Gerry Cheevers

Gerry ‘Cheesy’ Cheevers was the netminder for the Stanley Cup-winning Boston Bruins in 1970 and 1972.   Originally a Maple Leaf, Toronto relegated Cheevers to a backup role behind the great Johnny Bower.  Picked up by Boston in 1965, Cheevers became the regular goaltender and was often left to his own devices, as the entire Boston team liked to play on the forecheck.  He was one of the first to regularly wear the goalie mask and would famously paint stitches on it, much to the ire of coach Harry Sinden.  In 1972, Cheevers signed a seven-year WHA contract with the Cleveland Crusaders, which actually lasted less than four.   Cheevers finished his career back in Boston as one of the greatest goalies of his era.  Cheevers was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in’85