Tiny Thompson

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


image_size = 150 px
league = NHL
position = Goaltender
shot = Left
height_ft = 5
height_in = 10
weight_lb = 160
played_for = Boston Bruins
Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
nationality = Canada
birth_date = birth date|1905|5|31|mf=y
birth_place = Sandon, British Columbia
death_date = death date|1981|2|9|mf=y
death_place = Calgary, Alberta
career_start = 1928
career_end = 1941
halloffame = 1959

Cecil R. "Tiny" Thompson (May 31, 1905 – February 9, 1981) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He won the Stanley Cup once in his NHL career, as a rookie in the 1928–29 season with the Boston Bruins. Thompson played ten complete seasons for the Bruins. At the start of the 1938–39 season, Thompson was traded to the Detroit Red Wings, where he played another full season. Thompson became the head coach of the Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League (AHL) in 1940. He remained with that team for two seasons, and made one appearance as a goaltender. After appearing in four games for the Calgary RCAF Mustangs in 1942–43, Thompson retired.

Thompson was the first goaltender to catch the puck as a method of making a save. A competent puckhandler, Thompson was the first goaltender in the NHL to record an assist by passing the puck with his stick to a fellow player. Over his NHL career, Thompson recorded 81 shutouts, which is the sixth-most of any goaltender. Thompson was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1959. He died in Calgary, Alberta, on February 9, 1981.

Early life

Born in Sandon, British Columbia, Thompson grew up in Calgary, Alberta.cite book |title= Without Fear: Hockey's 50 greatest goaltenders |last= Allen|first= Kevin|coauthors= Duff, Bob; Bower, Johnny|year=2002 |publisher= Triumph Books|location= Chicago|isbn= 9781572434844|oclc= 49936232|pages=50] As a child, Thompson enjoyed playing baseball and ice hockey. Originally, Thompson was not keen on playing goaltender; however, he agreed to do so, so he could be accepted into the games by the other children.cite book |title= Boston Bruins: Greatest Moments and Players |last= Fischler|first= Stan|year=2001 |publisher= Sports Publishing LLC|isbn= 9781582613741|page=133] As a teenager playing competitive ice hockey, Thompson picked up the nickname "Tiny" as a joke, because he was the tallest player on team, standing convert|5|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on; the nickname stuck with him for the rest of his career.cite book |title= Without Fear: Hockey's 50 greatest goaltenders |last= Allen|first= Kevin|coauthors= Duff, Bob; Bower, Johnny|year=2002 |publisher= Triumph Books|location= Chicago|isbn= 9781572434844|oclc= 49936232|pages=51] Thompson idolized Charlie Reid, the goaltender for the Calgary Tigers of the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL), and Reid eventually became his mentor. Thompson often watched Reid perform in goal from the front row seat directly behind the nets. After games, Thompson and Reid discussed goaltending. Quickly advancing through amateur ranks, Thompson earned a position as a forward on a junior ice hockey team in Canmore. After receiving advice from Reid, Thompson issued an ultimatum to his coach: either he (Thompson) played goaltender, or he would quit the team. Thompson stuck to playing goaltender for the rest of his career.

Pre-NHL career

Thompson began his professional career playing for the Minneapolis Millers of the American Hockey Association (AHA). In his first season with the Millers, Thompson appeared in 36 games, registering 10 shutouts with 1.64 goals-against average. The following season, Thompson appeared in 38 games, registering one less shutout than the year before, but lowering his goals-against average to 1.42. In his third and final season with Minneapolis, Thompson appeared in 40 games, with a 28–7–5 record, 12 shutouts and 1.23 goals-against average.cite web|url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=p195903&type=Player&page=bio&list=ByName#photo|title=Tiny Thompson—Biography|publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame|accessdate=2008-08-25] cite web|url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=p195903&page=statsawards&list=ByName#photo|title=Tiny Thompson—Career statistics|publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame|accessdate=2008-08-25] That season, the Millers won the Harry F. Sinclair Trophy, against the Duluth Hornets, winning their five-game series 1–0–4. [cite web|url=http://hockeyleaguehistory.com/American_Hockey_Association_1926.htm|title= American Hockey Association (1926-1942)|publisher=hockeyleaguehistory.com|accessdate=2008-08-25]

NHL career

Boston Bruins

Thompson began his National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Boston Bruins in the 1928–29 season after his contract was purchased by Boston manager Art Ross, who had never seen Thompson play before acquiring him from Minnesota. In his first NHL game, Thompson posted a shutout, becoming the only Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender to post a shutout in his first game.cite book |title= Without Fear: Hockey's 50 greatest goaltenders |last= Allen|first= Kevin|coauthors= Duff, Bob; Bower, Johnny|year=2002 |publisher= Triumph Books|location= Chicago|isbn= 9781572434844|oclc= 49936232|pages=49] In his first season, Thompson appeared in all 44 of the Bruins' games, posting 12 shutouts and a 1.15 goals-against average. The Bruins placed first in the American Division, with a 26–13–5 record.cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BOS/|title=Boston Bruins season|publisher=hockey-reference.com|accessdate=2008-08-25] In the playoffs, the Bruins had a perfect 5–0 record, winning their semifinals against the Montreal Canadiens 3–0, and the Stanley Cup final 2–0 against the New York Rangers. [cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BOS/1929.html|title=1928–29 Boston Bruins statistics|publisher=hockey-reference.com|accessdate=2008-08-25] In those five games, Thompson recorded three shutouts, and his goals-against average was 0.60. The finals were the first NHL playoff series where two brothers faced off against each other, with Tiny playing against his brother Paul, a Rangers forward. The next time two brothers faced off against each in the Finals was in 1969, when Tony Esposito and the Chicago Black Hawks were swept 4–0 by Phil Esposito and the Boston Bruins. [cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CHI/1969.html|title=1968–69 Chicago Black Hawks statistics|publisher=hockey-reference.com|accessdate=2008-08-25] [cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BOS/1969.html|title=1968–69 Boston Bruins statistics|publisher=hockey-reference.com|accessdate=2008-08-25]

The following season, Thompson appeared in all of the Bruins' 44 games once more, posting three shutouts and a 2.19 goals-against average. Boston won all but six games, finishing with with a 38–5–1 record. In the playoffs, however, they were swept 2–0 by the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup final. [cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BOS/1930.html|title=1929–30 Boston Bruins statistics|publisher=hockey-reference.com|accessdate=2008-08-25] Thompson won the first of his four Vezina Trophies that season.cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/trophies/vezina.html|title=Vezina Trophy|publisher=NHL|accessdate=2008-08-25] In the 1930–31 season, Thompson played all 44 games again, posting a 1.98 goals-against average with three shutouts. The Bruins, with a 28–10–6 record, finished atop the American Division once more. In the playoffs, they lost a five-game series against the Canadiens in the first round, 3–2. [cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BOS/1931.html|title=1930–31 Boston Bruins statistics|publisher=hockey-reference.com|accessdate=2008-08-25] Thompson made the Second All-Star team that season.cite web|url=http://www.hockeygoalies.org/bio/thompson.html|title=Cecil R. "Tiny" Thompson|publisher=hockeygoalies.org|accessdate=2008-08-25]

In the 1931–32 season, the Boston Bruins missed the playoffs for the first time while Thompson was a member of the team. Playing in 43 out of Boston's 48 games, Thompson posted a 13–19–11 record, with nine shutouts and a 2.29 goals-against average. In the next season, The Bruins returned to the top of the American Division standings, with a 26–16–6 record, before losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of playoffs. [cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BOS/1933.html|title=1932–33 Boston Bruins statistics|publisher=hockey-reference.com|accessdate=2008-08-25] Thompson appeared in all of Boston's 48 games, recording 11 shutouts and a 1.76 goals-against average, and winning the Vezina Trophy for his second time. In the 1933–34 season, the Bruins missed the playoffs for the second time with Thompson in nets, posting a 18–25–5 record. Thompson appeared in all 48 games, posting five shutouts and a 2.62 goals-against average. The Bruins rebounded once again to first place in the American Division the following season with 26–16–6 record, and lost a five-game playoff series to the Maple Leafs again, 3–1. [cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BOS/1935.html|title=1934–35 Boston Bruins statistics|publisher=hockey-reference.com|accessdate=2008-08-25] Thompson was once more solid, recording eight shutouts and a 2.26 goals-against average. At the conclusion of the season, Thompson was named to the Second All-Star team for the second time.

In the 1935–36 NHL season, Boston dropped to second place in the American Division, winning 22 out of its 48 games, with Thompson recording 10 shutouts with a 1.68 goals-against average. The Bruins lost in the first round to the Maple Leafs again, 8–6 in a total-goal series. [cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BOS/1936.html|title=1935–36 Boston Bruins statistics|publisher=hockey-reference.com|accessdate=2008-08-25] During that season, Thompson recorded an assist, a rarity for goaltenders during that era. At the conclusion of season, Thompson was named to the First All-Star team for the first time. He also won the Vezina Trophy for the third time. The following season season, Thompson appeared in all of Boston's 48 games. With a 23–18–7 record, the Bruins placed second in the American Division again.cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BOS/1937.html|title=1936–37 Boston Bruins statistics|publisher=hockey-reference.com|accessdate=2008-08-25] In the playoffs, the Bruins lost a three-game series 2–1 to the Montreal Maroons in the first round of the playoffs. Thompson posted six shutouts and a 2.22 goals-against average that season. In 1937–38, his final full season with the Bruins, Thompson appeared in all of Boston's 48 games, posting a 30–11–7 record, with seven shutouts and a 1.80 goals-against average, as Boston finished first in the American Division. However, in the playoffs, Boston was swept in three games in the first round by the Maple Leafs. [cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BOS/1938.html|title=1937–38 Boston Bruins statistics|publisher=hockey-reference.com|accessdate=2008-08-25] At end of the season, Thompson was awarded his fourth and final Vezina Trophy. He was also named to the First All-Star team for the second time.

Detroit Red Wings

In the 1938–39 season, Thompson appeared in only five games for the Bruins. The Bruins decided to turn the nets over to Frank Brimsek, who that season led the Bruins to a Stanley Cup win with 10 regular season shutouts, Thompson was traded to the Detroit Red Wings on November 26, 1938, for Normie Smith and $15,000.cite web|url=http://redwings.nhl.com/team/app?service=page&page=NHLPage&bcid=his_wol_wol-cecilthompson|title=Cecil (Tiny) Thompson 1939–40|publisher=Detroit Red Wings|accessdate=2008-08-25] Thompson received a $1,000 bonus from Boston in that trade. Boston manager Art Ross predicted that Thompson would play for the Red Wings for at least another five seasons; however, Thompson remained with the team for only two years. The Red Wings posted a losing record in both of the seasons that Thompson played for them; however, they made the playoffs twice. Overall, Thompson appeared in 85 games for Detroit, with a 32–41–12 record, seven shutouts, and a 2.54 goals-against average.

Post-NHL career

In the 1940–41 season, Thompson became the head coach of the Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League (AHL). Thompson coached 56 games in two seasons, with the Bisons missing the playoffs both times.cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=5387|title=Cecil "Tiny" Thompson|publisher=hockeydb.com|accessdate=2008-08-25] He also appeared in one game as goaltender for the Bisons in the 1940–41 season. In the 1942–43 season, Thompson appeared in four games for the Calgary RCAF Mustangs, after he which he permanently retired. Some time after retiring, Thompson became chief Western Canada scout for the Chicago Black Hawks.cite book |title= Boston Bruins: Greatest Moments and Players |last= Fischler|first= Stan|year=2001 |publisher= Sports Publishing LLC|isbn= 9781582613741|page=134]

Playing style

Thompson was a stand-up goaltender, rarely going down on his knees to stop a puck. Thompson was the first goaltender to catch the puck with his hand to make a save. He was one of the best puck-catchers in his era, in part due to his baseball experience. Thompson used gloves that were smaller than a regular player's. He was a good puckhandler, and one of the best of his time at forward passing. In the 1935–36 season, Thompson became the first goaltender to get an assist by intentionally passing the puck with his stick to a fellow player; in the 1917–18 season, Georges Vezina was credited with an assist after making a save with his leg pads, and the rebound went to a fellow forward. [cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/hockeyu/history/timeline/1910/122818.html|title=Vezina Earns 1st Assist by Goalie|publisher=NHL|accessdate=2008-08-25]

Legacy

Over his career, Thompson accrued 81 shutouts, which is sixth all-time in NHL history. He also posted seven shutouts in the playoffs.cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/t/thompti01.html|title=Tiny Thompson|publisher=hockey-reference.com|accessdate=2008-08-25] In 1959, Thompson was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Thompson died in Calgary on February 9, 1981. [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0CE5DD1639F931A25751C0A967948260|title=Cecil (Tiny) Thompson|publisher=New York Times|date=1981-02-12|accessdate=2008-08-25]

References

External links

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