The legendary “goalkeeper” Glenn Hall died at the age of 94

Hall of Fame goaltender Glenn Hall, whose remarkable streak of 502 consecutive regular season games remains one of the most enduring records in professional sports, died on Wednesday in hospital in Stony Plain, Alberta, at age 94. With playoff games included, Hall has started an incredible 552 consecutive contests.

“Glenn Hall was the definition of what all hockey goalies aspire to be. Aptly nicknamed ‘Mr. Goaltender,’ Glenn was tough, reliable and a spectacular talent in net,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. “He set the bar for consistency with an Ironman goaltending record of 502 consecutive regular season games played for the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. That record, set from 1955-56 to 1962-63, still stands, probably always will, and is almost unfathomable — especially when you consider he did it all without a mask.

“Glenn was a true star, whose career was filled with accomplishments and accolades. From the moment he stepped foot in the NHL, Hall excelled. He won the Calder Trophy with the Red Wings, earned every win for the Blackhawks in their run to the 1961 Stanley Cup, and won the St. Louis A’s in the Conn S final. a seven-time, first-team NHL All-Star – an honor bestowed upon him more than any other goaltender – Hall is an honorary member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and was selected as one of the 100 best players in the NHL.

“The National Hockey League family mourns the passing of a legend of the game and extends our sincere condolences to Glenn’s children Pat, Lindsay, Tammy and Leslie, and to the entire Hall family.

Born on October 3, 1931 in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, Hall began his hockey career in the youth leagues before moving up to the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey Association from 1949 to 1951. He spent multiple seasons in the minors, with the Indianapolis F N Capitals and Edmon, before making his NHL debut with the Indianapolis N Capitals, Edmon W. December 27, 1952 against the Montreal Canadiens. Hall, then just 21 years old, played that game wearing borrowed equipment after his own equipment failed to arrive. Regardless, he helped the Red Wings to a 2-2 tie and finished his brief rookie call-up with four wins, a tie, a shutout and a 1.67 goals-against average.

Hall’s official rookie season came in 1955-56, when he compiled a 12-goal campaign with a 2.10 goals-against average, winning the Calder Memorial Trophy. He became Detroit’s starting goaltender after Terry Sawchuk was traded to the Boston Bruins and showed remarkable durability, starting all 70 games that season. By 1957, Hall had started and finished 140 consecutive regular season games before being traded to the Chicago Blackhawks along with forward Ted Lindsay.

During his decade in Chicago, Hall truly earned the nickname “Mr. Goalie,” capturing seven first-team All-Star nods and winning the Vezina Trophy twice, in 1962-63 and 1966-67. In 1961, he led the Black Hawks to their first Stanley Cup since 1938, knocking off the Montreal Canadiens in the semifinals and beating Detroit in the final. Hall played without a mask for most of his career, pioneering what became known as the butterfly style, dropping to his knees with pads spread wide to cover the lower net while relying on his gloves to protect high shots. His style later influenced goalkeepers like Tony Esposito and Patrick Roy.

At age 35, Hall was taken by the St. Louis Blues in the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft. He helped the fledgling franchise reach the Stanley Cup Finals in his first three seasons, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1968 despite the Blues’ loss to Montreal, stopping 140 of 151 shots in the Finals series. Hall shared the Vezina Trophy with Jacques Plante in 1968-69 and his career ended in 1971 with a record of 407 wins, 326 losses, 164 ties, 84 shutouts and a 2.50 goals against average in 906 regular season games.

Hall’s achievements surpassed records. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975, had his number retired by the Blackhawks in 1988, was named one of the NHL’s 100 Greatest Players in 2017, and was inducted into the St. Louis Blues Hall of Fame in 2023. After retirement, he remained involved as a goaltending consultant for the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers, while also managing his farm in Stony Plain.

Hall and his wife Pauline were married for 55 years before her death in 2009. He is survived by their four children: Pat, Leslie, Tammy and Lindsay.