Clint Benedict
Inducted:
1965
Player Stats
6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
165 lb (75 kg; 11 st 11 lb)
Born:
September 26, 1892
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Died:
November 12, 1976
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Position:
Goaltender
College:
NA
Clinton Marshall "Praying Benny" Benedict was the most innovative and dominant goaltender of the NHL's first decade. A cornerstone of the original Ottawa Senators dynasty, Benedict won three Stanley Cups in Ottawa before adding a fourth with the Montreal Maroons. He earned his nickname for his habit of dropping to his knees to make saves—a practice that was strictly illegal when he began his career.
His persistent "accidental" falls eventually forced the league to change the rules, effectively legalizing the butterfly style of goaltending. Benedict's most iconic contribution to the game occurred in 1930 when, after suffering a broken nose and cheekbone, he became the first goaltender in NHL history to wear a protective mask in a game.
A five-time league leader in goals-against average, Benedict’s blend of tactical defiance and bravery redefined the position. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1965.
Benedict's Awards and Record:
- 4x Stanley Cup Champion (1920, 1921, 1923 with Ottawa; 1926 with Montreal)
- 5x NHL Goals Against Average Leader (1919, 1920, 1922, 1923, 1927)
- NHA Goals Against Average Leader (1917)
- Ranked #77 on The Hockey News' 100 Greatest Hockey Players (1998)
- First NHL goalie to wear a mask, not a number
- Recorded the first shutout in NHL history on February 15, 1919
NHL Teams
Ottawa Senators (1917-1924)
Montreal Maroons (1924-1930)
Number Worn:
1, 3
NHL Stats
Seasons:
13 (1917-1930)
Games Played:
362
Wins:
190
Losses:
143
Goals Against Average (GAA):
2.32
Shutouts:
57
Playoff Record:
11–12 in 28 games
Playoff GAA:
1.86
Stanley Cups:
4 (1920,1921,1923,1926)
