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Cap Raeder
Robert Raeder
Height: 6-0
 
Regular Season Goaltending Record (key)
Playoff Goaltending Record
Shutouts
 
Cap Raeder had the kind of impact in Hartford that pitcher Mark Fidrych later had on Detroit, coming out of nowhere to become a dominant performer.
In Raeder's case, it was from the University of New Hampshire, to the obscurity of the North American Hockey League, to the Whalers in the playoffs as an emergency replacement for the injured goatenders. And he was great.
"He entered in a weird way, and he was extremely weirdly great," coach Harry Neale says of his somewhat unorthodox, 23-year-old sensation. Whatever the style, Raeder played in 14 playoff games for Whalers and earned the best goals-against average of any post-season competitors, 2.27 per game.
Even in defeat Raeder was outstanding. "If we'd been up against a normal goaltender, we'd have had at least half a dozen goals," Gord Labossiere said after Houston Aeros beat Whalers 2-0. "But that Raeder is just amazing --- one of our better games and we only had two goals to show for it."
Raeder quit the University of New Hampshire to play professional hockey. For most of the year, it looked as though the move was a mistake. The playoffs changed all that, though, and Raeder was able to return for summer courses in triumph.
 
Cap Raeder, the American born goaltender who has quite literally had an up and down career with New England Whalers since turning Pro last season, is the most recent Player of the Week in the World Hockey Association.
The ups and downs have not been in the former University of New Hampshire star's performance. It has been consistantly good wherever he has been. But despite his steady play, Raeder has been up with the Whalers or down in their farm system several times already in just a season and a half.
Raeder surfaced in the major leagues for the first time late last season, No sooner did he report than he copied Ken Dryden's Montreal debut by becoming an instant playoff superstar, In 14 post season games, Raeder posted a 2.27 GAA, scored two shutouts in Whalers cliffhanging series with Indianapolis, and in general propelled Whalers far deeper into the playoffs than anyone had expected them to go.
None of that prevented him from receiving a return ticket to the minor leagues at the beginning of 1976-77.
No matter, Raeder was only to resurface and do his instant hero act again. Recalled in early December, he stepped into the Whaler nets for their confrontation with the Soviet National Team and was spectacular in backstopping a 5-2 win.
February came and Raeder went ... to the minors. Presumably that assignment was just a stage-setter for his patented bit, which unbelieivably
he has done again.
With the Whalers struggling to maintain fourth place in the East, Raeder was recalled. No instant herodom this time though. Raeder was asked to sit and watch for eight games while Bruce Landon played.
Last week Raeder finally got his chance. The results were predictable enough: Three games played - Game one, shutout over San Diego - Game two, win over division leading Houston - Game Three, win over division leading Quebec.
That plus a Player of the Week Nomination by the WHA Media, a nomination in which he edged out his High School teammate Robbie Ftorek.
Undoubtedly, the Whalers should now send Raeder to the Minors. After all, Playoff Time is approaching.
 
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Home Book Credits & Legal Stuff
 
(c) Scott Surgent
Weight: 175
Catch: R
Born: 8 Oct 1953, Needham MA
year
team
1975-76
New England
1976-77
New England
Totals:
year
team
1976
New England
1977
New England
Totals:
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
Score
Saves
Apr 21, 1976 Indianapolis Home 3-0 22
Apr 29, 1976 Indianapolis Away 6-0 26
Mar 2, 1977 San Diego Home 2-0 29
Mar 20, 1977 Calgary Home 9-0 27
Excerpts from Pro Hockey, WHA 1976-77 (by Dan Proudfoot)
Player of the Week Honoree, Feb 28-Mar 6, 1977 WHA Press Release, Mar 7, 1977