Gump Worsley

At 77 years old, Gump Worsley has this physical status:

Lorne John "Gump" Worsley (May 14, 1929 – January 26, 2007) was a professional ice hockey goaltender.

'Gump' was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, because family friends believed he looked like comedic-strip character Andy Gump.

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Career

Worsley spent four years in the minor leagues, most notably for the New York Rovers of the Eastern Hockey League (EHL), the St. Paul Saints of the United States Hockey League (USHL), and the Saskatoon Quakers of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He received First Team All-Star and Top Goaltender awards for three seasons in a row from 1950 to 1952.

He was signed by the New York Rangers of the NHL in 1952; despite being on a last-place squad, he was named as the year's rookie of the year. However, after asking for a $500 per year salary increase, he was immediately returned to the minor leagues the following season. He received the league's Most Valuable Player award in 1954, while playing for the Vancouver Canucks of the WHL.

Worsley returned as the Rangers' starting goaltender in 1954, beating out future NHL star Johnny Bower. He played for the Rangers for the next nine seasons, usually for poor-performing teams, despite wearing the traditional number one for goaltenders. Worsley made 43 saves in the Chicago Blackhawks' season opener against the Chicago Blackhawks, a franchise record.

He became involved in a proposed players' union in 1963 and was subsequently traded to the Montreal Canadiens. Although he was relegated to the minor-league Quebec Aces for portions of two seasons —and notably winning First Team All-Star awards in the AHL in 1964, he spent his remaining years with the Canadiens, including 1965, 1966, 1968, and 1969. He had his best season in 1968, when he followed up a Vezina-winning appearance and a career-low 1.98 goals-against average by going undefeated in the playoffs with eleven straight victories. However, he was involved in a spat with general manager Sam Pollock over being demoted to the minors; head coach Claude Ruel's decision to favour Rogatien Vachon (who like Worsley and was also a future Hall of Fame goaltender) over Worsley right away, causing him to leave in the midst of the 1969–70 season. He was suspended for failure to report to the Canadiens' Montreal Voyageurs farm team, but Phil Myre took his place.

Worsley was lured by the Minnesota North Stars to perform in tandem with Cesare Maniago; he spent five years as a professional footballer before retiring at the age of 44 in 1973. He played for the North Stars in 1972, when he was ranked second in the league with a 2.12 goals-against average. Worsley, the second goaltender to have won 300 games and lost 300 games since Harry Lumley, was the second goaltender to play in the 25th National Hockey League All-Star Game. Several other goalkeepers followed this feat.

Worsley was known for his wry sense of humor and a host of eccentricities. "Which team gives you the most pain?" he began with the Rangers' regular shootings of 40–50 per night. "The New York Rangers" retaliate in his reply. Rangers' coach Phil Watson of having a beer belly replied, "Just goes to tell you what he knows." I only drink Johnnie Walker Red."

Worsley was vehemently opposed to wearing a mask. He was the second-to-last professional hockey goaltender to play without a mask. Andy Brown of the Indianapolis Racers was the last player to wear a mask in the last six games of his career. Worsley told reporters: "My face is my mask." When asked why he went without, Worsley said, "My face is my shield."

Worsley was also famous for his apprehensions of flying. On November 25, 1968, while en route to Los Angeles, he suffered a nervous breakdown after a rough flight from Montreal's Dorval Airport to Chicago. A stewardess on landing came across the PA system and said that passengers would request refunds for drycleaning if they wanted to request them back, so they should submit receipts. "Does that include underwear?" Gump said. He underwent psychiatric therapy and missed out on litigation. Since retiring from retirement to play for the North Stars, he was promised, and the team traveled less than any other in the continent.

Worsley began his career as a youth with Westmount and was an excellent soccer player. He was a member of the Montreal youth all-star team in 1948. He soon attracted attention as a promising young player; the following year, he transferred to McMasterville in the Montreal League; the following year, he stayed there. He was chosen to play in a trial game in which the Montreal all-stars were selected to play for Fulham in 1951.

He was a center forward for the Saskatoon All-stars against England's touring Tottenham Hotspur. He joined Montréal Hakoah FC in 1953 and helped his new club advance to the Canadian final, but the Westminster Royals lost the three-game series to the Westminster Royals. In 1954, Joe Armstrong continued his soccer career with the Montreal Vickers. His dad was also a good soccer player and received a Canadian championship medal with Montreal Grand Trunk in 1919.

Worsley sustained multiple injuries during his career, including: a near-term back injury while playing with Vancouver, Alberta; a severed leg syndrome in 1966; a pulled hamstring; and a fractured fingertip in 1966; a broken hamstring; and a missed leg in the 1960 playoffs; and a broken finger in 1961; and a pulled hamstring that eventually slowed him; a pulled hamstring; a pulled hamstring; and a In Montreal's Royal Victoria Hospital, Bobby Hull's explosion to the forehead had him unconscious. Gump said, "Good thing the puck hit me right away" as he awakened.

Career statistics

* Stanley Cup champion.

"Gump Worsley's stats" says the author. Goaltender Home Page. Retrieved 2017-08-07.

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