Harry Lumley (ice Hockey) - NHL Career

NHL Career

Lumley made his professional debut in the National Hockey League, however, with the New York Rangers in the 1943–44 season, when he was loaned to the Rangers for a single game. He was the youngest goaltender to play in the NHL, as he was 17 years old.

In the 1950 playoffs, Lumley led the Red Wings to a Stanley Cup championship, recording three shut-outs and a 1.85 GAA in fourteen games. After his performance, however, Jack Adams traded Lumley to the Chicago Black Hawks; Terry Sawchuk became the new goaltender for the Red Wings.

After playing with the Chicago Black Hawks for two seasons, he was again traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 1953–54 season, Lumley won the Vezina Trophy, presented annually to the NHL's best goalie, with a GAA of 1.86. His 13 shutouts that year was a modern National Hockey League record that stood until Chicago's Tony Esposito recorded 15 in 1969–70. Lumley was also named First All-Star Team Goaltender in the 7th National Hockey League All-Star Game.

In 1956, Lumley was traded back to Chicago. He refused to play in Chicago and played the next 3 years in the American Hockey League. He played with the Buffalo Bisons and the Providence Reds. Lumley would return to the National Hockey League in 1957 with the Boston Bruins. He played irregularly with them from 1957 to 1960 as he rotated his duties with Don Simmons. He would play one final season with the Winnipeg Warriors in the Western Hockey League.

After a long and successful stint with the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Black Hawks, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Boston Bruins Lumley finished his playing career with the Boston Bruins. He retired after the 1959–60 NHL season with 330 wins, 329 losses, 142 ties, and a 2.76 GAA. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1980. After retiring, Lumley was a longtime co-owner of the successful Orangeville Raceway. He died on September 13, 1998, of a heart attack.

Came up with the idea of making a pocket at shin level in goalie pads so pucks would drop straight on the ice instead of deflecting off them to an opponent.