Harrison Gray Explained

Position:Goaltender
Catches:Left
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lb:165
Played For:Detroit Red Wings
Birth Date:September 5, 1941
Birth Place:Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Death Place:Strathmore, Alberta, Canada
Career Start:1961
Career End:1969

Harrison Leroy Gray (September 5, 1941 – August 19, 2022) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings during the 1963–64 season. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1961 to 1970, was spent in the minor leagues.

Playing career

Gray played for only 40 minutes of one NHL game, the November 28, 1963 match against the Montreal Canadiens. He received credit for the loss after allowing 5 goals on 31 shots in a 7–3 loss at Detroit.[1] Gray took over for the injured Terry Sawchuck.[2]

From 1964 to 1969, Gray played another 318 games in the Eastern Hockey League before retiring from professional hockey.

Prior to playing for the Detroit Red Wings, Gray played 15 games in the Western Hockey League with the Edmonton Flyers, and 3 games with the Cincinnati Wings in the Central Hockey League. Gray died in Strathmore, Alberta in 2022 at the age of 80.[3]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP W L T MIN GA SV%GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
1959–60Edmonton Oil KingsCAHL
1959–60Edmonton Oil KingsM-Cup3 0 3 180 25 0 8.33
1960–61Edmonton Oil KingsCAHL
1961–62Edmonton FlyersWHL1 0 0 0 20 0 0 0.00 1.000
1961–62Edmonton Oil KingsCAHL
1961–62Edmonton Oil KingsM-Cup21 14 7 1271 56 3 2.64
1962–63Edmonton FlyersWHL14 0 13 1 840 87 0 6.21
1963–64Detroit Red WingsNHL1 0 1 0 40 5 0 7.50 .839
1963–64Cincinnati WingsCHL3 1 1 1 180 10 0 3.33
1964–65Knoxville KnightsEHL55 3300 208 2 3.78 10 5 5 600 37 0 3.70
1965–66Knoxville KnightsEHL28 14 14 0 1680 118 0 4.21
1965–66New Haven BladesEHL37 2220 170 1 4.59 3 0 3 180 15 0 5.00
1966–67Florida RocketsEHL72 27 43 2 4320 314 2 4.36
1967–68Florida RocketsEHL72 30 34 8 4320 286 3 3.97 5 2 3 300 20 0 4.00
1968–69Jacksonville RocketsEHL54 3240 226 1 4.18 1 1 0 60 2 0 2.00
1969–70Drumheller MinersASHL17 1020 72 1 4.24
NHL totals1 0 1 0 40 5 0 7.50 .839

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Harrison Gray. Hockey Reference.com. 13 October 2015.
  2. Web site: The inside story of the oddity that is the "Emergency Backup" goalie – and why it could soon change. Hackel. Stu. The Hockey News. The Hockey News. July 29, 2022.
  3. https://calgaryherald.remembering.ca/obituary/harrison-gray-1086029383 Harrison Gray obituary