The Complete World Hockey Association
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Gerry Cheevers • Gerald Michael Cheevers

Height: 5-11
Weight: 185
Catch: L
Born: 2 Dec 1940, St. Catherines ON

 

Playoff Goaltending Record (key)

year team
gp
min
ga
sho
w-l-t
gaa
a
pim
1972-73 Cleveland
52
3144
149
5
32-20-2
2.84
0
30
1973-74 Cleveland
59
3562
180
4
30-20-6
3.03
0
30
1974-75 Cleveland
52
3076
167
4
26-24-2
3.26
1
59
1975-76 Cleveland
28
1570
95
1
11-14-1
3.63
0
15
Totals:
191
11352
591
14
99-78-11
3.12
1
134

Playoff Goaltending Record

year team
gp
min
ga
sho
w-l
gaa
a
pim
1973 Cleveland
9
548
22
0
5-4
2.41
0
0
1974 Cleveland
5
303
18
0
1-4
3.56
0
0
1975 Cleveland
5
300
23
0
1-4
4.60
0
0
Totals:
19
1151
63
0
7-12
3.28
0
0

Shutouts

Date Opponent Home/Away Score Saves
Oct 11, 1972QuebecHome2-021First WHA Shutout
Oct 27, 1972AlbertaHome6-020
Nov 17, 1972New EnglandHome3-016
Dec 25, 1972PhiladelphiaHome8-022
Jan 17, 1973HoustonAway5-031
Oct 21, 1973HoustonAway2-039
Dec 29, 1973JerseyHome3-028
Jan 5, 1974New EnglandHome1-024
Jan 8, 1974ChicagoAway0-039
Dec 20, 1974New EnglandHome3-030
Jan 31, 1975EdmontonAway2-028
Feb 6, 1975BaltimoreAway4-035
Mar 14, 1975EdmontonHome3-029
Dec 12, 1975MinnesotaHome1-014

• Winner, Ben Hatskin Trophy (Best Goaltender), 1972-73.
• Member, Hockey Hall of Fame.

 

Excerpts from Pro Hockey, WHA 1975-76 (by Dan Proudfoot)

Cheesie, as Gerry Cheevers is known around hockey, lost his assistant coach's title over the summer, but that's more likely to be a relief than a blow. The only executive position Cheevers favors is that of being an owner in the horse racing game.

Cheesie and Ed Johnston shared goaltending duties with the NHL Boston Bruins back when Bobby Orr was still a new sensation and Bruins were winning Stanley Cups for the first time in decades. A major part of the Bruins success back then was their goaltending, for Johnston and Cheevers got better and better as the team got into the pressure of the finals.

Cheevers' ability to soak up pressure and keep smiling made him a dominant performer in the 1974 Team Canada-Soviet Union series. "That series was in September," says Crusader manager Jack Vivian, "and it took so much out of Cheevers — and Paul Shmyr, the other player we contributed to the team — that he didn't really start going again until the New Year.

"As for the coaching, he graciously came forward and offered to help me when I took over the position last season. Now, with Johnny Wilson, we know we'll have no problems with coaching. Cheevers can relax and concentrate on goal."

Despite his many distractions, Cheevers did play 52 games for Crusaders in 1974-75, averaging only 3.20 goals against.

 

Excerpts from Zander Hollander's Guide to Pro Hockey, 1975-76 (by Reyn Davis)

Lights up a cigar after every game and contemplates his evening's work ... Statistically, and for that matter, artistically, he is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career ... Bad start blamed on tension of Canada-Russia Series, in which he starred ... Won 52% of his starts for a team that won 47% of its games in 1974-75 ... Trains a stable of horses in the off-season ... Owns many of them ... Nickname is "Cheezy" ... Very intelligent ... Has a knack for conning shooters into thinking their easy shots are really tough ... Has "accidentally" let his stick slip out of his hands to break up a breakaway ... Once rushed off the bench to stop a forward skating toward Cleveland's empty net in the final minute of play ... Goal was allowed though the puck never entered the net

 

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