November 12, 1976(1976-11-12) (aged 84) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Height
6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight
165 lb (75 kg; 11 st 11 lb)
Position
Goaltender
Caught
Left
Played for
Ottawa Senators Montreal Maroons
Playing career
1912–1931
Clinton Stevenson "Praying Benny" Benedict (September 26, 1892 – November 12, 1976) was a Canadian professional lacrosse goalie, ice hockey goaltender who played for the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Maroons. He played on four Stanley Cup-winning squads. He was the first goaltender in the National Hockey League (NHL) to wear a face mask. He led league goaltenders in shutouts seven times over his professional career. He is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Benedict played for the Ottawa Stars Lacrosse Club, winning the City Championship in 1911. He later played professionally with the Ottawa Capitals Lacrosse Club earning distinction for his tenacity under fire. This helped him immeasurably in his transition into professional hockey.
Benedict was one of the first great goalies in professional hockey and a great innovator in the sport. He was the first goalie to drop to his knees to stop the puck along the ice; at the time, dropping to the ice was illegal. This earned him the nickname "Praying Benny." The first rule change the NHL made legalized his playing style.
League. Fischer, Doug (June 23, 2008). "The trials and triumphs of ClintBenedict". The Ottawa Citizen. p. A1. Custance, Craig. "Fifty years after Plante's...
in finals (9) - Jean Beliveau Most career shutouts in finals (8) - ClintBenedict Series Most points, one series (13) - Wayne Gretzky (1988) Most goals...
signed as player-coach of the team. It was during this season, that ClintBenedict of the Maroons became the first goaltender in NHL history to wear a...
puck to start game two, played under seven-man PCHA rules. Goaltender ClintBenedict led the Senators to a 3–0 shutout win. Ice conditions were again wet...
Turk Broda, 61 Pekka Rinne, 60 Evgeni Nabokov, 59 John Ross Roach, 58 ClintBenedict, 57 Jonathan Quick, 56 Eddie Giacomin, 54 Bernie Parent, 54 Goals against...
Hall of Famers, the Maroons ended up dominating the series. Goaltender ClintBenedict, who previously helped Ottawa in three Cup championships, recorded three...
inaugural trophy, while ClintBenedict had the lowest GAA in 1926–27. Hainsworth's Canadiens allowed fewer goals as a team than Benedict's Maroons. Wilf Cude...
of the mask (actually an American football "nose-guard") was worn by ClintBenedict to protect his broken nose. After recovering from the injury, he abandoned...
turn in all positions, including goal for ClintBenedict in the third period for two minutes when Benedict was serving a penalty. At the time goalies...
Senators in scoring with five goals during the series, while goaltender ClintBenedict only allowed just 12 goals in the five games, earning a 2.40 goals-against...
Bun Cook (1995) Ching Johnson (1958) Lester Patrick (1947) Maroons: ClintBenedict (1965) Red Dutton (1958) Babe Siebert (1964) Hooley Smith (1972) Nels...
the first NHL goaltender known to wear a face mask. Montreal Maroons' ClintBenedict wore a crude leather version in 1930 to protect a broken nose, but Plante...
"Johnny" Matz - Center Ottawa Senators NHA champions - Starting Lineup - ClintBenedict goalie, Horace Merrill point, Art Ross cover point, Eddie Gerard (Captain)...
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