The hockey world is mourning the loss of one of its most iconic and resilient figures. Glenn Hall, the Saskatchewan-born goaltending legend nicknamed "Mr. Goalie," passed away on Tuesday at the age of 94. Hall's Hall of Fame career was defined by an unmatched ironman streak, revolutionary technique, and a visceral, often painful, dedication to his craft.
The Ironman and the Iconic Photo
Glenn Hall's legacy is forever etched in hockey history, both for his unparalleled durability and his unfortunate place in its most famous image. He is the player in the bottom left corner of the iconic 1970 photograph, regaining his footing as Bobby Orr flies through the air after scoring the Stanley Cup-winning goal for the Boston Bruins. While Orr dominated the frame, Hall, in his St. Louis Blues gear, symbolized the goaltender's eternal truth: even the very best get beaten.
His resilience, however, is captured in a record that many believe will stand forever: 502 consecutive starts between 1955 and 1962. This incredible ironman streak was accomplished during hockey's largely maskless era, a testament to a toughness that bordered on the superhuman.
A Bloody, Nerve-Wracking Profession
Hall's career was a testament to playing through extreme pain and anxiety. He perfected the butterfly style and possessed otherworldly reflexes, earning three Vezina Trophies and a record seven First-Team All-Star selections. But the cost was high.
He absorbed an estimated 250 to 300 facial stitches from flying pucks and sticks, with many repairs done between periods. He lost teeth and played through illness. The psychological toll was equally severe. Hall was famously afflicted with pre-game nerves so intense they caused him to vomit regularly. The Detroit Red Wings were said to keep an empty bucket on the bench for him. "I'm always known for the streak and for throwing up," Hall lamented in a 2005 interview. "Nobody would say 'Hey, he's a great goaltender.' They just talked about me throwing up."
Rival goaltender Gump Worsley once quipped that when Hall was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, "they ought to put his bucket on exhibit too." Teammates also recounted how Hall would lash out in his sleep on airplanes, his legs reflexively trying to stop phantom pucks.
From Humboldt to Hockey Immortality
Glenn Hall's journey began in Humboldt, Saskatchewan. He started as a defenceman but switched to goal because of weak ankles, quickly discovering his destiny. His prodigious talent emerged with the Humboldt Indians junior team, setting him on a path to the NHL.
He was the NHL's rookie of the year in 1955-56 after playing every game for the Detroit Red Wings. His 18-year career spanned Detroit, the Chicago Blackhawks, and finally the St. Louis Blues. He finally adopted a mask in 1968 at age 37, after years of battering, and wore it through his final game in 1971.
His home province never forgot him. Humboldt held a special day in his honour in 1961 when he was just 29. Today, the town features Glenn Hall Park and Glenn Hall Drive. He is enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto and provincial sports halls in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
In his later years on a farm in Stony Plain, Alberta, Hall remained the same blunt, self-effacing character. Of the famous Orr photo displayed in his home, he remarked, "I was showered, changed and on the bus before he hit the ice."
Glenn Hall, the man who vomited his way to stardom, shed pieces of his face for the game, and set a standard of durability that may never be matched, was a goaltender for the ages. He was a foundational figure from Saskatchewan who left an indelible mark on hockey history.
