Roger Crozier
Roger Crozier | |||
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada | March 16, 1942||
Died |
January 11, 1996 Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. | (aged 53)||
Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | ||
Weight | 160 lb (73 kg; 11 st 6 lb) | ||
Position | Goaltender | ||
Caught | Right | ||
Played for |
Detroit Red Wings Buffalo Sabres Washington Capitals | ||
Playing career | 1960–1977 |
Roger Allan Crozier (March 16, 1942 – January 11, 1996) was a Canadian professional
From his junior hockey career until his death, Crozier was plagued by pancreatitis and other health problems. Despite them, he helped his junior team win the Memorial Cup in 1959–60, played in over 500 NHL regular season games and participated in three Stanley Cup Finals. His health problems led to his retirement in 1976–77 and he joined the Capitals' front office shortly after. Crozier left the Capitals in 1983 to work for MBNA bank. In 2000, MBNA unveiled a new trophy called the Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award which was awarded annually from 1999–2000 to 2006–07 to the goaltender with the best save percentage during the regular season in the NHL.The Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame inducted Crozier in 2009.
Background
Crozier was born and raised in the town of Bracebridge, Ontario. He was one of fourteen children of Lloyd and Mildred Crozier (née Austin).[1][2] At the age of six, Crozier began playing goaltender, a position that he would grow to "like".[3] Identified as a "special goaltending talent" by his town's senior hockey team, the Bracebridge Bears, he became their starting goaltender at the age of 14. In 1958–59, he helped the Bears become district champions in the Intermediate C playoffs.[4]
Playing career
Early career
Crozier spent his junior career with the
Crozier spent most of the
While playing in the minors, Crozier adopted the butterfly style of goaltending, which he used during his NHL career. At first, his coaches in the minors tried to convince him to abandon this style, thinking that it would never succeed in the NHL.[8] Crozier also added an element of acrobacy in his game.[10]
Detroit Red Wings (1963–70)
The Black Hawks traded Crozier to the
In
Due to pancreatitis, Crozier missed twelve games out of 70 in
Buffalo Sabres (1970–77) and Washington Capitals (1977)
In the
The 1971–72 season was even worse for the Sabres as they finished with the fewest wins in the league with 16.[25] Crozier posted a 13–34–14 record and a 3.51 GAA. He faced 2,190 shots during the season, a team record which stands to this day.[22] The Sabres improved in 1972–73 and made the playoffs for the first time in their history.[26] In 49 games, Crozier had his first winning record with the Sabres and he posted a much improved 2.76 GAA. In the first round, the Sabres faced the Montreal Canadiens. Crozier played four games and won two, but the Sabres were dispatched in six games.
Still suffering from pancreatitis and now afflicted by ulcers and gallbladder problems, Crozier saw his playing time greatly reduced.[27] In 1974–75, he posted 17 wins and two losses, helping the Sabres rank first in the Adams Division.[28] During the playoffs, Crozier played five games, including two in the Stanley Cup Finals. After eliminating the Black Hawks and the Canadiens, the Sabres faced the Philadelphia Flyers in the Stanley Cup Finals.[28] Game three of the Finals in Buffalo was known as the "Fog Game"; a heat wave in May hit the arena and with no air conditioning inside, the temperature increased. Fog started to develop and soon visibility decreased. Gerry Desjardins was the starting goaltender but after allowing three goals in the first period, he was replaced by Crozier. Crozier allowed one goal during the rest of the game and helped the Sabres win 5–4 in overtime.[29] With the Sabres trailing in the series 3–2, Crozier was selected to start game six and he shut out the Flyers in the first two periods. In the third period the Flyers score the only goals of the game, and they won the Stanley Cup.[30] For the third time, Crozier's team lost in the finals.
In 1975–76, Crozier played in only 11 games due to his persisting ailments. The Sabres traded him to the Washington Capitals in exchange for cash on March 3, 1977.[11] He played only three games with the Capitals before retiring after 14 seasons in the NHL.
Post-career
After retiring, Crozier served in the Capitals' front office.[22] He served as interim general manager during the 1981–82 season and served as head coach for one game during the season.[31] Under his watch, the Capitals picked future Hockey Hall of Fame defenceman Scott Stevens in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. He left the Capitals in 1983 and moved to Wilmington, Delaware to work at MBNA Bank. He rose to the level of executive vice president and facilities manager of Worldwide Facilities and Construction.[32]
Roger Crozier died after a battle with cancer on January 11, 1996, at the age of 53. He was survived by his wife Janice, and his two daughters, Katie and Brooke.[33] In 2000, the NHL unveiled the Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award, which was given annually to the goaltender who posted the best save percentage in each season from 1999–2000 to 2006–07. The award was co-sponsored by Crozier's last employer, MBNA.[34] In 2009, he was inducted into the Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.[22]
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
Regular season
|
Playoffs | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
1959–60
|
St. Catharines Teepees | OHA | 48 | 25 | 19 | 4 | 2880 | 191 | 1 | 3.98 | — | 17 | — | — | — | 1020 | 52 | 0 | 3.06 | — | ||
1959–60 | St. Catharines Teepees | M-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 850 | 58 | 0 | 4.09 | — | ||
1960–61
|
St. Catharines Teepees | OHA | 48 | 18 | 24 | 6 | 2880 | 204 | 0 | 4.25 | — | 6 | — | — | — | 360 | 21 | 0 | 3.50 | — | ||
1960–61 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 130 | 5 | 0 | 2.31 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1961–62
|
St. Catharines Teepees | OHA | 45 | — | — | — | 2670 | 174 | 1 | 3.91 | — | 6 | — | — | — | 360 | 19 | 0 | 3.17 | — | ||
1961–62 | Sault Ste. Marie Thunderbirds | EPHL | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 180 | 12 | 0 | 4.00 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1961–62 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 60 | 0 | 4.00 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
1962–63 | St. Louis Braves | EPHL | 70 | 26 | 35 | 9 | 4200 | 299 | 1 | 4.27 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1962–63 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 240 | 10 | 0 | 2.50 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1963–64 | Pittsburgh Hornets | AHL | 44 | 30 | 13 | 1 | 2640 | 103 | 4 | 2.34 | — | 3 | 1 | 2 | — | 184 | 9 | 0 | 2.93 | — | ||
1963–64 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 15 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 900 | 51 | 2 | 3.40 | .900 | 3 | 0 | 2 | — | 126 | 5 | 0 | 2.38 | .906 | ||
1964–65 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 70 | 40 | 22 | 7 | 4168 | 168 | 6 | 2.42 | .912 | 7 | 3 | 4 | — | 420 | 23 | 0 | 3.29 | .877 | ||
1965–66 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 64 | 27 | 24 | 12 | 3734 | 173 | 7 | 2.78 | .903 | 12 | 6 | 5 | — | 668 | 26 | 1 | 2.34 | .914 | ||
1966–67 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 58 | 22 | 29 | 4 | 3256 | 182 | 4 | 3.35 | .895 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1967–68 | Fort Worth Wings
|
CHL | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 265 | 12 | 0 | 2.49 | .909 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1967–68 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 34 | 9 | 18 | 2 | 1729 | 95 | 1 | 3.30 | .890 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1968–69 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 38 | 12 | 16 | 3 | 1820 | 101 | 0 | 3.33 | .897 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1969–70 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 34 | 16 | 6 | 9 | 1877 | 83 | 0 | 2.65 | .920 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — | 34 | 3 | 0 | 5.29 | .813 | ||
1970–71 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 44 | 9 | 20 | 7 | 2198 | 135 | 1 | 3.68 | .899 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1971–72 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 63 | 13 | 34 | 14 | 3654 | 214 | 2 | 3.51 | .902 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1972–73 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 49 | 23 | 13 | 7 | 2633 | 121 | 3 | 2.76 | .905 | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | 249 | 11 | 0 | 2.65 | .904 | ||
1973–74 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 12 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 615 | 39 | 0 | 3.80 | .875 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1974–75 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 23 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 1260 | 55 | 3 | 2.62 | .905 | 5 | 3 | 2 | — | 292 | 14 | 0 | 2.88 | .903 | ||
1975–76 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 11 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 620 | 27 | 1 | 2.61 | .888 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1976–77 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 103 | 2 | 0 | 1.17 | .967 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
NHL totals | 518 | 206 | 197 | 70 | 28,567 | 1446 | 30 | 3.04 | .902 | 32 | 14 | 16 | — | 1789 | 82 | 1 | 2.75 | .900 |
"Roger Crozier's stats". The Goaltender Home Page. Retrieved 2017-08-06.
Awards
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References
- ^ "Obituaries". The Bracebridge Herald-Gazette. 1996-01-17. p. 16.
- ISBN 0740719041.
- ^ Lardner, Rex (1964-11-23). "Wispy and worrying, but he wins". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
- ISBN 6137806472.
- The Montreal Gazette. 1959-02-24. p. 20. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
- ^ "Memorial Cup winners". Ottawa Citizen. 1986-05-20. p. 61. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
- ^ "Wings' goalie Crozier retires because of hockey's "torture"". Ottawa Citizen. 1967-10-07. p. 8. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
- ^ ISBN 1582612714.
- ^ a b "Roger Crozier". NHL.com. Retrieved 2013-01-08.
- ISBN 0970917015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Roger Crozier". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2013-01-08.
- The Owosso Argus-Press. p. 39. Retrieved 2013-06-02.
- The Calgary Herald. 1964-06-11. p. 16. Retrieved 2013-05-30.
- ISBN 1926685423.
- The Windsor Star. p. 35. Retrieved 2013-06-02.
- ISBN 0740738305.
- ^ "1965–66 Stanley Cup winner". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2013-01-08.
- ^ "1965–66 Conn Smythe Trophy winner". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2013-01-09.
- The Milwaukee Journal. 1967-11-06. p. 53. Retrieved 2013-07-15.
- The Morning Record. 1968-01-22. p. 5. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
- ^ "Detroit deals Crozier in hockey's Expansion Draft". Ludington Daily News. 1970-07-11. p. 3. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
- ^ a b c d "Roger Crozier". Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2013-01-09.
- ^ "1970–71 NHL season summary". Sports Reference. Retrieved 2013-01-07.
- ^ MacLaine, Ian (1972-01-20). "Crozier shuts out Canucks". The Windsor Star. p. 85. Retrieved 2013-01-07.
- ^ "1971–72 NHL season summary". Sports Reference. Retrieved 2013-01-07.
- ^ "Playoff breakthrough for Sabres". Ottawa Citizen. 1973-04-02. p. 14. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
- ^ "Goalie in awe of Sabres". Sarasota Journal. 1975-11-15. p. 21. Retrieved 2013-06-02.
- ^ a b "1974–75 NHL season summary". Sports Reference. Retrieved 2013-01-09.
- Daytona Beach Morning Journal. 1975-05-22. p. 19. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
- ^ "1975 NHL Playoffs Summary". Sports Reference. Retrieved 2013-05-03.
- ^ "Washington Capitals coaches". Sports Reference. Retrieved 2013-01-10.
- ^ "Marty Turco receives MBNA/Mastercard Canada Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award". Mastercard. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
- ^ "Roger Crozier, 53, a hockey goaltender". The New York Times. 1996-01-12. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
- ^ "Canadiens' Cristobal Huet to receive MBNA Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award". NHL.com. Archived from the original on September 22, 2006. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database