Rogie Vachon | |||
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Hockey Hall of Fame, 2016 | |||
Rogie Vachon pictured in 2008 (photo by Mark Mauno)
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Born |
Palmarolle, QC, CAN |
September 8, 1945 ||
Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | ||
Weight | 160 lb (73 kg; 11 st 6 lb) | ||
Position | Goaltender | ||
Caught | Left | ||
Played for |
AHL Quebec Aces NHL Montreal Canadiens Los Angeles Kings Detroit Red Wings Boston Bruins |
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National team | Canada | ||
Playing career | 1965–1982 |
Medal record | ||
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Representing Canada | ||
Men's ice hockey | ||
Canada Cup | ||
1976 Canada | Ice hockey |
Rogatien "Rogie" Rosaire Vachon (born September 8, 1945) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Montreal Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings, and Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League. He was the first Red Wing to break $1 million/year.
Vachon entered the National Hockey League in 1967 as a backup goaltender to Gump Worsley on the Montreal Canadiens. He played 11 games during the season, but it was in the playoffs that Vachon started to shine. Vachon played the majority of the games and led the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup Finals. They ended up losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs, but Vachon now had a permanent spot on the Canadiens roster. In a famous quote Punch Imlach, coach of the Leafs, called Rogie a Jr. B goaltender in an attempt to rattle Vachon during the Stanley Cup final.
Vachon started the next season with 39 games played. He won 23 games, and won the Vezina Trophy with Worsley. They had a combined 2.26 GAA, the lowest since 1959. Montreal would win the Stanley Cup that season and the season after that. During the 1969–70 season, Worsley was traded to the Minnesota North Stars. Vachon got the top job, but the Canadiens ended up missing the playoffs. In November 1971, after losing his number one status to rookie Ken Dryden, Vachon demanded a trade and he was subsequently traded to the Los Angeles Kings for Denis DeJordy, Dale Hoganson, Noel Price and Doug Robinson.