Lorne "Gump" Worsley: The Story of an Icon & NHL Players with the Most Cups
Also, some "Today in Hockey History", revisiting the Oilers' dubious 2012 Draft, and more.
Welcome to the THW Hockey History Substack newsletter, with all the best from our extensive archives.
Surprising Rookie Goaltenders in the Playoffs: Canadiens' Ken Dryden
By Matthew Zator (THW Premium Content)
Dryden became an icon in Montreal after his heroics as a rookie in the 1971 Playoffs, winning his first of six Stanley Cups
Today in Hockey History: May 15
May 15 goes down as one of the most intriguing dates in National Hockey League history. There was so much more than just the exciting moments on the ice that makes it a memorable date. The league announced some significant expansion teams, one of the most lopsided trades ever occurred, and one team made a franchise-altering draft pick. The THW time machine is warmed up and ready to take us back through the years to relive all the best moments.
Lorne “Gump” Worsley: The Story of an Icon
Lorne “Gump” Worsley, born and raised in Montreal, was the last NHL goalie to play without a mask. “My face is my mask,” he would say, refusing to don facial protection. He acquired the nickname Gump as a youngster due to his facial resemblance to Andy Gump, a cartoon character of the time.
Today in Hockey History: May 14
May 14 has been a very busy day in the history of the National Hockey League. This date has seen a little bit of everything between historic comebacks, series-clinching wins, broken records, and awards being handed out. Let’s start our daily trip back in time to enjoy all the memories.
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10 NHL Players with the Most Stanley Cups
According to numbers obtained from NHL Records, there have been 1,090 players to win the Stanley Cup, with 467 players (42%) winning it more than once. Interestingly, the further we dig into the numbers, only 195 skaters have won the silver chalice more than twice, meaning that 17% of winners are members of one of the most exclusive clubs in league history.
Revisiting the Edmonton Oilers’ Dubious 2012 Draft After 12 Years
Every year when the draft approaches, little is different than 12 years ago when the 2012 NHL Draft was all anyone in Edmonton talked about for months beforehand. There had been nothing else during the 2011-12 season to get excited about with an Oilers team that finished with the NHL’s second-worst record. Once Edmonton was awarded the first overall pick by winning the draft lottery, anticipation reached a new feverish level.