Ross Wilson (ice hockey)
Encyclopedia
Ross Ingram "Lefty" Wilson (October 15, 1919 in Toronto
, Ontario
– November 4, 2002 in Naples, Florida
) was a Canadian
ice hockey
player.
Wilson was a trainer for the Detroit Red Wings
of the NHL
from 1950–1982. He won 4 Stanley Cup
Championships with Detroit
in 1950, 1952, 1954 and 1955. He was one of the early pioneers of the goaltender's protective face mask, making the iconic mask that Terry Sawchuck wore, among the many others that he made for pro and top amateur goaltenders.
Wilson, who played goal in the Junior A, AHL and senior leagues, served as an emergency back-up goaltender for the Red Wings as well as for visiting teams, as was customary with many NHL trainers in the days before regular back-up goaltenders were carried on NHL team rosters. He played three total games in his career as the emergency goaltender. On October 10, 1953 he suited up for the Red Wings
in relief for an injured Terry Sawchuk
in a losing effort playing a total of 16 minutes for the Red Wings. On January 22, 1956 he suited up for the Toronto Maple Leafs
replacing an injured Harry Lumley in another losing effort playing a total of 13 minutes and stopping nine shots for the Maple Leafs. On December 29, 1957 he suited up for the Boston Bruins
replacing an injured Don Simmons
in a game that ended in a 2-2 tie playing a total of 52 minutes allowing a goal and making 23 saves for the Bruins.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
– November 4, 2002 in Naples, Florida
Naples, Florida
Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, United States. As of July 1, 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 21,653. Naples is a principal city of the Naples–Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated total population of 315,839 on July 1, 2007...
) was a Canadian
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...
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...
player.
Wilson was a trainer for the 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...
of the NHL
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...
from 1950–1982. He won 4 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...
Championships with Detroit
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...
in 1950, 1952, 1954 and 1955. He was one of the early pioneers of the goaltender's protective face mask, making the iconic mask that Terry Sawchuck wore, among the many others that he made for pro and top amateur goaltenders.
Wilson, who played goal in the Junior A, AHL and senior leagues, served as an emergency back-up goaltender for the Red Wings as well as for visiting teams, as was customary with many NHL trainers in the days before regular back-up goaltenders were carried on NHL team rosters. He played three total games in his career as the emergency goaltender. On October 10, 1953 he suited up for the 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...
in relief for an injured Terry Sawchuk
Terry Sawchuk
Terrance Gordon Sawchuk was a Ukrainian-Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played 21 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers.-Early life and playing career:Sawchuk was born and raised...
in a losing effort playing a total of 16 minutes for the Red Wings. On January 22, 1956 he suited up for 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...
replacing an injured Harry Lumley in another losing effort playing a total of 13 minutes and stopping nine shots for the Maple Leafs. On December 29, 1957 he suited up for 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...
replacing an injured Don Simmons
Don Simmons (ice hockey)
Donald William "Dippy" Simmons was a National Hockey League goaltender. He was called up by the Boston Bruins fom the Springfield Indians of the AHL in order to replace an ailing Terry Sawchuck who had left the Bruins in mid season of 1957...
in a game that ended in a 2-2 tie playing a total of 52 minutes allowing a goal and making 23 saves for the Bruins.