Gerry McNeil

Though not a a Hockey Hall of Famer, Gerry McNeil played an important role in Montreal Canadiens history. He filled in in the nets between the Bill Durnan and Jacques Plante eras, winning the Stanley Cup in 1953.

Gerry McNeil was a longtime senior amateur goalkeeper with the Montreal Royals before getting his shot at the NHL. Despite playing up in Quebec, they only became interested in him after a suggestion from the long forgotten and hulking blue liner Mike McMahon.

McNeil arrived at about the same time was Bill Durnan. Obviously the Canadiens were proven correct in their choice of Durnan over McNeil. But the Canadiens were impressed enough to keep McNeil in their system. He would join the Royals and dominate the Quebec senior leagues. He would also get to know many of the Habs players, as he would often fill in in practices where an extra goaltender was needed.

By the end of his tenure Bill Durnan, one of the greatest goaltenders of all time, was not appreciated by fans in the Montreal Forum for some strange reason. The boobirds were on him much of 1949-50 despite the fact he would win his sixth Vezina Trophy in seven seasons that year. This, along with illness, caused Durnan to succumb to the goaltender's occupational disease---a nervous breakdown. He told coach Dick Irvin during the 1950 playoffs to replace him with McNeil and Durnan's playing days were over.

McNeil was sharp, but the Canadiens weren't and lost to the Rangers. McNeil played well in his first full season of 1950-51, as the Habs new goalkeeper but despite leading the Canadiens to the finals, Toronto won the Stanley Cup that year. McNeil was the goalie who surrendered Bill Barilko's now famous goal. Unfortunately a solid NHL career will always be overshadowed by that one goal.

1952-53 was McNeil's year of glory. He led the NHL in shutouts with 10 (tied with Harry Lumley) and got his goals against average down to 2.12. Despite missing 4 games with a hobbled ankle, he was sharp in the playoffs and led the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup, the Habs first since 1945-46.

Towards the end of the 1953-54 season though, McNeil lost his starting position to a young Jacques Plante. When the Canadiens were facing elimination against Detroit in the 1953-54 Stanley Cup finals, Plante was pulled by coach Dick Irvin in favour of the veteran McNeil. The Canadiens promptly won the next two games to force a seventh game. Unfortunately, Tony Leswick's overtime fluke undid the Habs, as an easy shot by the Red Wings was tipped off Canadiens defenceman Doug Harvey's glove behind McNeil.

Like Bill Durnan, McNeil then faced the Forum boo-birds and his own nerves became shaken. Coach Dick Irvin was no longer a fan of his either. A crushed McNeil retired for one season and coached junior hockey, but he would return to the nets yet again.

McNeil rejoined the Montreal Royals in 1955-56 and would even return to the Canadiens in 1956-57, getting his name on the Stanley Cup for a second time. Jacques Plante was injured during 1956-57 and McNeil was called up to the Canadiens for 9 games of unexpected play.

Gerry then played for the Rochester Americans of the AHL for two seasons, played for the Montreal Royals in 1959-60 and then finished his career with the AHL's Quebec Aces.

With his hockey days long behind him, he moved onto a long career with the Seagram's Distilleries, before retiring permanently on West Island.

Gerry McNeil Remembers Barilko Goal

In net that famous 1951 night when Bill Barilko scored the Stanley Cup winning goal - the last goal of his life - Gerry McNeil stood in the Montreal net. Here's how McNeil remembers the 1951 Stanley Cup playoffs:

"I always look back on that 1951 series, even though we lost. I got as much of a thrill out of that series as I got out of winning the Stanley Cup. We were only a third place club and not the strong Canadiens team of a few years later. In the semi-finals we beat Detroit and they had won the Cup the year before. In that series we won two overtime games in a row and then we went into the final against Toronto and it seemed hard to believe. In game after game after game we were playing another overtime.

"I don't think its ever happened before or since. It had to play hell with the nerves, especially for the goalkeepers. There was no leeway at all in any of the games. It was either a tie game or you were behind by one goal or ahead by one goal. The other players can take some of their tension out by slamming some guy into the boards but in the net you just stand there and hope the next shot doesn't hit the post and bounce in.

"Barilko let go a slap shot. At that time most of the shooters were using the wrist shot. The slap shot is not difficult for the goalkeeper because it is telegraphed ahead of time, and if the goalkeeper plays his angle he should stop it. But that one got by me. I didn't know it was Barilko. Half the time I never knew who scored. I didn't give a damn who it was; it was a goal. When the shot went in, the Maple Leafs were jumping all over the ice and we were down on the ice. But now I am proud of what we achieved. I mean that was something. knocking out the Cup champions in the semi-finals and then five straight overtime games in the finals. We were achieving something."

1953: An Unexpected Challenge From Cleveland

The year is 1953. Jacques Plante is the new goalie for the Montreal Canadiens, playing 4 playoff games after just 3 games of NHL experience.

Plante would play the two opening games of the Stanley Cup finals, going 1-1 against the Boston Bruins. That's when coach Dick Irvin returned to regular goalie Gerry McNeil, who was hobbled by a bad ankle. McNeil went 3-0 with 2 shutouts and GAA of 0.99 while leading Montreal back to championship status.

The goalies were not the only heroes for Montreal. Rocket Richard scored 4 goals and 5 points in the finals. Boom Boom Geoffrion had a monster of a semi-finals, scoring 5-4-9 in the 7 game showdown with Chicago.

A surprise challenge for the Stanley Cup came from, Jim Hendy, owner of the AHL Cleveland Barons. Hendy reckoned the trophy was originally a challenge trophy and he tried to get through any loophole he could. The challenge was dismissed for two reasons: The Barons had not yet won their own league championship, and AHL teams were considered to lesser teams than NHL teams. The original Stanley Cup challenge rules stated that any challenger must be of equal caliber.