Ross Brooks
Encyclopedia
Donald Ross Brooks is a Canadian
former professional
ice hockey
goaltender
who played three seasons with the Boston Bruins
of the National Hockey League
. He is notable for not making his NHL debut until the age of 36, one of the oldest rookies in professional hockey history, and as the first Jewish goaltender in NHL history.
Brooks had a long minor league career which included seven seasons for the Providence Reds
of the American Hockey League
, and shared the award for lowest goals against average in the AHL in 1972. In the 1972 season, however, the Bruins, who owned his rights, lost several goaltenders; top prospect Dan Bouchard
to expansion, star Gerry Cheevers
to the WHA and veteran Eddie Johnston
to a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs
. This opened the door to Brooks' recall as the backup goaltender. He excelled swiftly, matching a NHL record set by Bruins' goaltender Tiny Thompson
in the 1920s for the longest consecutive winning streak by a goaltender, 14 games (since surpassed by Patrick Lalime
).
Brooks played for the Bruins from 1972 until 1975, after which -- upon the return of Cheevers to the organization -- he played a single season for the Bruins' AHL Rochester Americans
farm team before retiring. Playing for a powerhouse team that regularly finished around the top of the league standings, he compiled a career record of 37 wins, and only 7 losses and 6 ties with a goals against average
of 2.63. His career winning percentage is one of the highest recorded for goalies with 50 or more decisions.
After his retirement Brooks was a longtime executive for the Bruins' farm team in Providence, leaving that post in 2000. He currently manages operations of Schneider Arena, home of the Providence College Friars hockey team.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
former professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
ice hockey
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 played three seasons with the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. He is notable for not making his NHL debut until the age of 36, one of the oldest rookies in professional hockey history, and as the first Jewish goaltender in NHL history.
Brooks had a long minor league career which included seven seasons for the Providence Reds
Providence Reds
The Providence Reds were a hockey team that played in the Canadian-American Hockey League between 1926–1936 and the American Hockey League from 1936 to 1977, the last season of which they played as the Rhode Island Reds. The team won the Calder Cup in 1938, 1940, 1949, and 1956...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
, and shared the award for lowest goals against average in the AHL in 1972. In the 1972 season, however, the Bruins, who owned his rights, lost several goaltenders; top prospect Dan Bouchard
Dan Bouchard
Daniel Hector "Bouch" Bouchard is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender. He played in the National Hockey League with the Atlanta Flames, Calgary Flames, Quebec Nordiques, and Winnipeg Jets.-Career:...
to expansion, star Gerry Cheevers
Gerry Cheevers
Gerald Michael "Cheesey" Cheevers is a former goaltender in the National Hockey League and World Hockey Association between 1961 and 1980, most famous for his two stints with the Boston Bruins, where he backstopped the team to Stanley Cup wins in 1970 and 1972...
to the WHA and veteran Eddie Johnston
Eddie Johnston
Edward Joseph Johnston is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender and former coach and general manager in the National Hockey League...
to a trade with 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...
. This opened the door to Brooks' recall as the backup goaltender. He excelled swiftly, matching a NHL record set by Bruins' goaltender Tiny Thompson
Tiny Thompson
Cecil Ralph "Tiny" Thompson was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League , first for the Boston Bruins, and later for the Detroit Red Wings. A four-time Vezina Trophy winner, Thompson was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1959...
in the 1920s for the longest consecutive winning streak by a goaltender, 14 games (since surpassed by Patrick Lalime
Patrick Lalime
Patrick Lalime is a Canadian professional ice hockey broadcaster and former player. Lalime played twelve seasons in the National Hockey League with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators, St. Louis Blues, Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres...
).
Brooks played for the Bruins from 1972 until 1975, after which -- upon the return of Cheevers to the organization -- he played a single season for the Bruins' AHL Rochester Americans
Rochester Americans
The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial...
farm team before retiring. Playing for a powerhouse team that regularly finished around the top of the league standings, he compiled a career record of 37 wins, and only 7 losses and 6 ties with a goals against average
Goals against average
Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
of 2.63. His career winning percentage is one of the highest recorded for goalies with 50 or more decisions.
After his retirement Brooks was a longtime executive for the Bruins' farm team in Providence, leaving that post in 2000. He currently manages operations of Schneider Arena, home of the Providence College Friars hockey team.
See also
- List of select Jewish ice hockey players