Roy Worters

Roy "Shrimp" Worters[1] (October 19, 1900  November 7, 1957) was a Canadian professional Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender who played twelve seasons in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Montreal Canadiens and New York Americans, and was notable for recording 66 shutouts in his career and being, at 5'3" (160 cm) tall, the shortest player ever to play in the NHL.

Roy Worters
Hockey Hall of Fame, 1969
Born (1900-10-19)October 19, 1900
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died November 7, 1957(1957-11-07) (aged 57)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 3 in (160 cm)
Weight 135 lb (61 kg; 9 st 9 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for New York Americans
Montreal Canadiens
Pittsburgh Pirates
Playing career 19251937

Playing career

Before his NHL career, Worters spent several years in amateur and senior leagues, spending the 1923–24 and 1924–25 seasons as the star netminder for the Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets of the United States Amateur Hockey Association, leading the Yellow Jackets to championships both seasons. Bolstered by the success, the expansion Pittsburgh Pirates joined the NHL the following season, with Worters in goal and substantially the same lineup as the Yellow Jackets. Worters proved an iron man, playing three seasons for the Pirates and in virtually all of their games, showing great skill while backstopping a weak defensive team; in the Pirates' first season, Worters stopped 70 of 73 shots (setting a then-NHL record) in a 3–1 loss to the Americans.

Worters refused to sign with the Pirates for the 1927–28 season, and was suspended briefly before being traded to the Americans, for whom he would spend the rest of his career (save for a single game on loan to the Canadiens in 1930). His first season with the Americans saw Worters becoming the first goaltender to win the Hart Memorial Trophy with a minuscule 1.15 goals against average as he led the Americans to second place in the Canadian Division, after the team finishing in last place the year before.

During his time with the New York Americans he had a corps of large defenceman to guard him, such as Lionel Conacher - who grew up in the same Toronto neighbourhood as Worters - Bullet Joe Simpson and "Red" Dutton. However, the perennially-weak Americans would make the playoffs only once more during Worters' career, although he would win the Vezina Trophy in 1930–31 as the league's best goaltender. During the ensuing contract negotiations following the season, Worters signed for $8,500 per season, an unprecedented sum for a goalie. He became the first goalie in NHL history to record back to back shutouts in his first two games for a new team.

While with the Americans, he was named team captain for the 1932–33 season.

In 1937, Worters needed hernia surgery and retired following the season. Roy Worters died of throat cancer on November 7, 1957. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969.

Awards and achievements

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPWLTMinGASOGAA GPWLTMinGASOGAA
1918–19 Parkdale Canoe Club OHA-Jr 87104802202.75 2110120603.00
1919–20 Toronto Canoe Club OHA-Jr 33001801404.67 77004202503.57
1919–20 Toronto Canoe Club M-Cup 3300180903.00
1920–21 Porcupine Gold Miners GBHL 107216302702.57 20201201005.00
1921–22 Porcupine Gold Miners GBHL
1922–23 Toronto Argonauts OHA Sr
1923–24 Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets USAHA 20155012252571.23 139318401250.86
1924–25 Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets USAHA 3925104189534170.81 8611400811.20
1925–26 Pittsburgh Pirates NHL 351816121456871.90 2011120603.00
1926–27 Pittsburgh Pirates NHL 4415263271110842.39
1927–28 Pittsburgh Pirates NHL 4419178274076101.66 2110120603.00
1928–29 New York Americans NHL 38161210239046131.15 2011150110.40
1929–30 New York Americans NHL 3611214227013523.57
1929–30 Montreal Canadiens NHL 110060202.00
1930–31 New York Americans NHL 4418161027607481.61
1931–32 New York Americans NHL 4012208245911052.68
1932–33 New York Americans NHL 47152210297011652.34
1932–33 Quebec Castors Can-Am 101060303.00
1933–34 New York Americans NHL 3612131022407542.01
1934–35 New York Americans NHL 4812279300014232.84
1935–36 New York Americans NHL 4816257300012232.44 52303001122.20
1936–37 New York Americans NHL 23614314306922.90
NHL totals 4841712298330,1751143662.27 113626902432.09

References

  1. "Rayner Named MVP in NHL". The Pittsburgh Press. 1950-05-09. p. 35. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Howie Morenz
Winner of the Hart Trophy
1929
Succeeded by
Nels Stewart
Preceded by
Cecil Thompson
Winner of the Vezina Trophy
1931
Succeeded by
Charlie Gardiner
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