Eddie Giacomin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eddie Giacomin |
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| Hockey Hall of Fame, 1987 | |||
| Born | June 6, 1939 Sudbury, Ontario, Canada |
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| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Weight | 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Caught | Left | ||
| Played for | New York Rangers Detroit Red Wings |
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| Playing career | 1959–1978 | ||
Edward "Eddie" Giacomin (born June 6, 1939) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played for the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1965 to 1978. Eddie was known for his amazing saves and competitive spirit.
Contents
Eddie's Hockey Journey
Starting Out in Hockey
Eddie Giacomin began his professional hockey career 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 played instead. He also had short times with the Clinton Comets. Even after a serious kitchen accident, Eddie joined the Providence Reds for the 1960–61 season.
During the 1960s, there were only six teams in the NHL. This made it very hard for goalies to get a spot. Eddie became a star player for the Providence Reds for five full seasons.
Becoming a New York Ranger
Both the Detroit Red Wings and the New York Rangers became interested in Eddie. In 1965, the Rangers traded three players and their starting goalie to get him. Eddie was impressive at first with the Rangers. He then worked hard and became even better the next season. He led the NHL in "shutouts" that year. A shutout is when a goalie stops every shot and doesn't let the other team score. He helped the Rangers reach the playoffs for the first time in nine years.
A Star Goaltender
Eddie Giacomin was a "stand-up" goalie. This means he mostly stayed on his feet to block shots. He was also good at handling the puck outside his net. He was the Rangers' main goalie for nine seasons. 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, he shared the Vezina Trophy with his teammate Gilles Villemure. This award goes to the best goalie in the NHL. Eddie was very determined. In a 1971 playoff game, a player skated over his hand, but Eddie kept playing! The Rangers made it to the Stanley Cup finals in 1972. They played against the Boston Bruins and lost in a tough six-game series.
Moving to Detroit
In 1975, injuries affected Eddie's playing. The next season, the Rangers had a tough start. They decided to trade some of their older, higher-paid players. On October 29, 1975, Eddie was picked up by the Detroit Red Wings. Many fans were upset because John Davidson took over as the Rangers' goalie.
The Red Wings' next game was in New York on November 2. When Eddie skated onto the ice in a Red Wings jersey, the fans gave him a huge standing ovation. They cheered for him throughout the whole game! Rangers fans even booed their own team when they shot or scored on Eddie. They chanted his name, and Eddie won the game for the Red Wings. This night was voted one of the 50 greatest moments at Madison Square Garden.
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.
After Retirement
Coaching and Broadcasting
After retiring from playing, Eddie Giacomin worked as a broadcaster for the New York Islanders in 1978–79. He later became an assistant coach for both the Islanders and the Red Wings. He also had two times as a goaltending coach for the Rangers.
Hall of Fame and Jersey Retirement
Eddie was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987. This is a very special honor for hockey players. His jersey number, 1, was retired by the Rangers on March 15, 1989. This means no other Rangers player will ever wear that number again. He was the second Rangers player to have his number retired, after Rod Gilbert's number 7.
Achievements and Fun Facts
- Named to the NHL First All-Star Team in 1967 and 1971.
- Named to the NHL Second All-Star Team in 1968, 1969, and 1970.
- Played in the NHL All-Star Game 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 number 1 jersey was the second number retired by the New York Rangers.
- In the 2009 book 100 Ranger Greats, he was ranked as the 6th best player in Rangers history.
