Playing career Georges Vézina

vézina while member of chicoutimi hockey club

on february 17, 1910, chicoutimi hockey club played exhibition match against montreal canadiens. though playing inferior team canadiens failed score goal, losing game. prompted joseph cattarinich, goaltender canadiens, convince team offer tryout georges vézina, chicoutimi s goaltender. vézina refused offer, staying in chicoutimi until canadiens returned in december of year. time convinced georges, along brother pierre, come montreal. 2 vézina brothers arrived on december 22, 1910. while pierre failed make team, georges impressed canadiens, use of stick block shots. vézina signed contract c$800 per season, , made professional debut december 31, 1910, against ottawa senators. play 16 games canadiens in 1910–11 season, finishing record of 8 wins , 8 losses, while allowing fewest goals in league.

georges vézina canadiens in career

the following season vézina again led league in goals against, winning 8 games, along 10 losses. vézina recorded first career shutout during 1912–13 season, defeating ottawa 6–0 on january 18, 1913, 1 of 9 wins in season. canadiens finished first in nha first time in 1913–14, in tie toronto blueshirts. once again, vézina led league fewest goals against, while posting 13 victories , 7 losses. under nha rules, first place team play in stanley cup finals, due tie first, canadiens had play two-game, total-goals series against toronto. vézina shut out blueshirts in first game, 2–0 win montreal, let in 6 goals in second game, allowing blueshirts play stanley cup, won.

after losing 14 games , finishing last in nha in 1914–15, vézina , canadiens won 16 games during 1915–16 season, placing team first in league. league leaders, canadiens earned right play in 1916 stanley cup finals, faced off against portland rosebuds, champions of rival pacific coast hockey association. canadiens defeated rosebuds 3 games 2 in best-of-five-games series, winning stanley cup first time in team history. vézina s second son born night of fifth game, coupled bonus of $238 each member of canadiens received championship, led him considering series pinnacle of career. following season vézina again led nha fewest goals against, fourth time in 7 years did so, helping canadiens again reach stanley cup finals, lost seattle metropolitans.

nhl

the nha gave way national hockey league (nhl) in november 1917, vézina , canadiens joining new league. on february 18, 1918, became first goaltender in nhl history record shutout, blanking torontos 9–0. on december 28, 1918, became first goaltender credited assist, on goal newsy lalonde, had picked puck after save vézina. finished season 12 wins, allowing fewest goals against. vézina set record, shared clint benedict of ottawa senators, fewest shutouts needed lead league, one.

in 1918–19 vézina won 10 games , helped canadiens defeat ottawa senators in nhl playoffs right play stanley cup against pcha champion, seattle metropolitans. held in seattle, 2 teams tied in best-of-five series when cancelled due spanish flu epidemic, first time stanley cup not awarded. in 10 playoff games prior cancellation, vézina had won 6 games, lost 3 , tied one, 1 shutout. vézina recorded identical records next 2 seasons, 13 wins, 11 losses , goals against average above 4 in both 1919–20 , 1920–21. won 12 games following season, canadiens again failed qualify stanley cup.

georges vézina c. 1919–21. led canadiens first 2 stanley cup championships.

after winning 13 games in 1922–23, vézina led canadiens nhl playoffs, lost two-game, total-goal series senators, win stanley cup. following season saw vézina return leading league in fewest goals against. average of 1.97 goals per game first time goaltender had averaged fewer 2 goals against per game. 13-win season in 1923–24, canadiens reached nhl playoffs, again faced ottawa senators. time canadiens won series, defeated vancouver maroons of pcha before reaching stanley cup finals first time in 5 years. playing calgary tigers of western canada hockey league, vézina , canadiens won best-of-three series 2 games none, vézina recorded shutout in second game. championship canadiens first member of nhl , second title club. after 17-win season in 1924–25 vézina recorded goals-against average of 1.81 again lead league, canadiens reached stanley cup finals. canadiens qualified after hamilton tigers, regular season champions, suspended refusing play in playoffs unless paid more. facing victoria cougars, canadiens lost series 3 games one.

returning montreal training camp 1925–26 season, vézina noticeably ill, though said nothing it. time of canadiens first game on november 28 against pittsburgh pirates, had lost 35 pounds in span of 6 weeks, , had fever of 102 fahrenheit. regardless, took ice, , completed first period without allowing goal. vézina began vomiting blood in intermission before returning start of second period. collapsed in goal area, , left game, former u.s. olympic team goaltender alphonse lacroix taking place.

the day after game, vézina diagnosed tuberculosis , advised return home. made last trip canadiens dressing room on december 3 final goodbye teammates. dandurand later describe vézina sitting in corner of dressing room tears rolling down cheeks. looking @ old pads , skates eddie dufour [the canadiens trainer] had arranged in georges corner. then, asked 1 little favour—the sweater had worn in last world series. vézina returned hometown of chicoutimi wife marie, died in hours on saturday, march 27, 1926, @ l hôtel-dieu hospital. though played 1 period canadiens during entire season, team honoured entire $6,000 salary, testament how important vézina had been team.