Georges Vézina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Georges Vézina |
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| Hockey Hall of Fame, 1945 | |||
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| Born | January 21, 1887 Chicoutimi, Quebec, Canada |
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| Died | March 27, 1926 (aged 39) Chicoutimi, Quebec, Canada |
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| Height | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) | ||
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Caught | Left | ||
| Played for | Montreal Canadiens | ||
| Playing career | 1910–1925 | ||
Georges Vézina (nicknamed "The Chicoutimi Cucumber") was a famous Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He played for the Montreal Canadiens for 12 seasons. He won the Stanley Cup, a top hockey trophy, twice with the Canadiens. This happened in 1916 and 1924.
Vézina played in 327 regular season games and 39 playoff games in a row. He never missed a game until 1925 when he became very sick. He was diagnosed with tuberculosis and sadly passed away in 1926.
Vézina was the only goaltender for the Canadiens between 1910 and 1925. He helped his team win the Stanley Cup in 1916 and 1924. He also led them to the Stanley Cup Finals three other times. Vézina allowed the fewest goals in the league seven times during his career.
In 1918, Vézina became the first NHL goaltender to get a shutout. He was also the first to get an assist on a goal. After he passed away, the Canadiens created the Vezina Trophy. This award goes to the best goaltender in the NHL. Vézina's hometown arena in Chicoutimi is named the Centre Georges-Vézina in his honour. He was one of the first twelve players to join the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1945.
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Georges Vézina's Early Life
Georges Vézina was born on January 21, 1887, in Chicoutimi, Quebec. He was the youngest of eight children. His father, Jacques Vézina, was a baker. Georges went to school until he was fourteen. Then he left to help his father at the bakery.
He loved playing hockey from a young age. He played street hockey in his shoes. He first used skates at age sixteen when he joined his local team in Chicoutimi. Chicoutimi was far away from other cities. So, his team, the Saguenéens, traveled around Quebec. They played friendly games against different clubs.
Vézina married Marie-Adélaïde-Stella Morin in 1908. They had two children. Their first son, Jean-Jules, was born in 1912. Their second son, Marcel Stanley, was born the night the Canadiens won their first Stanley Cup in 1916. When he wasn't playing hockey, Vézina worked at a tannery in Chicoutimi. He lived a quiet life.
Playing Hockey: From Local Clubs to the NHL
Starting with the Canadiens
On February 17, 1910, Georges Vézina's Chicoutimi team played against the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens were a professional team. Vézina, as the goaltender, played so well that the Canadiens couldn't score.
The Canadiens' goaltender, Joseph Cattarinich, was very impressed. He convinced his team to offer Vézina a tryout. Vézina first said no, but the Canadiens came back later that year. They convinced Georges and his brother Pierre to come to Montreal.
Georges impressed the Canadiens with his skill. He was especially good at blocking shots with his stick. He signed a contract for C$800 per season. Vézina played his first professional game on December 31, 1910. He played all sixteen games that season. He also allowed the fewest goals in the league.
Winning the Stanley Cup
Vézina continued to be a top goaltender. In the 1913–14 season, the Canadiens finished first in their league, the NHA. Vézina again allowed the fewest goals. The Canadiens played a special series against the Toronto Blueshirts. Vézina had a shutout in the first game.
In the 1915–16 season, Vézina and the Canadiens finished first in the NHA. They then played in the 1916 Stanley Cup Finals against the Portland Rosebuds. The Canadiens won the series, winning their first Stanley Cup! Vézina's second son was born that night. This made the win even more special for him.
The next season, Vézina again led the NHA in fewest goals allowed. The Canadiens reached the 1917 Stanley Cup Finals, but they lost to the Seattle Metropolitans.
Joining the NHL
In 1917, the National Hockey Association (NHA) was replaced by the National Hockey League (NHL). Vézina and the Canadiens joined the new league.
On February 18, 1918, Vézina made history. He became the first goaltender in NHL history to record a shutout. He helped his team win 9–0 against the Toronto Arenas. On December 28, 1918, he became the first goaltender to get an assist on a goal.
In 1918–19, Vézina helped the Canadiens reach the Stanley Cup Finals again. They were set to play the Seattle Metropolitans. But the series was canceled because of the Spanish flu epidemic. This was the first time the Stanley Cup was not awarded.
Vézina continued to play well for the Canadiens. In the 1923–24 season, he led the league in fewest goals allowed. He had an amazing average of 1.97 goals against per game. This was the first time a goaltender had an average under two goals per game.
The Canadiens reached the 1924 Stanley Cup Finals. They played against the Calgary Tigers. Vézina and the Canadiens won the series easily. Vézina even had a shutout in the second game. This championship was the Canadiens' first as an NHL team.
Vézina's Final Season
In the 1924–25 season, Vézina again led the league in fewest goals allowed. The Canadiens reached the 1925 Stanley Cup Finals. They lost to the Victoria Cougars.
When the Canadiens started training camp for the 1925–26 season, Vézina was very sick. He had lost a lot of weight and had a high fever. Still, he played in the first game on November 28. He finished the first period without letting in any goals.
But during the break, he started vomiting blood. He went back for the second period but collapsed on the ice. He had to leave the game. The next day, Vézina was diagnosed with tuberculosis. He was told to go home.
He visited his teammates one last time on December 3. He was very sad to leave. Vézina returned to Chicoutimi with his wife. He passed away on March 27, 1926. Even though he only played one period that season, the team paid his full salary. This showed how much they valued him.
Georges Vézina's Legacy
Vézina was a pale, narrow-featured fellow, almost frail-looking, yet remarkably good with his stick. He'd pick off more shots with it than he did with his glove. He stood upright in the net and scarcely ever left his feet; he simply played all his shots in a standing position. He always wore a toque—a small, knitted hat with no brim in Montreal colours -- bleu, blanc et rouge. I also remember him as the coolest man I ever saw, absolutely imperturbable.
Georges Vézina was one of the best goaltenders in early hockey. He led the Canadiens to five Stanley Cup Finals, winning the Cup twice. Seven times in his career, he had the lowest goals against average in his league.
From 1910 until he retired in 1925, Vézina never missed a game. He played in 328 regular season games and 39 playoff games in a row. Even though goalies couldn't leave their feet to make saves for most of his career, he is still seen as one of the greatest goalies ever.
People in Montreal really liked Vézina. He was often seen as the best player on the Canadiens. His teammates respected him as a leader. He was called "le Concombre de Chicoutimi" (the "Chicoutimi Cucumber") because he was so calm on the ice. He was also known as "l'Habitant silencieux" (the "silent Habitant") because he was quiet. When he passed away, newspapers across Quebec honored him. More than 1500 people attended his funeral.
The Vezina Trophy
Another important part of Vézina's legacy is the trophy named after him. At the start of the 1926–27 season, the owners of the Montreal Canadiens donated the Vezina Trophy to the NHL. It was created to honor Vézina.
At first, the trophy went to the goaltender of the team that allowed the fewest goals. Vézina's replacement, George Hainsworth, won the first Vezina Trophy. In 1981, the NHL changed the award. Now, it goes to the best goaltender in the league, chosen by NHL general managers.
Vézina was one of the first twelve players inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1945. In 1998, The Hockey News ranked him number 75 on their list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players. In 1965, Chicoutimi renamed their hockey arena the Centre Georges-Vézina to honor their first professional athlete.
Images for kids
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Vézina's funeral procession at the Saint-François-Xavier Cathedral in Chicoutimi in 1926.
