Gerry Cheevers

Gerald Michael Cheevers, born December 7, 1940, was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League and the World Hockey Association between 1961 and 1980. He began in minor hockey at St. Catharines and, at age 16 in 1956, joined the Toronto St. Michael's Majors of the Ontario Hockey Association. After appearing in single games across his first two seasons and six games in 1958–59, he became the Majors' starting goaltender in 1959–60, going 18–13–5 with a 3.08 goals against average and winning the Dave Pinkney award.

Cheevers is best known for his two stints with the Boston Bruins, whom he helped win the Stanley Cup in 1970 and 1972. Across the NHL and WHA he won more than 300 games. He was the first goaltender to decorate his mask with stitch markings drawn wherever a puck had struck it, a practice that led to the contemporary tradition of goaltenders decorating their masks.

Following his retirement, Cheevers coached the Bruins from 1980 to 1985. He later worked as a commentator for both the Hartford Whalers and the Bruins. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985.