Gerry Cheevers squares off against Nomar Garciaparra in the first round of Boston’s Biggest Sports Legend tournament.
Despite never making an NHL All-Star team or winning the Vezina Trophy, Gerry Cheevers will go down as one of the greatest Bruins goalies in the history of the franchise. The impenetrable backstop will also be forever synonymous with his goalie mask, which featured painted stitch marks from where he made would-be face saves. But the intimidating mask wasn’t all Cheevers was known for. The versatile netminder was the “third defender” as he wandered way out of his net to challenge opponents. Cheevers joined the B’s in 1967, joining fellow greats Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito in their efforts to take the last-place club to Stanley Cup champs in 1970 and again in 1972. Harry Sinden said: “Certainly, we had Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito, but I’m sure we couldn’t have won the Cups without Gerry Cheevers.” The Ontario native holds the NHL record for longest undefeated streak (32 games, 24-0-8) with Boston in 1971-72. After knee problems forced his retirement following the 1979-80 season, Cheevers served five seasons as Bruins coach and ranks seventh in career winning percentage (.604) with a 204-126-46 record in franchise history.
It’s not every day that a rookie comes up and quickly draws comparisons to Ted Williams. It’s even rarer when that player’s name appears to have been created solely for fans with a Boston accent. Nomah-mania took over Red Sox Nation before it had membership cards. A rookie in 1997, Garciaparra led the AL with 209 hits and 11 triples while hitting 30 home runs and batting .306. His average would rise incrementally over the next three seasons, topping out at .372 in 2000. After that season, injuries began to derail the shortstop, and a player whose career once seemed destined to end in Cooperstown was dealt to the Cubs. Fans still reserve a special place in their hearts for Nomar, seen by their standing ovation last July when he made his return to Fenway Park. Now that he’s retired as a Red Sox, the legend of Nomah will continue to grow.
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