(GT) Goaltender Trivia Year Nine Week Eight

Well, I'm back from Phoenix - on the trip, I came this close (you can't
see my fingers, but they're verrry close together) to getting a ticket, and
this close to getting into a wreck.  But it was well worthwhile, and I needed
the recharge before returning for finals week here at Westminster (not to 
mention two more league games for my rec league team before the winter break).

Meet the new Goaltender Trivia champion - same as the old champion!  For
details, see below.

I mentioned in last week's edition that Kevin Hodson was retired - apparently,
he's snuck back on the radar.  Ville Makela tells me that he's the backup
for Jokerit Helsinki in the Finnish top league.  

If you saw Vesa Toskala's save on Raffi Torres (actually, it seems to be
a deflection off the stick of his own defenseman Kyle McLaren), you'll know
why I love goaltending so much.  Fantastic.  Also nice to have the doubleheader
on ESPN2 tonight - even if neither game produced a winner.

And if you saw Sidney Crosby's goal on Friday, you'll know why goaltenders
have cause for concern.  Incredible - people have tried that on me in
practice (it's never worked - heh) - but to see it done in a game was wild.
For what it's worth, I disagree completely with Don Cherry - if he shouldn't
be trying to score, then they should just call the game at that point and let
everyone go home.  Plus, his opponents had a real simple (note I didn't say
"easy") way to fix the problem - stop him.  

As the goaltender on a frequently-outmatched rec team, I take offense when the 
other team quits trying as hard as they can; it shows a lack of respect for my 
efforts.  

Anyhow, on to the answers from last week...

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GOALTENDER TRIVIA WEEK SEVEN (ANSWERS):

TWO-POINT QUESTION: Name the goaltenders in net for the first outdoor regular
season game in National Hockey League history.
CORRECT ANSWER: Jose Theodore of the Montreal Canadiens will forever go down
as the first goaltender to win an outdoor regular-season National Hockey
League game, played last Saturday on November 22.  Ty Conklin took the loss
for the Edmonton Oilers.  Ancillary information would be that the backup
goaltenders were Stephen Valiquette (EDM) and Mathieu Garon (MON).

THREE-POINT QUESTION: According to official National Hockey League records,
this goaltender was the shortest Hart Trophy winner in league history.
Name him.
CORRECT ANSWER: At a scant 5-foot-3, there was a good reason Roy Worters
was referred to as "Shrimp" in his playing days.  Roy took home the 1929
Hart Trophy, the first goaltender to do so, posting a 1.15 goals-against
average with thirteen shutouts.  Readers only familiar with today's hockey
would be surprised to know that neither total led the league.

FIVE-POINT QUESTION: Name the youngest goaltender to reach the 300-win 
(regular season) plateau in National Hockey League history.
CORRECT ANSWER: At 29 years and 224 days, New Jersey's Martin Brodeur
defeated the Ottawa Senators, 2-0, for his 300th victory.  Terry 
Sawchuk comes in second in this race, with Patrick Roy third, although
I think we can agree that all of them are truly winners (by definition).

BONUS QUESTION: What is the greatest number of goaltenders selected by
a single National Hockey League team in a single entry draft year?
CORRECT ANSWER: In 1977, the Montreal Canadiens selected seven goaltenders
in the entry draft - in order, Robert Holland, Richard Sevigny, Barry
Borrett, Mark Holden, Carey Walker, Jean Belisle and Bob Daly.  Three
made it to the National Hockey League, and only one - Sevigny - ever won
a game for the Canadiens.  Lest you feel sorry for les Habitants - who
had about a billion picks in this draft - they also selected Rod Langway
and Mark Napier.

PICTORIAL QUESTION: Identify the goaltender in the following picture:
http://www.hockeygoalies.org/trivia/pictures/week7.jpg
CORRECT ANSWER: This would be Gilles Gilbert, in his first season with
the Detroit Red Wings - it was the same mask he wore in his latter days
with the Bruins; compare it with the one on his biography page.

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Congrats to Tom!  Tom now has a hand in every GT title since the rebirth
of the competition, and he wins his twelfth overall!  Wow.

NOVEMBER 2003 LEADERS:
1.  Tom Mascioli            73
2.  Bryan McCready          70
3.  Jason Kurylo            68
4.  Neil Robinson           58
5.  Marie Armstrong         50
6.  John Santore            48
7.  Ville Makela            43
8.  Gilles Carmel           42
9.  Doug Simmons            40
10. Jim Shaarda             37

We had a tight battle this month, and there were also more competitors this
month than any time before! 

Well, prepare for December/January, folks...don't forget, I always combine
these two into a "megamonth", mainly because I'm away from my machine during
the Christmas/New Year's Day time.

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GOALTENDER TRIVIA YEAR NINE WEEK EIGHT (Answers due 10pm MDT 12/05/03):

TWO-POINT QUESTION: On November 8, Nikolai Khabibulin registered his twelfth 
shutout with the Tampa Bay Lightning, tying his franchise's career record.  
Who does Khabibulin presently share the mark with?

THREE-POINT QUESTION: Martin Brodeur currently has a streak of six seasons
with seventy or more regular season National Hockey League games.  Before
Brodeur, who was the last goaltender to record such a streak?

FIVE-POINT QUESTION: In the history of the National Hockey League, only
one goaltender has ever given up a regular-season overtime penalty shot
goal.  Name him.  

BONUS QUESTION: As of this writing, there is exactly one National Hockey
League franchise whose top two goaltenders are considered rookies by
the league.  Name the franchise.

PICTORIAL QUESTION: Identify the goaltender in the following picture:
http://www.hockeygoalies.org/trivia/pictures/week8.jpg

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Best of luck to you all!  If you want to be added to the list, just give 
me a ring...

Doug