On Thin Ice Trivia Quiz

Answer:

Each goalie in this quiz is known for their significant impact on the game and for being among the top performers of their era:

--- Georges Vézina (played 1910-1925) was one of the NHL's first true stars, serving as the backbone of the early Montreal Canadiens. Though detailed statistics like save percentage were not tracked in his era, he was renowned for his durability and consistency, rarely missing a game. His excellence was so respected that the NHL's annual award for best goaltender - the Vezina Trophy - was named in his honour, cementing his foundational impact on the position.
--- Clint Benedict (played 1917-1930) brought an aggressive and innovative edge to early goaltending, becoming one of the first to regularly leave his crease to play the puck. He recorded over 30 shutouts in an era with far fewer games and helped the Ottawa Senators win multiple Stanley Cups. His willingness to adapt and experiment made him one of the NHL's earliest tactical pioneers.
--- Turk Broda (played 1935-1952) was a cornerstone of the Toronto Maple Leafs dynasty, winning five Stanley Cups and posting consistently strong goals-against averages for his time. Known for his calm demeanor and strong positioning, he combined reliability with big-game performance. Broda helped define what a championship goaltender looked like in the pre-Original Six expansion era.
--- Terry Sawchuk (played 1949-1970) combined athleticism with resilience, amassing over 440 career wins and more than 100 shutouts - numbers that stood as benchmarks for decades. A four-time Stanley Cup champion (with the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs), he was known for his intense style and ability to dominate games. His career helped define statistical excellence for mid-century goaltenders.
--- Jacques Plante (played 1952-1975) revolutionized goaltending both statistically and culturally, winning seven Vezina Trophies while maintaining some of the lowest goals-against averages of his era. He is most famous for popularizing the goalie mask, fundamentally changing player safety. Plante also emphasized positioning and puck handling, pushing the position toward a more technical approach.
--- Glenn Hall (played 1955-1971). His legacy was built on both performance and endurance, highlighted by his extraordinary streak of 502 consecutive complete games. He won three Vezina Trophies and played a major role in the adoption of the butterfly style, which influenced generations of goalies. His consistency and innovation made him one of the most influential figures in modern goaltending's evolution.
--- Tony Esposito (played 1969-1984) emerged as a transformative figure in the 1970s, capturing three Vezina Trophies and introducing a refined version of the butterfly style. He recorded 15 shutouts in his rookie season - setting a record that stood for decades - while modernizing goaltending technique. His influence extended beyond statistics, shaping how future goalies approached net coverage.
--- Ken Dryden (played 1970-1979) had a relatively short career but achieved remarkable success, winning six Stanley Cups and five Vezina Trophies in just eight seasons. With a career save percentage well above his contemporaries, he anchored a dominant Montreal Canadiens dynasty. Dryden's calm, cerebral approach helped redefine efficiency and composure in goal.
--- Grant Fuhr (played 1981-2000) was a key part of the high-powered Edmonton Oilers dynasty, backstopping the team to five Stanley Cups. While his raw statistics were influenced by the offensive nature of the 1980s, his ability to make crucial saves at decisive moments defined his reputation. Fuhr demonstrated that clutch performance could outweigh purely statistical dominance.
--- Ron Hextall (played 1984-1999) combined strong goaltending with unprecedented puck-handling skill, becoming the first NHL goalie to score a goal by shooting the puck. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 1987 and helped redefine how goalies could contribute beyond stopping shots. His aggressive style influenced the evolution of the position's offensive dimension.
--- Patrick Roy (played 1984-2003) was one of the most successful playoff goaltenders in NHL history, winning four Stanley Cups (with the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche) and three Conn Smythe Trophies. He popularized the butterfly style at the highest level and set a standard for clutch postseason performance. Roy's competitive intensity and technical mastery reshaped expectations for elite goaltenders.
--- Dominik Hasek (played 1990-2008) stands out for his unconventional yet extraordinarily effective style, earning six Vezina Trophies and two Hart Trophies. His save percentages and advanced metrics were far ahead of his peers, especially during his peak with the Buffalo Sabres. Hasek demonstrated that instinct, flexibility, and creativity could redefine the limits of goaltending performance.
--- Martin Brodeur (played 1991-2015) set numerous career records, including over 690 wins and 125 shutouts, making him the most statistically accomplished goalie in NHL history to that point. A master of puck handling, he influenced rule changes designed to limit goalie involvement outside the crease. His longevity, consistency, and championships made him a defining figure of the modern era.
--- Henrik Lundqvist (played 2005-2020) provided over a decade of elite play for the New York Rangers, recording more than 450 wins and posting consistently high save percentages. A Vezina Trophy winner, he was known for his technical precision and ability to carry heavy workloads. Lundqvist became the model of consistency in the salary-cap era.
--- Carey Price (played 2007-2022) reached one of the highest single-season peaks ever by a goalie, winning the Hart, Vezina, Jennings, and Ted Lindsay awards in 2014-15. His calm positioning and efficiency epitomized modern goaltending technique. Price's influence lies in perfecting the technical, movement-based style used by today's elite goalies.
--- Connor Hellebuyck (began NHL career in 2015) is one of the defining goaltenders of the modern era, winning multiple Vezina Trophies and consistently ranking among league leaders in saves and workload. Known for his structured, analytical approach, he thrives in a high-shot environment while maintaining strong efficiency. Hellebuyck represents the modern balance between data-driven technique and durability.

The other names in the collection were of equally impressive defensemen from across the NHL years:
--- Eddie Shore (played 1926-1940), Boston Bruins, New York Americans.
--- Tim Horton (played 1949-1974), Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Sabres.
--- Bobby Orr (played 1966-1978), Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks.
--- Denis Potvin (played 1973-1988), New York Islanders.
--- Ray Bourque (played 1979-2001), Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche.
--- Nicklas Lidström (played 1991-2012), Detroit Red Wings.
--- Chris Pronger (played 1993-2011) Hartford Whalers, St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks, Philadelphia Flyers.
--- Erik Karlsson (began 2009), Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks, Pittsburgh Penguins.