Blackhawks Goalies: The Post War Years

1946-57: Hard Times in the Windy City

The years following the Second World War weren't kind to the Chicago Black Hawks. In a span of twelve years from 1946 to 1958 they would make the playoffs only once. During this time, several goaltenders would suit up for the Hawks. Some of the more notable ones were Emile "The Cat" Francis, "Sugar Jim" Henry, Frank "Mr. Zero" Brimsek, Harry "Apple Cheeks" Lumley and Elwin Ira "Al" Rollins (above).

Francis played parts of two seasons in Chicago before being dealt to the New York Rangers for Sugar Jim Henry who had bounced back and forth between the NHL and the minors. He played just one year in Chicago and was part of a package of players sent to Detroit for Harry Lumley.

Lumley, who installed pockets on his goal pads in order to prevent rebounds, would have his best years in Toronto. After two terms with the Hawks he was traded to the Maple Leafs on September 11, 1952 for a package of players including Al Rollins. He would go on to win the Vezina in 1954.

Before the swap to Chicago, Toronto boss Conn Smythe had brought Rollins in to push incumbent Turk Broda whose game was suffering after packing on a few pounds. The thinking being that with Rollins looking over his shoulder, Broda would be forced to lose weight.

Rollins backstopped the Hawks to their first playoff appearance in 1953, finishing a close second to "Mr. Hockey" Gordie Howe in the race for the Hart trophy. The following year he claimed the Hart for himself. By 1957, he was at odds with Hawks GM Tommy Ivan and was promptly shipped to the Calgary Stampeders of the WHL.

A Look Blackhawks Goalies: The War Years

1939-42: Sam LoPresti

After the suspension of "Iron" Mike Karakas in 1939, Paul Goodman took the reins and finished the season as the Black Hawks netminder.

The following year, the 35 year-old Goodman split the goaltending duties with youngster Sam LoPresti (above). The year after that LoPresti played all but one game for the Hawks.

LoPresti holds a couple of dubious distinctions: He was the first ever goalie in NHL history to be pulled in favor of an extra attacker and he still holds the record for most shots faced in a game. On March 4, 1941 LoPresti allowed 3 goals on a whopping 83 shots faced against the Boston Bruins. After the game, Bruins forward Johnny Crawford had this to say of LoPresti's performance "He was good alright...if he hadn't been good, he wouldn' be alive now."

1942-46: Karakas II

In 1942, Sam LoPresti went off to war. While serving aboard a merchant ship, he was torpedoed and spent an incredible 42 days floating in a lifeboat in the Atlantic before he was rescued. He would return to play hockey again, but his days in Chicago were done.

The Hawks, in need of a goaltender for the 42-43 season, traded cash to the Montreal Canadiens for the rights to Bert Gardiner. Montreal retained the right to re-purchase Gardiner however, and by the end of the 42-43 campaign he was headed back to Montreal.

Chicago opened the 43-44 stretch with young Hec Highton in goal. By midseason the team was floundering at 10-14 and Highton's GAA was at an inflated 4.50. In an attempt to salvage the season, the Hawks brought back a familiar face. On January 7, 1944, the Chicago Black Hawks sent Highton, Gord Buttrey and ten thousand bucks to the AHL's Providence Reds in exchange for "Iron" Mike Karakas (below).

The move paid off as Karakas backstopped the Hawks to a 12-9-5 record to finish the season at 22-25-9. They easily beat Detroit 4 games to 1 to earn a berth in the Stanley Cup Final against a young Maurice "Rocket" Richard and the Montreal Canadiens. Unfortunately, Karakas and the Black Hawks weren't able to rekindle the magic of 1938 and were swept in final 4-0.

Karakas had come full circle returning to the club that once suspended him for refusing to report to Providence. In 1939, the Stanley Cup winning goaltender asked the Hawks for 500 bucks and they denied his request opting instead to ship him out.

Iron Mike played the next two seasons as the Hawks number-one, but never made it back to the Stanley Cup Finals. He retired from the NHL in 1946, but went on to play two more years in Providence.

He finally got some due when he was named as an original member of United States Hockey Hall of Fame. RTB isn't sure if he ever got the $500.

A Look Blackhawks Goalies: The Early Years

Its saturday and RTB is tired of all the front office crap so we are taking a stroll down memory lane looking at some goalies who have donned the indian head.

1926-27: Black Hawks First Season

Acquired for cash from the Vancouver Millionaires on October 9, 1926, Frederick Hugh Lehman (left) has the distinction of being the first ever goaltender to suit up for the Hawks.

Known as "Old Eagle Eyes", Lehman was a veteran of 2o professional seasons when he joined the expansion Blackhawks for the 1926-27 season. He played 44 games that first year posting a 2.49 goals against average to go along with 19 wins and 5 shutouts. A good puckhandler, he is credited with being the first goalie to regularly pass the puck up to his teammates.

1927-34: Black Hawks capture their first Stanley Cup

In 1927, twenty-two year old Charles Robert "Chuck" Gardiner took over the goaltending duties from an aging Hugh Lehman. Originally pencilled in to be Lehman's understudy, the kid with lightning fast reflexes quickly pushed past Lehman to become Chicago's number one.

In his first two seasons in the Hawks net, Gardiner would find the win column just 13 times in 84 starts. It was a rough beginning for a young goalie playing on some bad teams, but better days lay ahead.

He was named to his first All-Star team in 30-31, the following season an emerging Gardiner captured his first Vezina trophy and was elected to a second All-Star team.

By the 1933-34 season, Chuck Gardiner had arrived. Named captain of the Hawks that year, he would lead his team through the now 48 game regular season notching 20 wins and posting 1.63 goals against. In the playoffs he was clutch. The Hawks knocked off both Montreal teams, the Canadiens and the Maroons, en route to the Stanley Cup Final against the hated Red Wings.

Chicago would go on to win the series 3 games to 1 and capture their first Stanley Cup.

Gardiner was brilliant throughout the playoffs posting a miniscule 1.33 goals against average. He won six of the eight games he played, including a double overtime shutout victory in the Cup clinching game. He was awarded his second Vezina and named to his fourth All-Star team.

Sadly, just weeks after winning the Stanley Cup, Gardiner died of a brain hemorrhage, he was just 29 years old.

1934-35: Lorne Chabot

The Black Hawks entered the 1934-35 campaign with heavy hearts.

They were the defending champs, but had lost their All-Star goalie and team captain. On October 3, 1934 the Hawks sent Lionel Conacher, Roger Jenkins and Leroy Goldsworthy to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Howie Morenz, Marty Burke and goaltender Lorne Chabot.

Chabot who was known to shave before every game because he felt that stitches were less likely to leave scars on a fresh shaved face, would play only one season in the windy city and was subsequently dealt back to the Canadiens on February 8, 1936. One week later he was traded again.

For his part, Chabot played well during his short stay in Chicago. He won his only Vezina as a member of the Hawks that year and posted sparkling numbers: 26 wins 1.80 goals against in the regular season, shrinking to 0.48 in the playoffs.

1935-40: The Karakas Era

An injury to Lorne Chabot paved the way for a young Minnesotan to man the Chicago goal in 1935.

"Iron" Mike Karakas, a native of Minnesota, had been playing with the Tulsa Oilers of the old American Hockey Association when he got the chance to play in the show. After 4 wins in 4 games, three of them shutouts, he was made the full time goalkeeper in Chi Town.

Praised for his quick glove and uncanny balance, Karakas went on to win the Calder trophy as rookie of the year in 35-36. He finished that season with 21 wins, 9 shutouts and a gleaming 1.85 goals against mark.

Two years later, the Black Hawks limped into the playoffs with a record of 14-25-9 and stunned the hockey world with their march to a second Stanley Cup championship. Karakas suffered a broken toe and missed the first two games of the Stanley Cup final against Toronto. Chicago won the first one and lost the second. "Iron Mike" returned for games three and four wearing a steel toe boot to protect his foot and led the Hawks to wins in both games. Handing the Indian Heads the Stanley Cup.

After leading the Hawks to a championship in 1938, Karakas asked the Hawks for a $500 dollar raise which was refused and he was soon on his way out of Chicago. In 1939, he was suspended by the Hawks for refusing a demotion to Providence. The suspension was lifted by the league and he was sent out on loan to the Montreal Canadiens.

RTB: My 2 cents on the Tallon demotion.

Hockey is a business, you hear it all the time and it is true at least at the professional level.

As team President, John McDonough is directly responsible to Rocky Wirtz. He oversees the administrative side of the Hawks. Wirtz is the Chairman of the Board, the man with the money as it were. Wirtz delegates the responsibility of running the organization to McD and because of that he is ultimately responsible for how the organization performs on and off the ice.

The Tallon thing was tough because he has done such a good job building the team and he is so popular with the fans. Presidents must ultimately make tough decisions, even unpopular ones for the good of the team.

The whole thing with the Hawks' RFAs not getting their qualifying offers on time ultimately falls on Tallon. Whether or not he personally did or didn't mail them doesn't matter. At the time he was the general manager and it was his duty to ensure that the RFAs were qualified on time. It didn't happen and he is ultimately responsible.

This blunder cost the Hawks money, and cap space and it embarrassed the organization. Since it was Tallon's department that was at fault, he took the fall.

Don't get me wrong, RTB loves Tallon and thinks his re-assignment might have been a bit harsh, but thats business. His demotion makes RTB think of the time Mr. Lumberg moved Milton down to the basement, for those who know the movie Office Space. It sucks, but Tallon fucked up and needs to be held accountable. I don't like it any more than the next guy, but that is what it is. This whole thing should never have happened.

Fittingly, the Hawks promoted Bowman who's known as capologist, which is just what the Hawks are going to need going forward. Next year we will need to re-sign Kane, Toews and Keith and we are hard against the cap.

I just hope Stan is The Man to get it done.

Thats my 2 coppers.

"RFA-gate" costs Tallon his job, Part 4

And finally, Part 4.

"RFA-gate" costs Tallon his job, Part 3

Part 3.

"RFA-gate" costs Tallon his job, Part 2

Part 2 of the Press Conference.