to Fame

Eddie Giacomin started his professional hockey journey in 1959. He played a few games for the Washington Presidents in the Eastern Hockey League. Interestingly, the team first wanted his brother, Rollie, but Eddie stepped in instead! He also played briefly for the Clinton Comets.

Even after a kitchen accident caused him serious burns, Eddie didn't give up. He joined the Providence Reds for the 1960–61 season. Back then, in the "Original Six" era of the 1960s, there were only six NHL teams. This meant it was very tough to get a spot as a starting goaltender. Eddie became a star player for the Reds for five full seasons.

Becoming a Star Goaltender for the Rangers

Soon, big NHL teams like the Detroit Red Wings and the New York Rangers noticed Eddie. In 1965, the New York Rangers traded three players and their starting goalie to get Eddie. He showed great skill in his first month with the Rangers.

The next season, Eddie improved a lot. He led the NHL in "shutouts," which means he stopped the other team from scoring any goals in many games. He also helped the Rangers reach the playoffs for the first time in nine years.

Eddie was the Rangers' main goaltender for the next nine seasons. He was known as a "stand-up" goalie, meaning he stayed on his feet a lot. He was also good at handling his stick and would often leave his net to play the puck. From 1967 to 1970, he played the most games in the league for four years straight. He also led the league in shutouts in 1967, 1968, and 1971.

In 1971, Eddie shared the Vezina Trophy with his teammate Gilles Villemure. The Vezina Trophy is given to the best goaltender in the NHL. Eddie was very competitive. In a playoff game in 1971, an opposing player skated over his hand. But Eddie kept playing! The Rangers won that game, and even the other team admired his courage. The Rangers later made it to the Stanley Cup finals in 1972, but they lost in a tough six-game series.

Moving to Detroit and Retirement

In 1975, injuries made it harder for Eddie to play his best. The next season, the Rangers had a difficult start. They decided to let go of some of their older, higher-paid players, and Eddie was one of them. Many fans were upset when he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings in October 1975. This happened because the Rangers wanted to bring in younger players, like John Davidson.

Eddie's first game with the Red Wings was in New York against his old team. When he skated onto the ice in a Red Wings jersey, the fans gave him a huge, long cheer. They cheered for him throughout the game! Rangers fans even booed their own team when they shot or scored on Eddie. They chanted his name, and Eddie actually won the game for the Red Wings. This special night was voted one of the 50 greatest moments in MSG history.

Eddie played three good seasons for Detroit. He retired on January 17, 1978. He finished his career with 289 wins, 208 losses, and 97 ties.

Life After Playing Hockey

After retiring from playing, Eddie Giacomin worked as a broadcaster for the New York Islanders in the 1978-79 season. He later became an assistant coach for the Islanders and the Red Wings. He also had two periods as a goaltending coach for the Rangers.

Eddie was honored for his amazing career when he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987. This is a special place for the greatest hockey players. On March 15, 1989, his jersey number 1 was retired by the Rangers. This means no other Rangers player will ever wear that number again, showing how important he was to the team. Only one other Rangers player, Rod Gilbert, had his number retired before Eddie.

Eddie Giacomin passed away at his home in Birmingham, Michigan, on September 14, 2025, at the age of 86.

Amazing Achievements

Eddie Giacomin had many impressive achievements during his hockey career:

• Named to the NHL First All-Star Team in 1967 and 1971. This means he was considered one of the best players in the league.
• Named to the NHL Second All-Star Team in 1968, 1969, and 1970.
• Played in the NHL All-Star Game six times: in 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1973.
• Won the Vezina Trophy in 1971 (shared with Gilles Villemure).
• He is ranked 25th in career wins by a goaltender with 289 wins.
• He is ranked 19th in career shutouts with 54.
• His jersey number 1 was the second number retired by the New York Rangers on March 15, 1989.
• In a 2009 book called 100 Ranger Greats, he was ranked as the 6th best player of all time for the New York Rangers. He was also the second-highest ranked goaltender.
• Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987.

Career Statistics

Regular season and playoffs