Frank "Mr. Zero" Brimsek

Last updated

BIOGRAPHY

BORN: Eveleth, Minnesota, September 26, 1915.
DIED: Virginia, Minnesota, November 11, 1998.
HEIGHT: 5'9"
WEIGHT: 170 lbs.
UNIFORM #:
CATCHES:

Entry in "Inside Sports: Hockey": A native of Eveleth, Minn., he was nicknamed "Mr. Zero" because he twice had three consecutive shutouts as a goalie for the Boston Bruins. Starred in the late 1930s and early 1940s.

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING:

"The kid had the fastest hands I ever saw - like lightning." (Art Ross, Boston Bruins, 1938)

THE STREAK:

"Brimsek had played the Bruins' first two games while (Cecil) Thompson recovered from an eye ailment. Then Tiny returned and Brimsek was farmed out to Providence. But Thompson was 33 and (Boston GM Art) Ross was anxious to create a spot for the promising rookie. On November 28, (1938) the deal was made, (sending Thompson to Detroit) with the Bruins receiving $15,000 from the Red Wings. Brimsek returned two days later.

The Canadiens beat him, 2-0, in his first game and then Brimsek produced three straight shutouts. His shutout streak extended to 231 minutes, 54 seconds, breaking Thompson's modern mark of 224:47.

After Brimsek's sensational streak was broken, he started another one. Three more shutouts - one against Thompson and the Red Wings - gave him six in seven games and another unbelievable streak of 220 minutes, 24 seconds of scoreless hockey. (Inside Sports: Hockey)

TRANSACTIONS:

Signed as free agent by Boston Bruins, October 27, 1938.
Entered the United States Coast Guard in 1943, serving until 1945.
Traded by Bruins to Chicago Black Hawks for cash, September 8, 1949.

ACCOLADES:

Winner, George L. Davis Jr. Trophy, 1935-35.
Named to Eastern Hockey League All-Star Second Team, 1935-36.
Named to American Hockey League All-Star First Team, 1937-38.
Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game, 1939.
Member of Stanley Cup-winning Boston Bruins, 1939.
Winner, Vezina Trophy, 1938-39.
Winner, Calder Trophy, 1938-39.
Named to National Hockey League All-Star First Team, 1938-39.
Named to National Hockey League All-Star Second Team, 1939-40.
Member of Stanley Cup-winning Boston Bruins, 1941.
Named to National Hockey League All-Star Second Team, 1940-41.
Winner, Vezina Trophy, 1941-42.
Named to National Hockey League All-Star First Team, 1941-42.
Named to National Hockey League All-Star Second Team, 1942-43.
Named to National Hockey League All-Star Second Team, 1945-46.
Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game, 1947.
Named to National Hockey League All-Star Second Team, 1946-47.
Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game, 1948.
Named to National Hockey League All-Star Second Team, 1947-48.
Elected to Hockey Hall of Fame, 1966.
Elected to United States Hockey Hall of Fame.

INJURIES:

RECORDS:

MISCELLANEOUS:

SEASON-BY-SEASON:

REGULAR SEASON
Year  Team                           GP    Min   W   L   T    GA    GAA   Shots    Sv%   ShO   G   A   PiM     S/60    PERS
33-34 St. Cloud State Univ. NCAA     11                                                        0   0     0
34-35 Eveleth Rangers USAHA
      Pittsburgh Yellowjackets USAHA 16    960  14   2   0    39   2.44                    1
35-36 Pittsburgh Yellowjackets EHL   38   2280  20  16   2    74   1.95                    8
36-37 Pittsburgh Yellowjackets EHL   47   2820  19  23   5   142   3.02                    3
37-38 Providence Reds AHL            48   2950  25  16   7    86   1.75                    5   0   0     0
38-39 Boston Bruins NHL              43   2610  33   9   1    68   1.56                   10   0   0     0
      Providence Reds AHL             9    570   5   2   2    18   1.89                    0   0   0     0
39-40 Boston Bruins NHL              48   2950  31  12   5    98   1.99                    6   0   0     0
40-41 Boston Bruins NHL              48   3040  27   8  13   102   2.01                    6   0   0     0
41-42 Boston Bruins NHL              47   2930  24  17   6   115   2.35                    3   0   0     0
42-43 Boston Bruins NHL              50   3000  24  17   9   176   3.52                    1   0   0     0
43-44 U.S. Coast Guard Cutters       27   1620  19   6   2    83   3.07                    1
44-45 DID NOT PLAY - SERVED IN WORLD WAR II
45-46 Boston Bruins NHL              34   2040  16  14   4   111   3.26                    2   0   0     0
46-47 Boston Bruins NHL              60   3600  26  23  11   175   2.92                    3   0   0     2
47-48 Boston Bruins NHL              60   3600  23  24  13   168   2.80                    3   0   0     0
48-49 Boston Bruins NHL              54   3240  26  20   8   147   2.72                    1   0   0     2
49-50 Chicago Black Hawks NHL        70   4200  22  38  10   244   3.49                    5   0   0     2
TEN (10) NHL SEASONS                514  31210 252 182  80  1404   2.70                   40   0   0     6

POST-SEASON
Year  Team                           GP    Min   W   L   T    GA    GAA   Shots    Sv%   ShO   G   A   PiM     S/60    PERS
35-36 Pittsburgh Yellowjackets EHL    8    480   4   3   1    19   2.36                    2
37-38 Providence Reds AHL             7    515   5   2        16   1.86                    0
      New Haven Eagles AHL            1     93   0   1         3   1.94                    0
38-39 Boston Bruins NHL              12    863   8   4        18   1.25                    1
39-40 Boston Bruins NHL               6    360   2   4        15   2.50                    0
40-41 Boston Bruins NHL              11    678   8   3        23   2.04                    1
41-42 Boston Bruins NHL               5    307   2   3        16   3.13                    0
42-43 Boston Bruins NHL               9    560   4   5        33   3.54                    0
43-44 U.S. Coast Guard Cutters        5    300   4   0         4   0.80                    1
45-46 Boston Bruins NHL              10    650   5   5        29   2.68                    0
46-47 Boston Bruins NHL               5    343   1   4        16   2.80                    0
47-48 Boston Bruins NHL               5    317   1   4        20   3.79                    0
48-49 Boston Bruins NHL               5    316   1   4        16   3.04                    0
NINE (9) NHL POSTSEASONS             68   4394  32  36       186   2.54                    2

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