Alec Connell

Alexander Connell (February 8, 1900 – May 10, 1958) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Ottawa Senators, Detroit Falcons, New York Americans and Montreal Maroons teams in the National Hockey League. His nickname was "The Ottawa Fireman".[2]

Alec Connell
Hockey Hall of Fame, 1958
Born (1900-02-08)February 8, 1900
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Died May 10, 1958(1958-05-10) (aged 58)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada[1]
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 150 lb (68 kg; 10 st 10 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for Ottawa Senators
Detroit Falcons
New York Americans
Montreal Maroons
Playing career 19241937

Biography

Alec Connell joined the Ottawa Senators for the 1924–25 season after the Senators dealt Clint Benedict (Ottawa's former number one goalie) to the Montreal Maroons. In 1927 he was one of the first goalies to record a 30–win season, the year that the original Ottawa Senators franchise won the last of their Stanley Cups. In the 1927–28 season he set the NHL record for the longest shutout streak at 461:29, by recording seven consecutive shutouts and another 41 minutes in the eighth game, from January 31 to February 18, 1928.

The Ottawa team fell into decline after that and, while the Ottawa team was in hiatus for the 1931–32 season, he played for the Detroit Falcons under loan. He returned to the Senators after that until his first retirement after the 1932–33 season. He was named team captain for that season.

He played one game for the New York Americans in the next season as a substitute. He then returned to the NHL to play for the Montreal Maroons and won a Stanley Cup in 1935. As he was unable to gain a leave of absence from his job as Secretary of the Ottawa Fire Department, he retired again, but returned two seasons later with the Maroons.

His 1.91 career goals against average (GAA) is the all-time record among goaltenders of his era. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958.

He lived to see himself elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame, but died before his formal induction after a lengthy illness on May 10, 1958.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPWLTMINGASOGAA GPWLTMINGASOGAA
1917–18 Kingston Frontenacs OHA-Jr. 44002401102.75 43102401804.50
1918–19 Kingston Frontenacs OHA-Jr. 53203052404.72 40132402005.00
1919–20 Ottawa Cliffsides OCHL 7430430821.12
1920–21 Ottawa St. Brigid's OCHL 118216601221.09 86115201411.62
1921–22 Ottawa Gunners OCHL 1410318601851.26 65103601702.83
1922–23 Ottawa St. Brigid's OCHL 1788110902641.43
1923–24 Ottawa St. Brigid's OCHL 128407401451.14
1924–25 Ottawa Senators NHL 301712118526672.14
1925–26 Ottawa Senators NHL 362484225142151.12 2011120201.00
1926–27* Ottawa Senators NHL 4430104278269131.49 6303400420.60
1927–28 Ottawa Senators NHL 44201410276057151.24 2020120301.50
1928–29 Ottawa Senators NHL 4414171328206771.43
1929–30 Ottawa Senators NHL 4421158278011832.55 2011120603.00
1930–31 Ottawa Senators NHL 3610224219011033.01
1931–32 Detroit Falcons NHL 48182010305010862.12 2011120301.50
1932–33 Ottawa Senators NHL 154828453612.56
1933–34 New York Americans NHL 110040203.00
1934–35* Montreal Maroons NHL 482419529709291.86 7502429821.12
1936–37 Montreal Maroons NHL 271011617106322.21
NHL totals 4171931566726,050830811.91 2185813092641.19

* Stanley Cup Champion.

References

  • The Montreal Maroons: The Forgotten Stanley Cup Champions by William Brown

Notes

  1. "Alec Connell Dies" The Miami News, May 11, 1958.
  2. Connell, Alex - Biography - Honoured Player. Legends of Hockey (1928-02-18). Retrieved on 2012-11-04.
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