Gerry McNeil
Encyclopedia
Gerald George McNeil is a former professional ice hockey
goaltender
who won two Stanley Cup
s with the Montreal Canadiens
in the 1950s.
While Gerald is a three-time cup winner, fans will forever remember the Québec City
, Québec
native for two Cup-winning goals he gave up: to the Toronto Maple Leafs
' Bill Barilko
(1951). He won his first cup in 1953 sharing goal with Jacques Plante
. In 1954 a shot by Detroit Red Wings
player Tony Leswick
that was deflected by teammate Doug Harvey into the Canadiens goal. McNeil was so frustrated by the Harvey own-goal, he retired to coach junior hockey the next season, but returned to the Habs in 1956 to earn his second Cup as back-up to Hall of Famer Jacques Plante
(1956–1957). During the 1958 playoffs McNeil was called up as spare goalie by Montreal, His name was engraved on the Stanley Cup, but he did not play. His last game in the NHL was during the 1956–57 regular season.
The Canadiens announced that McNeil died at Saint-Luc Hospital in Montreal
, but didn't give the cause of death.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
who won two Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
s with the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
in the 1950s.
While Gerald is a three-time cup winner, fans will forever remember the Québec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
, Québec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
native for two Cup-winning goals he gave up: to the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
' Bill Barilko
Bill Barilko
William "Bashin' Bill" Barilko was a Canadian ice hockey player who played his entire National Hockey League career for the Toronto Maple Leafs.- Personal life :Barilko was of Ukrainian descent and had a brother, Alex, and sister, Anne....
(1951). He won his first cup in 1953 sharing goal with Jacques Plante
Jacques Plante
Joseph Jacques Omer Plante was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. During a career lasting from 1947–1975, he was considered to be one of the most important innovators in hockey...
. In 1954 a shot by Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
player Tony Leswick
Tony Leswick
Anthony Joseph Leswick was a former ice hockey forward who played mostly for the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings of the NHL. Nicknamed "Tough Tony" and "Mighty Mouse", he was known also as a little pest. Little, because he stood just 5'7" tall and weighed 160lbs...
that was deflected by teammate Doug Harvey into the Canadiens goal. McNeil was so frustrated by the Harvey own-goal, he retired to coach junior hockey the next season, but returned to the Habs in 1956 to earn his second Cup as back-up to Hall of Famer Jacques Plante
Jacques Plante
Joseph Jacques Omer Plante was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. During a career lasting from 1947–1975, he was considered to be one of the most important innovators in hockey...
(1956–1957). During the 1958 playoffs McNeil was called up as spare goalie by Montreal, His name was engraved on the Stanley Cup, but he did not play. His last game in the NHL was during the 1956–57 regular season.
The Canadiens announced that McNeil died at Saint-Luc Hospital in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, but didn't give the cause of death.