Frank Brimsek facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Frank Brimsek
Hockey Hall of Fame, 1966
Brimsek with the Boston Bruins in the 1940s
Born	(1913-09-26)September 26, 1913 Eveleth, Minnesota, U.S.
Died	November 11, 1998(1998-11-11) (aged 85) Virginia, Minnesota, U.S.
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Played for	Boston Bruins Chicago Black Hawks
Playing career	1938–1950

Francis Charles "Mr. Zero" Brimsek (born September 26, 1913 – died November 11, 1998) was an amazing American professional ice hockey goaltender. A goaltender is the player who guards the net to stop the other team from scoring. He played for ten seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the Boston Bruins and the Chicago Black Hawks.

Brimsek was a superstar right from the start. As a rookie, he won the Calder Memorial Trophy. This award goes to the best first-year player. He also won the Vezina Trophy twice, which is given to the best goalie. He was chosen for the NHL All-Star team eight times! He also helped his team win the Stanley Cup twice, in 1939 and 1941. When he retired in 1950, he held records for most wins and shutouts by an American goalie. These records lasted for many years. In 1966, he became the first American goalie to join the Hockey Hall of Fame. He was also part of the first group inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1973. In 1998, The Hockey News ranked him number 67 on their list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players. He was the highest-ranked American goalie on that list.

Early Life and Hockey Start

Frank Brimsek was born in Eveleth, Minnesota, on September 26, 1913. Eveleth was a famous place for hockey players at that time. Many great players came from there. His parents were from Slovenia. Frank started playing hockey when his brother, John, switched positions on their high school team. Frank took his brother's place as the goalie. He quickly fell in love with playing in the net. He spent most of his free time practicing. Unlike his friends who wanted to score goals, Frank only wanted to be a goalie. Before winter, he and his friends would practice shooting pucks at him on a dry field. After high school, Brimsek played for the St. Cloud State Teachers College hockey team. He also earned a degree in machine shop.

Beginning His Pro Career

In 1934, Brimsek got a chance to try out for the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL. But he didn't like the coach, Jack Adams, who he felt played favorites. So, Frank decided to try out for another team, the Baltimore Orioles. When they didn't pick him, he hitchhiked back home. On his way, he met John H. Harris, who owned the Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets. The Yellow Jackets needed a goalie, and Harris signed Brimsek. Frank played very well for them, winning 14 of 16 exhibition games in his first year.

The next season, the Yellow Jackets joined the Eastern Amateur Hockey League (EAHL). Brimsek was the best goalie in the league. He had 20 wins and 8 shutouts. A shutout means the goalie didn't let the other team score any goals. He won an award for having the lowest goals against average (GAA). This means he let in the fewest goals per game. The Red Wings still had rights to him, but Brimsek didn't want to play for their amateur team. So, Harris worked to get him to another NHL team. In 1937, the Boston Bruins signed him. The Bruins already had a great goalie, Tiny Thompson. So, Brimsek played for their minor league team, the Providence Reds. He helped the Reds win the Calder Cup in 1938. This was a championship for their league.

Becoming a Boston Bruins Star

The Rise of "Mr. Zero"

Frank Brimsek started the 1938-39 season with the Providence Reds. But then, the Bruins' main goalie, Tiny Thompson, got hurt. So, Brimsek was called up to the NHL. In his first NHL game, he helped the Bruins win 3-2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. After another win, he was sent back to the Reds. But the Bruins' coach, Art Ross, had seen enough. He decided Brimsek was ready to be the main goalie. Thompson was traded away. Many Bruins fans were upset because Thompson was a favorite.

On December 1, 1938, Brimsek played his first game as the Bruins' starting goalie. They lost 2-0. Fans were still unsure about him. But in his very next game, he shut out the Chicago Black Hawks. Then he shut them out again! Fans quickly started to love him. He got six shutouts in his first seven games. This amazing start earned him the nickname "Mr. Zero." During this time, he set an NHL record for the longest shutout streak. He didn't let any goals in for 231 minutes and 54 seconds!

By the end of that season, Brimsek led the Bruins to first place. He had the most wins (33), most shutouts (10), and the lowest GAA (1.56) in the league. In the playoffs, he led the Bruins to win the Stanley Cup! He also won the Calder Memorial Trophy and the Vezina Trophy. He was named to the NHL first All-Star team.

More Success and World War II

In the 1939-40 season, Brimsek again led the league in wins. He was named to the NHL second All-Star team. The Bruins lost in the playoffs that year. But in 1940-41, Brimsek helped the Bruins finish first for the third year in a row. The Bruins then beat the Red Wings to win their second Stanley Cup with Brimsek. He was named to the NHL second All-Star team again. The next season, he won the Vezina Trophy again and was on the NHL first All-Star team.

During World War II, many hockey players joined the military. Three of the Bruins' best forwards left to join the Royal Canadian Air Force. Even without them, Brimsek led the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1943. They lost to the Red Wings. Brimsek was named to the NHL second All-Star team again.

The next season, Brimsek joined the United States Coast Guard to help with the war effort. He played hockey for the Coast Guard Cutters team. He also served in the South Pacific. After the war ended, Brimsek returned to the Bruins for the 1945-46 season. He wasn't as sharp at first because he hadn't played professional hockey for two years. But he still led the Bruins to the finals against the Montreal Canadiens. They lost in five games. Brimsek was praised for his great play in the playoffs, even with a weaker defense. This was his last appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals. He was also named to the NHL second All-Star team for the fifth time.

Brimsek played three more seasons with the Bruins. He was named to the NHL second All-Star team twice more. He also played in the very first NHL All-Star Game in 1947. The Bruins made the playoffs each year but lost in the semi-finals. After the 1948-49 season, Brimsek asked to be traded to the Chicago Black Hawks. He wanted to be closer to his home in Minnesota. The Bruins agreed.

Frank Brimsek's 32 playoff wins for Boston were a team record for a long time. He is still fourth in team history for playoff wins. His 230 regular-season wins also rank him third in Bruins' history.

Brimsek played one season with the Chicago Black Hawks. His team finished last and didn't make the playoffs. This was the only season his team missed the playoffs. He retired after that season.

Life After Hockey and Legacy

Frank Brimsek played with a "stand-up style" of goaltending. This means he usually stayed on his feet to make saves, instead of dropping to his knees. He was also known for his quick catching hand. After retiring, Brimsek moved back to Minnesota. He worked as a railroad engineer. Even after he stopped playing, fans still sent him mail.

In 1966, Brimsek was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He was the first American-born goalie to receive this honor. In 1973, he was one of the first people inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. Frank Brimsek passed away on November 11, 1998, in Virginia, Minnesota. He left behind his wife, Peggy, his two daughters, Chris and Karen, and five grandchildren.

In 1998, The Hockey News ranked Brimsek as the 67th greatest hockey player ever. He was the highest-ranked American goalie on that list. An award is given each year to the best high school goalie in Minnesota in his honor. Brimsek's records of 252 wins and 40 shutouts were the most ever by an American goalie for many years. His wins record was broken in 1994 by Tom Barrasso. His shutouts record has been matched by John Vanbiesbrouck and Jonathan Quick. Brimsek's 35 shutouts with Boston rank him third on that team's all-time list. Also, his eight appearances on the NHL All-Star team are the second most for any goalie in history, only behind Glenn Hall.

Career Statistics

Regular season and playoffs

* Stanley Cup Champion.

Source

Awards and Honors