1968-69 O-Pee-Chee 140 Gerry Cheevers Hockey Card (Front)
1968-69 O-Pee-Chee 140 Gerry Cheevers Hockey Card (Back)
1968-69 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
Card Notes
Tabbed as a red-hot prospect during his early days in the Toronto organization, Gerry Cheevers is far from being a “picture book goalie.” But, he gets the job done, and done very well. He played for his present coach, Harry Sinden, at Oklahoma City.
En Français
Gardien de but. A ses débuts avec l’organisation du Toronto, on fondait de grands espoirs sur lui. Gerry Cheevers est loin d’être un gardien “orthodoxe”. mais il fait bien son travail. Il joua pour son instructeur actuel, Harry Sinden, à Oklahoma City.
Details
Originally in the Toronto Maple Leafs system, Cheevers played junior for St. Michael’s and spent several years in the minors before Boston picked him up for the 1965-66 season. His first National Hockey League action came in 1961-62 when he appeared in two games for Toronto, backing up Johnny Bower and Don Simmons.
In 1965-66, Gerry played under head coach Harry Sinden with the Oklahoma City Blazers in the Central Hockey League. He also split time with the Milt Schmidt coached Bruins. The following year, Sinden replaced Schmidt behind the Boston bench. Cheevers still spent time with both the Bruins and Blazers in 1966-67.
That year, the goaltending trio of Cheevers, Doug Favell and Bernie Parent helped the Blazers to a first overall finish in the CHL. The team ousted the Fred Shero coached Omaha Knights in the final for the playoff championship.
That was the last year Gerry would see time in the minors. By 1967-68, he was Boston’s number one goalie, sharing time with Ed Johnston. The rest of his NHL career was spent with the club, although he played four years, from 1972-73 to 1975-76, in the World Hockey Association with the Cleveland Crusaders.
A champion in three leagues, Cheevers helped the Rochester Americans to a Calder Cup win in 1964-65, the Blazers to their championship in 1966-67 and the Bruins to Stanley Cup wins in 1969-70 and 1971-72. Gerry was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985.