Glenn Hall, the legendary NHL goaltender whose streak of 502 consecutive starts remains a league record, has died at the age of 94.
A spokesperson for the Chicago Blackhawks confirmed that the team had received word of Hall’s death from his family. A league historian said Hall died Wednesday at a hospital in Stony Plain, Alberta.
Nicknamed ‘Mr. Goalie,” Hall built his career in an era when goaltenders played without masks and chased Original Six-era teams into NHL expansion.
His consecutive start record, set between the 1955-56 and 1962-63 seasons, is considered one of the most unbreakable marks in professional sports. Including the playoffs, Hall started 552 games in a row.
“Glenn was tough, reliable and a spectacular talent in net,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.
“That record, set from 1955-56 to 1962-63, still stands, probably always will, and is almost unfathomable – especially when you consider he did it all without a mask.”
Hall won the Stanley Cup with Chicago in 1961 and captured the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1968 with the St. Louis Blues, becoming one of the few players to earn the award without winning the Cup.
He also won the Calder Trophy in 1956 and three Vezina Trophies as the league’s top goaltender.
“His influence reached far beyond the borders,” Blues president Tom Stillman said. “From the very beginning, he brought credibility, excellence and heart to a new team and a new NHL market.”
Blackhawks president Danny Wirtz called Hall “one of the greatest and most influential goaltenders in the history of our sport.”
“We are grateful for his extraordinary contributions to hockey and to our club, and we will honor his memory today and always,” Wirtz said.
Hall was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975 and was later named one of the 100 Greatest Players in NHL history.
