RIP Tony Esposito
Hockey Ping!
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Posted on 08/10/2021 5:22:17 PM PDT by rickmichaels
Tony Esposito, the pioneering Hall of Fame goaltender who played almost his entire 16-year career with the Chicago Blackhawks, has died following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer, the team announced Tuesday. He was 78.
Esposito debuted with Montreal during the 1968-69 season and appeared in 13 games. He was then left unprotected with the Canadiens deep in goalies and taken by the Blackhawks in an intraleague draft for $25,000, an investment that paid immediate dividends for a team that finished last in its division.
Esposito helped lead the Blackhawks to first place, showcasing his butterfly style to post a 2.17 goals-against average and 15 shutouts, still a modern record for an NHL goalie. He won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year as well as the Vezina Trophy given to the top goaltender. He also won the Vezina in 1972 and 1974.
``Tony was one of the most important and popular figures in the history of the franchise as we near its 100th anniversary,'' Blackhawks Chairman Rocky Wirtz said. ``Four generations of our family — my grandfather Arthur, my father Bill, my son Danny and I — were blessed by his work ethic as a Hall of Fame goalie, but more importantly, by his mere presence and spirit.''
(Excerpt) Read more at sportsnet.ca ...
For what its worth. This guy is real and so is his story. He make no money off this.
https://www.fenbenlab.com/product/fenbendazole-powder/
One of my brothers only lasted 2 months.
Before that you could recognize them by their faces.
Sitting in the side balcony of the 49th St. Garden, we would look down on the ice and recognize the skaters by their hair styles. With only six teams in the league, one could recotnize just about every one.
A Michigan Tech graduate. RIP!
The real problem with pancreatic cancer is there is no easy way to screen for it. Lung cancer is relatively easy to screen. A low powered x ray once a year, if you belong to a high risk group,can save your life. Prostate and colon are also easy to screen, if a little unpleasant. But the Pancreas is tough because the cells that turn cancerous are hidden deep inside. By the time people present to the doctor because of symptoms it’s already everywhere. Although I have read new /non invasive ways of screening are being researched or in early stage trials.
One of the goalies for Team Canada in the 1972 summit series. He and his brother Phil were instrumental players. Ken Dryden was the other goalie. RIP
I hate this cancer. It killed my mother in 3 months and now I look in the mirror daily to see if I detect any jaundice in my face. Deadly and scary.
Oh man.
I remember his brother Phil played for the Boston Bruins. ‘Espo’ they called him. Big guy, black hair and back when they didn’t wear helmets. Circa late 60’s - 70’s for the Esposito hockey brothers. My mother’s maiden name too although not directly related.
The Gumpster!
LOL!
Yes, it is cold up there, but...I had a damn fine time! Lots of drinking from the plastic Bon Homme canes filled with alcohol...and those damned plastic horns that you hear at soccer games!
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I lived in Chicago and was at many a Blackhawk games rooting for Tony’s brother Phil Esposito. RIP TONY ESPOSITO! THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES
RIP, Tony. Thanks for the memories and your God-given talent.
Yup- i was a Rangers season ticket holder until the early 90’s then I got bored. Expansion plus players names I couldn’t pronounce watered down the product for me.
To this Eddie Giacomin is my favorite.
About three years ago i bought a DVD collection of all the games from that series- awesome. Dryden also wrote a book about that series called “Faceoff at the Summit.” Great book I read decades ago as a kid but still remember.
https://www.amazon.com/Face-off-at-summit-Ken-Dryden/dp/0316193607
Panc cancer does not come on quickly...its usually there, growing, but you get vague symptoms so its not diagnosed early.
A good choice, my FRiend...
A good choice.
Sigh. I miss old time hockey. I admit to loving the stereotype of “SlapShot”...:)
My Japanese brother-in-law was diagnosed with stage 4 two months ago . He’s home now but won’t be long .
I was 12YO when that movie came out. My parents took me ONLY because they knew how much i loved hockey and i was absolutely thrilled a movie about hockey was being released.
The thing i remember most is a few months after seeing that movie i was sitting 10th row center for opening night of Led Zeppelin at Madison Square Garden....
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