Ron Hextall facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ron Hextall
Hextall in 2014
Born	(1964-05-03) May 3, 1964 (age 61) Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Played for	Philadelphia Flyers Quebec Nordiques New York Islanders
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	119th overall, 1982 Philadelphia Flyers
Playing career	1984–1999

Ronald Jeffrey Hextall (born May 3, 1964) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender and executive. He was most recently the general manager for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Hextall played 13 seasons as a goalie for the Philadelphia Flyers, Quebec Nordiques, and New York Islanders.

He spent 11 of his 13 seasons with the Flyers. He holds several team records and is in the Flyers Hall of Fame. In his first season (1986-87), he won the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goalie. He also led the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals. Even though the Flyers lost, he won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs' most valuable player. Only a few players have won this trophy while on the losing team.

Hextall made history as the first NHL goaltender to score a goal. He shot the puck into the opponent's empty net against the Boston Bruins in 1987. The next season, he scored again in the playoffs against the Washington Capitals. His style of playing the puck outside the goal area was new and inspired goalies like Martin Brodeur. He was also known for being a very aggressive goalie. He often received many penalty minutes and set records for them.

Ron Hextall's Early Life

Ron Hextall was born on May 3, 1964, in Brandon, Manitoba. He was the youngest of three children. Hockey runs in his family! His grandfather, Bryan Hextall, played 11 seasons for the New York Rangers and is in the Hockey Hall of Fame. His father, Bryan Hextall Jr., played 10 seasons in the NHL. His uncle, Dennis Hextall, played 14 seasons.

Because his father played professional hockey, Ron moved around a lot for school. He focused mostly on hockey, especially on being a goalie. He recalled drawing pictures of famous goalies instead of doing schoolwork. He enjoyed being around NHL rinks.

Even though his father and grandfather were forwards, Ron's dad supported him playing goalie. He encouraged Ron to try other positions to improve his skating. Ron's mother believed his love for hockey would help him reach his dream of playing in the NHL.

Playing Hockey as a Junior

Starting in Junior Hockey

Hextall began his junior hockey career in 1980 with the Melville Millionaires. In his only season there, he played 37 games. In one game, he faced 105 shots and made 84 saves. Even though his team lost 21–2, people said he played brilliantly. In 2009, Hextall was inducted into the SJHL Hall of Fame.

Playing for the Brandon Wheat Kings

For the 1981–82 season, Hextall played for the Brandon Wheat Kings in the Western Hockey League (WHL). He played 30 games. The Wheat Kings made the playoffs but lost in the first round. A scout for the Flyers, Gerry Melnyk, noticed Hextall's unique style. The Flyers then picked Hextall in the sixth round of the 1982 NHL Draft.

Hextall stayed with Brandon for two more seasons. In the 1983–84 season, he had his best year in the WHL with 29 wins. During this season, he set a record for the most penalty minutes by a goalie, with 117 minutes.

Professional Hockey Career

Starting in the Minor Leagues

In 1984, Hextall expected to play in the NHL. However, the Flyers sent him to their farm team, the Kalamazoo Wings in the IHL. He was disappointed but played 19 games there. Later that season, he moved to the Flyers' other farm team, the Hershey Bears in the American Hockey League (AHL).

In the 1985–86 season, Hextall stayed with Hershey. He played 53 games, winning 30. The Bears finished as league leaders and reached the Calder Cup final. Hextall was named the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award winner as the AHL's best rookie player. He later said that his time in the AHL helped him become a top NHL goalie.

Becoming a Philadelphia Flyer (1986–1992)

First NHL Seasons

Hextall joined the Flyers for the 1986–87 season. He played his first NHL game against the Edmonton Oilers, winning 2–1. He quickly showed his aggressive style. He even got into a fight with another goalie, Alain Chevrier.

Hextall's play in his rookie year in the NHL earned him the Vezina Trophy and the pictured Conn Smythe Trophy.

In his first year, Hextall played 66 games and won 37. He won the Vezina Trophy as the best goalie. He led the Flyers to the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers. Even though the Flyers lost, Hextall played incredibly well. Wayne Gretzky called him "probably the best goaltender I've ever played against." Hextall won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs' most valuable player. After the season, he was suspended for eight games for hitting an opponent with his stick.

In the 1987–88 season, Hextall made history. On December 8, 1987, he became the first goalie to score a goal by shooting the puck into an empty net. He had wanted to do this for a while. He played 62 games and won 30.

Hextall in 1987, pictured alongside Rick Tocchet

Hextall continued to be known for his aggressive play. In the 1988–89 season, he set a new record for most penalty minutes by a goalie in a single season, with 113. He also scored his second career goal, becoming the first goalie to score in the NHL playoffs. This helped the Flyers win a key game.

During the playoffs that year, Hextall had some intense moments. He was known for his "controlled violence" on the ice. He was later suspended for 12 games for hitting Chris Chelios with his stick. Hextall said he intended to fight, not hurt, Chelios.

Dealing with Injuries

Hextall faced many groin injuries in the following seasons. Doctors believed his unique, active playing style might have caused these injuries. He played fewer games due to these issues. In the 1989–90 season, he played only eight NHL games, his lowest total. The Flyers also missed the playoffs for two years in a row.

Playing for Quebec and New York

In 1992, Hextall was part of a big trade that sent Eric Lindros to the Flyers. Hextall was traded to the Quebec Nordiques. He was worried about moving his family to a French-speaking area. Despite this, he played well and helped the Nordiques reach the playoffs for the first time since 1987.

After just one season, Hextall was traded again, this time to the New York Islanders in 1993. He had a tough start with the Islanders, but he worked hard to regain his form. He recorded a career-best five shutouts that season. The Islanders made the playoffs but lost quickly.

Returning to Philadelphia (1994–1999)

In 1994, Hextall was traded back to the Philadelphia Flyers. In his first season back (1994–95), he played 31 games and had his best goals against average (GAA) yet. The Flyers made the playoffs for the first time in six years. Hextall played a key role as the Flyers swept the New York Rangers and reached the Conference Final.

Hextall continued to play well for the Flyers. In the 1995–96 season, he had 31 wins and a career-best GAA of 2.17. He also recorded four shutouts. He continued to perform strongly over the next two seasons, adding many more shutouts. The Flyers reached the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals, but they lost to the Detroit Red Wings.

In his final two seasons, Hextall played fewer games but maintained a good GAA. He retired from the NHL on September 6, 1999.

International Hockey

Hextall played for Team Canada in the 1987 Canada Cup. He was a backup goalie and did not play in any games. He later represented Canada in the 1992 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships, playing five games.

Management Career

After retiring as a player in 1999, Hextall immediately joined the Philadelphia Flyers' staff as a scout. He was promoted to director of professional player personnel in 2002. He was seen as important to the Flyers' success in the early 2000s.

In 2006, Hextall moved to the Los Angeles Kings as vice president and assistant general manager. He also managed the Manchester Monarchs, the Kings' minor league team. On June 11, 2012, Hextall finally won a Stanley Cup as the Kings' assistant general manager.

On July 15, 2013, Hextall returned to the Flyers as assistant general manager. On May 7, 2014, he became the general manager of the Flyers. He held this position for over four years.

On February 9, 2021, Hextall became the new general manager for the Pittsburgh Penguins. His time with the Penguins ended on April 14, 2023, when he was fired.

Personal Life

Ron Hextall is married to Diane Ogibowski, a former figure skater. They have four children: Kristin, Brett, Rebecca, and Jeffrey.

His son, Brett Hextall, was drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes in 2008. He played four seasons in the minor leagues before retiring. If he had made it to the NHL, Brett would have been the second fourth-generation player in NHL history.

Ron's cousin, Leah Hextall, is an announcer for ESPN.

Awards and Honours

Records

NHL Records

• Most penalty minutes by a goaltender in a single season – 113 (1988–89)

Philadelphia Flyers Records

• Most career games played by a goaltender – 489
• Most career wins – 240
• Most career playoff wins – 45
• Most career points by a goaltender – 28
• Most career penalty minutes by a goaltender – 476

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

International Play