Gilles Villemure
Encyclopedia
Gilles Villemure is a retired Canadian
professional ice hockey
goaltender. He played for the New York Rangers
and Chicago Black Hawks
in the 1960s and 1970s.
, Gilles Villemure had a lengthy ten-year apprenticeship in the minor leagues, principally with the Vancouver Canucks
of the WHL
, the Baltimore Clippers
and the Buffalo Bisons
of the AHL
. He was a star in the minors, but despite being signed by the Rangers in 1964, he only saw spot duty in New York during the Sixties. However, in each of his final two seasons in the AHL (1968-69
and 1969-70
), he won the Les Cunningham Award
with the Bisons as the league's most valuable player, leading all goaltenders in the playoffs the second year to backstop the Bisons to the Calder Cup
in their final season. During his minor league career, he led his league in goals against average three times and in shutouts five times.
Rangers' management took notice, and the 1970–71 season saw Villemure recalled for good as the backup to Eddie Giacomin
. Over the next three seasons, Villemure recorded a sparkling 66–27–10 mark, with ten shutouts and a goals-against average never higher than 2.30, and shared the Vezina Trophy
with Giacomin in 1971. He was named to play in the NHL All-Star Game all three seasons, allowing only a single goal and recording the lowest career GAA of any All-Star Game goaltender. The Rangers were a powerhouse in that time, reaching the Stanley Cup finals in 1972.
By the 1974–75 season, with both goaltenders aging, Villemure had become the number one goaltender in New York, but had only modest success, and was traded to the Chicago Black Hawks
in the offseason. He backed up Tony Esposito
his two remaining years, only appearing in 21 games in all, retiring after the 1976–77 season.
In total, Villemure appeared in 205 NHL games, notching 100 wins, 13 shutouts and a 2.81 career goals against average.
During the hockey offseason, Villemure was a professional harness racehorse driver.
He now resides in Levittown, New York
.
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...
professional 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. He played for the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
and Chicago Black Hawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
in the 1960s and 1970s.
Playing career
After a season in the junior leagues with the Guelph Biltmores of the OHAOntario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
, Gilles Villemure had a lengthy ten-year apprenticeship in the minor leagues, principally with the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks (WHL)
The Vancouver Canucks were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. Inaugurated in 1945 with the PCHL, they became a WHL team with the merger of the PCHL with the Western Canada Senior Hockey League in 1952...
of the WHL
Western Hockey League (minor pro)
The Western Hockey League was a minor pro ice hockey league that operated from 1952 to 1974. Managed for most of its history by Hockey Hall of Fame member Al Leader, it was created out of the merger of the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Canada Senior Hockey League...
, the Baltimore Clippers
Baltimore Clippers
The Baltimore Clippers were an American ice hockey team. They were the first of three Baltimore entries into the American Hockey League, who played from 1962–76...
and the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons (AHL)
The Buffalo Bisons were an American Hockey League ice hockey franchise that played from 1940 to 1970 in Buffalo, New York. They replaced the original Buffalo Bisons hockey team, which left the area in 1936 after its arena collapsed...
of the AHL
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...
. He was a star in the minors, but despite being signed by the Rangers in 1964, he only saw spot duty in New York during the Sixties. However, in each of his final two seasons in the AHL (1968-69
1968–69 AHL season
The 1968–69 AHL season was the 33rd season of the American Hockey League. Eight teams played 74 games each in the schedule. The Buffalo Bisons finished first overall in the regular season...
and 1969-70
1969–70 AHL season
The 1969–70 AHL season was the 34th season of the American Hockey League. Nine teams played 72 games each in the schedule. The Montreal Voyageurs became the second Canadian-based team in the league, and finished first overall in the regular season...
), he won the Les Cunningham Award
Les Cunningham Award
The Les Cunningham Award is given annually to American Hockey League's "Most Valuable Player" of the regular season, as voted on by AHL media and players....
with the Bisons as the league's most valuable player, leading all goaltenders in the playoffs the second year to backstop the Bisons to the Calder Cup
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
in their final season. During his minor league career, he led his league in goals against average three times and in shutouts five times.
Rangers' management took notice, and the 1970–71 season saw Villemure recalled for good as the backup to Eddie Giacomin
Eddie Giacomin
Edward "Ed" Giacomin is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League, as well as for the Providence Reds of the American Hockey League.-Playing career:Despite suffering serious burns in a kitchen accident,...
. Over the next three seasons, Villemure recorded a sparkling 66–27–10 mark, with ten shutouts and a goals-against average never higher than 2.30, and shared the Vezina Trophy
Vezina Trophy
The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position". At the end of each season, the 30 General Managers of the teams in the National Hockey League vote to determine the goaltender who was the most valuable to his team...
with Giacomin in 1971. He was named to play in the NHL All-Star Game all three seasons, allowing only a single goal and recording the lowest career GAA of any All-Star Game goaltender. The Rangers were a powerhouse in that time, reaching the Stanley Cup finals in 1972.
By the 1974–75 season, with both goaltenders aging, Villemure had become the number one goaltender in New York, but had only modest success, and was traded to the Chicago Black Hawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
in the offseason. He backed up Tony Esposito
Tony Esposito
For the Italian musician, please see Tony Esposito .Anthony James "Tony O" Esposito is a retired Canadian-American professional ice hockey goaltender, who played in the National Hockey League, most notably for the Chicago Black Hawks. He was one of the pioneers of the now popular butterfly style....
his two remaining years, only appearing in 21 games in all, retiring after the 1976–77 season.
In total, Villemure appeared in 205 NHL games, notching 100 wins, 13 shutouts and a 2.81 career goals against average.
During the hockey offseason, Villemure was a professional harness racehorse driver.
He now resides in Levittown, New York
Levittown, New York
Levittown is a hamlet in the Town of Hempstead located on Long Island in Nassau County, New York. Levittown is midway between the villages of Hempstead and Farmingdale. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a total population of 51,881....
.
Awards and honors
- Won Rookie of the Year honors in the WHLWestern Hockey League (minor pro)The Western Hockey League was a minor pro ice hockey league that operated from 1952 to 1974. Managed for most of its history by Hockey Hall of Fame member Al Leader, it was created out of the merger of the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Canada Senior Hockey League...
in 1963. - Named to the WHL's First All-Star Team in 1966.
- Named to the AHLAmerican Hockey LeagueThe 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...
's Second All-Star Team in 1967 . - Won the Hap Holmes Memorial AwardHap Holmes Memorial AwardThe Hap Holmes Memorial Award is an ice hockey trophy awarded annually to the goaltenders of the American Hockey League team with the lowest goals against average, and who have appeared in at least 25 regular season games....
in 1969 and 1970. - Won the Les Cunningham AwardLes Cunningham AwardThe Les Cunningham Award is given annually to American Hockey League's "Most Valuable Player" of the regular season, as voted on by AHL media and players....
in 1969 and 1970. - Named to the AHL First All-Star Team in 1969 and 1970.
- Calder CupCalder CupThe Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
championship in 1970. - Vezina TrophyVezina TrophyThe Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position". At the end of each season, the 30 General Managers of the teams in the National Hockey League vote to determine the goaltender who was the most valuable to his team...
winner in 19711970-71 NHL seasonThe 1970–71 NHL season was the 54th season of the National Hockey League. Two new teams, the Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks made their debuts and were both put into the East Division. The Chicago Black Hawks were moved to the West Division...
(shared with Eddie GiacominEddie GiacominEdward "Ed" Giacomin is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League, as well as for the Providence Reds of the American Hockey League.-Playing career:Despite suffering serious burns in a kitchen accident,...
). - Named to play in the NHL All-Star Game in 1971, 1972 and 1973.
- Ranked No. 48 on the all-time list of New York Rangers in the book 100 Ranger Greats (John Wiley & SonsJohn Wiley & SonsJohn Wiley & Sons, Inc., also referred to as Wiley, is a global publishing company that specializes in academic publishing and markets its products to professionals and consumers, students and instructors in higher education, and researchers and practitioners in scientific, technical, medical, and...
, 2009).
Regular season
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA 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.... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958-59 | Troy Bruins Troy Bruins The Troy Bruins were an International Hockey League team based in Troy, Ohio that played from 1951 to 1959 at the Hobart Arena. Notable players were Brian Kilrea and Larry King Kwong.... |
IHL | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 18 | 0 | 6.00 |
| 1959-60 | Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters The Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1940 to 1942, and 1947 to 1960. The team was often known as the "Biltmores" and sponsored by the Guelph Biltmore Hat Company, and played home games at the Guelph Memorial Gardens.- History :The... |
OHA-Jr. Ontario Hockey Association The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the... |
35 | — | — | — | 1980 | 128 | 1 | 3.66 |
| 1960-61 | New York Rovers New York Rovers The New York Rovers were a senior ice hockey team that was established in 1935. They played in the Eastern Hockey League as a farm team of the New York Rangers. The Rovers played alongside the Rangers in Madison Square Garden. They played in the Eastern League through 1947-48... |
EHL Eastern Hockey League -Eastern Amateur Hockey League :The league was founded in 1933 as the Eastern Amateur Hockey League . The league was founded by Thomas Lockhart, who served as its commissioner from 1933 to 1972... |
51 | 16 | 34 | 1 | 3060 | 223 | 1 | 4.37 |
| 1961-62 | Long Island Ducks Long Island Ducks The Long Island Ducks is an American professional baseball team based in Central Islip, New York. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball... |
EHL | 65 | 25 | 39 | 1 | 3900 | 242 | 3 | 3.72 |
| 1961-62 | Charlotte Checkers | EHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 60 | 7 | 0 | 7.00 |
| 1961-62 | Johnstown Jets Johnstown Jets The Johnstown Jets were a professional ice hockey team from Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The Jets were founded in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League for the 1950–51 season, playing at the newly constructed Cambria County War Memorial Arena... |
EHL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 2 | 0 | 2.00 |
| 1962-63 | Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks (WHL) The Vancouver Canucks were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. Inaugurated in 1945 with the PCHL, they became a WHL team with the merger of the PCHL with the Western Canada Senior Hockey League in 1952... |
WHL Western Hockey League (minor pro) The Western Hockey League was a minor pro ice hockey league that operated from 1952 to 1974. Managed for most of its history by Hockey Hall of Fame member Al Leader, it was created out of the merger of the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Canada Senior Hockey League... |
70 | 35 | 31 | 4 | 4200 | 228 | 5 | 3.26 |
| 1963-64 | Baltimore Clippers Baltimore Clippers The Baltimore Clippers were an American ice hockey team. They were the first of three Baltimore entries into the American Hockey League, who played from 1962–76... |
AHL 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... |
66 | 31 | 33 | 2 | 3960 | 192 | 3 | 2.91 |
| 1963-64 1963-64 NHL season The 1963–64 NHL season was the 47th season of the National Hockey League. Six teams each played 70 games. The Toronto Maple Leafs won their third consecutive Stanley Cup by defeating the Detroit Red Wings four games to three in the final series.-Offseason:... |
New York Rangers New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one 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... |
5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 300 | 18 | 0 | 3.60 |
| 1964-65 | Vancouver Canucks | WHL | 60 | 27 | 26 | 6 | 3676 | 212 | 2 | 3.46 |
| 1965-66 | Vancouver Canucks | WHL | 69 | 32 | 34 | 3 | 4178 | 223 | 5 | 3.20 |
| 1966-67 | Baltimore Clippers | AHL | 70 | 34 | 27 | 9 | 4180 | 238 | 4 | 3.42 |
| 1967-68 1967-68 NHL season The 1967–68 NHL season was the 51st season of the National Hockey League. The league expanded to 12 teams, putting the new six in the West Division, while the original six were all placed in the East Division. The Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup against the new St... |
New York Rangers | NHL | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 200 | 8 | 1 | 2.40 |
| 1967-68 | Buffalo Bisons Buffalo Bisons (AHL) The Buffalo Bisons were an American Hockey League ice hockey franchise that played from 1940 to 1970 in Buffalo, New York. They replaced the original Buffalo Bisons hockey team, which left the area in 1936 after its arena collapsed... |
AHL | 37 | 18 | 13 | 6 | 2160 | 89 | 3 | 2.47 |
| 1968-69 1968-69 NHL season -NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes-Leading goaltenders:... |
New York Rangers | NHL | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 240 | 9 | 0 | 2.25 |
| 1968-69 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 62 | 36 | 12 | 14 | 3674 | 148 | 6 | 2.42 |
| 1969-70 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 65 | — | — | — | 3714 | 156 | 8 | 2.52 |
| 1970-71 1970-71 NHL season The 1970–71 NHL season was the 54th season of the National Hockey League. Two new teams, the Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks made their debuts and were both put into the East Division. The Chicago Black Hawks were moved to the West Division... |
New York Rangers | NHL | 34 | 22 | 8 | 4 | 2039 | 78 | 4 | 2.30 |
| 1971-72 1971-72 NHL season -Final:New York Rangers vs. Boston BruinsBoston Bruins win the best-of-seven series 4 games to 2 for the Stanley Cup-NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:-Leading goaltenders:... |
New York Rangers | NHL | 37 | 24 | 7 | 4 | 2129 | 74 | 3 | 2.09 |
| 1972-73 1972-73 NHL season -NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:-Leading goaltenders:Note: GP = Games played; Min - Minutes Played; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts-Debuts:... |
New York Rangers | NHL | 34 | 20 | 12 | 2 | 2040 | 78 | 3 | 2.29 |
| 1973-74 1973-74 NHL season -NHL awards:A new award, the Jack Adams for the best coach, was introduced for this season. The first winner was Fred Shero of the Philadelphia Flyers.-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:... |
New York Rangers | NHL | 21 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 1054 | 62 | 0 | 3.53 |
| 1974-75 1974-75 NHL season -NHL awards:-All-Star teams:Source: NHL.-Scoring leaders:Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = PointsSource: NHL.-Leading goaltenders:... |
New York Rangers | NHL | 45 | 22 | 14 | 6 | 2470 | 130 | 2 | 3.16 |
| 1975-76 1975-76 NHL season -NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points-Leading goaltenders:Note: GP = Games played; Min - Minutes Played; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts-Debuts:The following is a list... |
Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 15 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 797 | 57 | 0 | 4.29 |
| 1976-77 1976-77 NHL season -NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties In Minutes-Leading goaltenders:... |
Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 6 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 312 | 28 | 0 | 5.38 |
| WHL totals | 199 | 98 | 91 | 13 | 12,504 | 663 | 12 | 3.18 | ||
| NHL totals | 205 | 100 | 64 | 29 | 11,581 | 542 | 13 | 2.81 | ||
Playoffs
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959-60 | Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters | OHA-Jr. | 5 | — | — | 300 | 19 | 1 | 3.80 |
| 1962-63 | Vancouver Canucks | WHL | 7 | 3 | 4 | 429 | 27 | 1 | 3.78 |
| 1964-65 | Vancouver Canucks | WHL | 5 | 1 | 4 | 309 | 17 | 0 | 3.30 |
| 1965-66 | Vancouver Canucks | WHL | 7 | 3 | 4 | 420 | 27 | 0 | 3.86 |
| 1966-67 | Baltimore Clippers | AHL | 9 | 4 | 5 | 569 | 39 | 0 | 4.11 |
| 1967-68 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 5 | 1 | 3 | 247 | 15 | 0 | 3.64 |
| 1968-69 | New York Rangers | NHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 60 | 4 | 0 | 4.00 |
| 1968-69 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 6 | 2 | 4 | 360 | 19 | 1 | 3.17 |
| 1969-70 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 14 | 11 | 3 | 875 | 31 | 1 | 2.13 |
| 1970-71 | New York Rangers | NHL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 80 | 6 | 0 | 4.50 |
| 1971-72 | New York Rangers | NHL | 6 | 4 | 2 | 360 | 14 | 0 | 2.33 |
| 1972-73 | New York Rangers | NHL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 61 | 2 | 0 | 1.67 |
| 1973-74 | New York Rangers | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 1974-75 | New York Rangers | NHL | 2 | 1 | 0 | 94 | 6 | 0 | 3.83 |
| WHL totals | 19 | 7 | 12 | 1158 | 71 | 1 | 3.68 | ||
| NHL totals | 14 | 5 | 5 | 656 | 32 | 0 | 2.93 | ||