| Position: | Goaltender |
| Catches: | Left |
| Height Ft: | 5 |
| Height In: | 7 |
| Weight Lb: | 180 |
| Played For: | New York Rangers Montreal Canadiens Minnesota North Stars |
| Birth Date: | May 14, 1929 |
| Birth Place: | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Death Place: | Beloeil, Quebec, Canada[1] |
| Career Start: | 1952 |
| Career End: | 1974 |
| Halloffame: | 1980 |
Lorne John "Gump" Worsley (May 14, 1929 – January 26, 2007) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, 'Gump' was given his nickname because friends thought he looked like comic-strip character Andy Gump.
Worsley played his first four years as a professional in the minor leagues, most notably for the New York Rovers of the Eastern Hockey League (EHL), the St. Paul Saints of the United States Hockey League (USHL), and the Saskatoon Quakers of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Between 1950 and 1952 he was named to the First All-Star Team three times and led the league in goaltending.In the fall of 1952 he was signed by the New York Rangers of the NHL. Although he played for a last-place team, he won the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year. However, after asking for a pay increase of $500 a year, he was sent back down to the minor leagues the following season. In 1953-54, playing for the Vancouver Canucks of the WHL, he won the league's most valuable player award.
In 1954-55, Worsley returned to the Rangers, replacing Johnny Bower. He toiled for the Rangers for the next nine seasons, generally playing well for a poor team. In the 1955–56 New York Rangers season opener against the Chicago Blackhawks, Worsley made 43 saves, setting a franchise record.[2]
In the summer of 1963, Worsley became involved in the establishment of a players' union, and the Rangers promptly traded him to the Montreal Canadiens. He spent much of the next two seasons in the American Hockey League with the Quebec Aces and was named to the AHL's First All-Star Team in 1964. Returning to the NHL, Worsley played his best years for the Canadiens as the team won the Stanley Cup in 1965, 1966, 1968 and 1969. His best season was 1968, when he won the Vezina Trophy, attained a goals-against average of 1.98 — the lowest in his career — and earned eleven straight wins in the playoffs. In 1969–70, however, he had a dispute with general manager Sam Pollock over being demoted to the minors, and head coach Claude Ruel's decision to favor Rogatien Vachon made Worsley quit in the middle of the season. Pollock suggested Worsley accept a two-week conditioning stint to work his way back to the Canadiens, but the veteran netminder refused. Worsley was suspended for not reporting to the Canadiens' Montreal Voyageurs farm team and told Pollock he intended to retire.
Later in the season, however, the Minnesota North Stars expressed interest in Worsley, and the Canadiens traded him for future considerations. He starred with Minnesota for most of the following five years; his best season with the team was 1972, when he came second in the league with a 2.12 goals-against average and was named to play in the 25th National Hockey League All-Star Game. He retired after the 1973–74 season at the age of 44. Worsley was the second goaltender to win 300 games and lose 300 games, after Harry Lumley.[3]
Worsley was known for his wry sense of humour and various eccentricities. Early in his career with the lacklustre Rangers, regularly facing 40 to 50 shots a night, he was asked: "Which team gives you the most trouble?" His reply: "The New York Rangers." Accused by Rangers' coach Phil Watson of having a beer belly, he replied, "Just goes to show you what he knows. I only drink Johnnie Walker Red."
Worsley refused to wear a mask long after almost all other goaltenders adopted one. He was the second-to-last professional hockey goaltender to play without a mask; Andy Brown of the WHA's Indianapolis Racers was the last. Worsley finally put one on in the last six games of his career. Asked why he never wore a mask, Worsley told reporters: "My face is my mask."[4]
Worsley was also well known for his fear of flying. On November 25, 1968,[5] en route to Los Angeles, he suffered a nervous breakdown after a rough flight from Montreal's Dorval Airport to Chicago. It has been reported that a stewardess upon landing came over the PA system and said that if passengers wished to claim refunds for drycleaning they should submit receipts. Worsley is reported to have quipped, "Does that include underwear?"[6] Later, he received psychiatric treatment and missed action. It is said upon emerging from retirement to play for the North Stars he was assured, as Minnesota was in the middle of the continent, the team travelled less than any other in the league.
Worsley was an excellent soccer player, beginning his career as a junior with Westmount. In 1948 he was a member of the Montreal youth all-star team. As a promising young player, he soon attracted attention; the following year he moved up to McMasterville in the Montreal League. There he was selected to play in a trial game from which the Montreal all-stars were chosen to play the touring English club Fulham FC on 29th May 1951 (the game was drawn 2-2).
In the summer of 1952, while a member of the Saskatoon Quakers, he played centre forward for the Saskatoon All-stars against the touring Tottenham Hotspur football club from England. In 1953, he joined Montréal Hakoah FC and helped his new club to the Canadian final, but they lost the three-game series to the Westminster Royals.[7] In 1954, he played with Montreal Vickers. His father was also an outstanding soccer player and won a Canadian championship medal with Montreal Grand Trunk in 1919.
Worsley suffered many injuries during his career. While with Vancouver of the WHL, he sustained a back injury that nearly ended his career when Gus Kyle hit him from behind. He also suffered a knee problem in the 1956 playoffs that required surgery; a severed tendon in 1960; a blistering shot from Bobby Hull that hit him in the forehead in 1961; a pulled hamstring that same year; another pulled hamstring in 1963–64; knee surgery in 1966; a sprained knee, then a concussion from a hard-boiled egg thrown by a New York fan; a broken finger in the 1969 playoffs; a pulled hamstring in 1972–73 that forced his temporary retirement. The blast to the forehead from Bobby Hull knocked him unconscious and sent him to Montreal's Royal Victoria Hospital. Upon awakening, asked how he was feeling, Gump replied: "Good thing the puck hit me flat!"[8]
At the time of his retirement, Worsley had played more games than any goalie except Terry Sawchuk and Glenn Hall. He retired with a record of 335 wins, 352 losses and 150 ties, 43 shutouts, and a goals-against average of 2.91.
Worsley suffered a heart attack on January 22, 2007, and died at Hôpital Honoré-Mercier in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec on January 26, 2007. He was survived by his wife, Doreen Chapman and his children Lorne, Dean, Drew, and Lianne.[9] [10]
Two Canadian indie rock bands recorded tributes to Worsley — Huevos Rancheros released "Gump Worsley's Lament" and The Weakerthans released "Elegy for Gump Worsley". Canadian band Sons of Freedom named their second album Gump after Worsley. In the TV series a property management company is named "Gump and Worsley."
| Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SV% | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||||
| 1946–47 | Verdun Cyclones | QJHL | 25 | 6 | 18 | 1 | 1500 | 138 | 3 | 5.52 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1947–48 | Verdun Cyclones | QJHL | 29 | 13 | 11 | 5 | 1740 | 95 | 1 | 3.28 | — | 5 | 1 | 4 | 317 | 21 | 0 | 3.97 | — | ||
| 1948–49 | Montreal St. Francis Xavier | MMJHL | 47 | 24 | 21 | 2 | 2840 | 122 | 7 | 2.58 | — | 5 | 2 | 3 | 310 | 16 | 0 | 3.10 | — | ||
| 1948–49 | New York Rovers | QSHL | 2 | — | — | — | 120 | 5 | 0 | 2.50 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1949–50 | New York Rovers | EAHL | 47 | 25 | 17 | 5 | 2830 | 133 | 7 | 2.86 | — | 12 | 8 | 2 | 720 | 27 | 1 | 2.25 | — | ||
| 1949–50 | New Haven Ramblers | AHL | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 120 | 4 | 0 | 2.00 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1950–51 | St. Paul Saints | USHL | 64 | 33 | 26 | 5 | 3920 | 184 | 3 | 2.82 | — | 4 | 1 | 3 | 257 | 9 | 0 | 2.19 | — | ||
| 1951–52 | Saskatoon Quakers | PCHL | 66 | 33 | 19 | 14 | 3960 | 206 | 5 | 3.07 | — | 13 | 10 | 3 | 818 | 31 | 1 | 2.27 | — | ||
| 1952–53 | Saskatoon Quakers | WHL | 13 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 780 | 50 | 0 | 3.84 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1952–53 | Edmonton Flyers | WHL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 2 | 0 | 2.00 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1952–53 | New York Rangers | NHL | 50 | 13 | 29 | 8 | 3000 | 153 | 2 | 3.06 | .901 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1953–54 | Vancouver Canucks | WHL | 70 | 39 | 24 | 7 | 4200 | 168 | 4 | 2.40 | — | 12 | 7 | 4 | 709 | 29 | 0 | 2.45 | — | ||
| 1954–55 | New York Rangers | NHL | 65 | 15 | 33 | 17 | 3900 | 197 | 4 | 3.03 | .916 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1955–56 | New York Rangers | NHL | 70 | 32 | 28 | 10 | 4200 | 198 | 4 | 2.83 | .922 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 190 | 14 | 0 | 4.67 | .861 | ||
| 1956–57 | New York Rangers | NHL | 68 | 26 | 28 | 14 | 4080 | 216 | 3 | 3.18 | .906 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 316 | 21 | 0 | 3.99 | .893 | ||
| 1957–58 | New York Rangers | NHL | 37 | 21 | 10 | 6 | 2200 | 86 | 4 | 2.32 | .929 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 365 | 28 | 0 | 4.60 | .872 | ||
| 1957–58 | Providence Reds | AHL | 25 | 12 | 11 | 2 | 1528 | 83 | 0 | 3.26 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1958–59 | New York Rangers | NHL | 67 | 26 | 30 | 11 | 4001 | 198 | 2 | 2.97 | .907 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1959–60 | New York Rangers | NHL | 39 | 7 | 23 | 8 | 2301 | 135 | 0 | 3.52 | .899 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1959–60 | Springfield Indians | AHL | 15 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 900 | 33 | 3 | 2.20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1960–61 | New York Rangers | NHL | 59 | 20 | 29 | 8 | 3473 | 190 | 1 | 3.28 | .912 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1961–62 | New York Rangers | NHL | 60 | 22 | 27 | 9 | 3531 | 172 | 2 | 2.92 | .912 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 384 | 21 | 0 | 3.28 | .918 | ||
| 1962–63 | New York Rangers | NHL | 67 | 22 | 34 | 10 | 3980 | 217 | 2 | 3.27 | .915 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1963–64 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 8 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 444 | 22 | 1 | 2.97 | .897 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1963–64 | Quebec Aces | AHL | 47 | 30 | 16 | 1 | 2820 | 128 | 5 | 2.72 | — | 9 | 4 | 5 | 543 | 29 | 0 | 3.20 | — | ||
| 1964–65 | Quebec Aces | AHL | 37 | 24 | 12 | 1 | 2247 | 101 | 2 | 2.70 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1964–65 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 19 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 1020 | 50 | 1 | 2.94 | .906 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 501 | 14 | 2 | 1.68 | .936 | ||
| 1965–66 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 51 | 29 | 14 | 6 | 2899 | 114 | 2 | 2.36 | .920 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 602 | 20 | 1 | 1.99 | .931 | ||
| 1966–67 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 18 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 888 | 47 | 1 | 3.18 | .900 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 80 | 2 | 0 | 1.50 | .956 | ||
| 1967–68 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 40 | 19 | 9 | 8 | 2213 | 73 | 6 | 1.98 | .922 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 672 | 21 | 1 | 1.88 | .930 | ||
| 1968–69 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 30 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 1703 | 64 | 5 | 2.25 | .920 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 370 | 14 | 0 | 2.27 | .921 | ||
| 1969–70 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 360 | 14 | 0 | 2.33 | .915 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1969–70 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 453 | 20 | 1 | 2.65 | .932 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 180 | 14 | 0 | 4.67 | .880 | ||
| 1970–71 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 24 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 1369 | 57 | 0 | 2.50 | .920 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 240 | 13 | 0 | 3.25 | .888 | ||
| 1971–72 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 34 | 16 | 10 | 7 | 1923 | 68 | 2 | 2.12 | .934 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 194 | 7 | 1 | 2.16 | .935 | ||
| 1972–73 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 12 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 624 | 30 | 0 | 2.88 | .906 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1973–74 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 29 | 8 | 14 | 5 | 1601 | 86 | 0 | 3.22 | .901 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 861 | 335 | 352 | 150 | 50,183 | 2,407 | 43 | 2.88 | .913 | 70 | 40 | 26 | 4,084 | 189 | 5 | 2.78 | .912 | ||||