Terry Sawchuk
Terry Sawchuk was a celebrated Canadian ice hockey goaltender, born on December 28, 1929, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He began his journey in hockey at a young age, influenced by his older brother, and quickly demonstrated exceptional skill that caught the attention of scouts in the local leagues. By the age of 17, he turned professional, becoming a standout player with teams like the Omaha Knights and later the Detroit Red Wings. Sawchuk's unique crouching style and remarkable agility led him to earn numerous accolades, including the Calder Trophy for best rookie and three Vezina Trophies for outstanding goaltending. Despite his on-ice success, Sawchuk's life was marked by personal struggles, including emotional challenges and injuries, which ultimately affected his career. Tragically, he passed away in an accident related to a playful incident with a teammate. His legacy remains significant in the world of hockey, where his contributions to goaltending are still celebrated, and he is honored in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Terry Sawchuk
Hockey Player
- Born: December 28, 1929
- Birthplace: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Died: May 31, 1970
- Place of death: New York, New York
Sport: Ice hockey
Early Life
Terrance Gordon Sawchuk was born on December 28, 1929, in the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. His father, a tinsmith, worked hard to support the family, but everyone had to contribute. Terry was working at odd jobs by the age of fourteen. The money he earned from work at the local foundry and a sheet metal company was usually taken home and handed over to his mother. She, in turn, gave Terry his allowance out of his earnings.
Throughout all of this, Terry still found time to play hockey. He started playing goalie early in life mainly because his brother Michael, seven years his senior, played goalie for his school. The local league in which he played was sponsored by the Detroit Red Wings, so there was no shortage of scouts to gauge his progress. By the age of fifteen, he was playing Junior League for the Winnipeg Rangers, where the maximum age limit was twenty years old.
The Road to Excellence
Terry played one season for Detroit’s farm club in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and then, at the age of seventeen, turned professional. His first professional club, the Omaha Knights of the United States Hockey League, was far from home, but Terry did well and adjusted to the life of a professional hockey player. In 1947, his first year at Omaha, Terry was named rookie of the year. This performance prompted a promotion, and the following season Terry was playing for Indianapolis of the American Hockey League. At this higher league, the competition was tougher and gradually prepared the young goalkeeper for future duty in the big leagues.
Two seasons later, during the 1950-1951 season, Detroit goalie Harry Lumley was injured and Terry was called up to replace him. Terry finished the season in fine fashion, allowing only 16 goals in seven games. The following season, Detroit traded Lumley and Terry became the number-one goalie on the team. The fans backed Terry as the number-one goalie, amazed at the results he got from the unorthodox, crouching style that he brought to the position of keeper. He claimed that his low crouch helped him see the puck and the play better. This style and his lightning quickness won Terry and his teammates many awards.
The Emerging Champion
During his rookie year, Terry barely missed earning the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the goalie who allows the fewest goals per game over the course of the season. As it turned out, Terry was the unanimous selection for the Calder Trophy, which is awarded to the best rookie. The next season, instead of suffering the sophomore jinx, Terry came back with even a better season than his rookie year. He lowered his goals against average to 1.90 and had twelve shutouts while capturing the Vezina Trophy. His team won the Stanley Cup, given to the league champions.
During the early 1950’s, Terry was at the top of his game and was recognized as the premier goalie in the league. In one memorable game against the Montreal Canadiens, his Detroit team was outshot 43-12 yet managed to win the game by a score of 3-1. Most of the action during the game occurred in the Detroit zone, however, “the Flying Frenchmen from Montreal” were stymied on every attempt. Terry seemed to love playing the Canadiens and, in spite of the nervous disorders that plagued him throughout his career, he played his best against Montreal.
Terry played in 971 regular season games, 106 Stanley Cup games, and won the championship three times with Detroit and once after he was traded to Toronto. He also captured three Vezina Trophies with Detroit and shared one with Johnny Bower while in Toronto. He ended his career with 103 shutouts.
Continuing the Story
While all these good things were happening to Terry on the ice, his life away from hockey was usually a disaster. Two of his brothers died early in life, before they had a chance to see Terry play professionally. Terry was a moody man of extreme peaks and depths in his emotions. He had more than his share of injuries, illness, accidents, operations, and personal problems. His playing weight jumped between 146 pounds and 228 pounds, depending on the nature of Terry’s emotional state. He took his life seriously and when things did not go well, Terry took to drinking, which only worsened the other problems.
Throughout all of this there was one constant in Terry’s life, and that was hockey. His drive and determination to get back into the game helped him to overcome some injuries that would have ended the careers of less strong-willed men. Eventually, the stress of life became so extreme that Terry had to quit hockey for a while. A trade that separated his family took a further toll on his mental condition. A series of strange, but serious injuries kept occurring, interrupting a brilliant career. Finally, while horsing around with a fellow teammate at a barbecue, Terry fell and suffered fatal injuries. The final ruling was that his death was accidental.
Summary
In spite of the great talent Terry Sawchuk possessed, he was a troubled man. Even though he received the cheers of the fans and the high salary of a star player, his life was not complete. There were so many external disturbances that one has to wonder just what type of career Terry might have had if he had not been so troubled. In any case, his love of the game and determination took him all the way from the outdoor rinks of Winnipeg to the Hockey Hall of Fame. His crouched-over style revolutionized the art of goalkeeping and his records reflect nothing but greatness.
Bibliography
Diamond, Dan, and Eric Zweig. Hockey’s Glory Days: The 1950’s and ’60’s. Kansas City, Mo.: Andrews McMeel, 2003.
Dryden, Steve, and Michael Ulmer, eds. The Top One Hundred NHL Hockey Players of All Time. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1999.
Dupuis, David M. Sawchuk: The Troubles and Triumphs of the World’s Greatest Goalie. Toronto: Stoddart, 1998.
Fischler, Stan. Detroit Red Wings: Greatest Moments and Players. Champaign, Ill.: Sports, 2002.
Fischler, Stan, and Shirley Fischler. Who’s Who in Hockey. Kansas City, Mo.: Andrews McMeel, 2003.
Kendall, Brian. Shutout: The Legend of Terry Sawchuk. Toronto: Viking, 1996.