Don Simmons (ice hockey)

Don Simmons
Simmons with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1960s
Born (1931-09-13)September 13, 1931
Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada
Died September 24, 2010(2010-09-24) (aged 79)
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 150 lb (68 kg; 10 st 10 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Right
Played for Boston Bruins
Toronto Maple Leafs
New York Rangers
Playing career 1951–1969

Donald William "Dippy" Simmons (September 13, 1931 – September 24, 2010) was a Canadian ice hockey goaltender. He played for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York Rangers of the National Hockey League between 1956 and 1969. He won the Stanley Cup three times in a row with the Maple Leafs, from 1962 to 1964.

Playing career

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Simmons was called up by the Boston Bruins from the Springfield Indians of the minor American Hockey League in order to replace an ailing Terry Sawchuk who had left the Bruins in mid-season of 1957. He then spent 3 seasons partnering with veteran Harry Lumley as an effective netminding duo in Boston. Simmons was the second goaltender to adopt the face mask, after Jacques Plante introduced it in 1959. Later, Simmons would back up Johnny Bower in Toronto in the early 1960s and was instrumental in the Leafs winning the Stanley Cup in 1962. He finished his career playing with the New York Rangers. Don Simmons was the founder of Don Simmons Sports, a successful Ontario franchise specializing in goalie equipment.

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
1948–49 Galt Black Hawks OHA 12 720 73 0 6.08
1949–50 Port Colborne Sailors OHA Sr
1950–51 St. Catharines Teepees OHA 53 3180 181 3 3.41 6 360 19 1 3.17
1951–52 Springfield Indians EAHL 37 18 18 1 2270 121 0 3.20 3 0 3 180 19 0 6.33
1952–53 Springfield Indians EAHL 44 31 11 2 2680 168 0 3.76
1953–54 Johnstown Jets IHL 24 1440 66 2 2.75 10 6 4 600 21 1 2.10
1954–55 Springfield Indians AHL 54 30 21 3 3240 185 2 3.43 4 1 3 258 16 0 3.72
1955–56 Springfield Indians AHL 52 13 37 2 3120 233 0 4.48
1956–57 Boston Bruins NHL 26 13 9 4 1560 63 4 2.42 .915 10 5 5 600 29 2 2.90 .892
1956–57 Springfield Indians AHL 25 10 12 3 1300 84 0 3.36
1957–58 Boston Bruins NHL 39 15 14 9 2285 92 5 2.42 .918 11 6 5 671 25 1 2.24 .932
1958–59 Boston Bruins NHL 58 24 26 8 3480 183 3 3.16 .897
1959–60 Boston Bruins NHL 28 12 13 3 1676 91 2 3.26 .900
1960–61 Boston Bruins NHL 18 3 9 6 1078 58 1 3.23 .902
1960–61 Providence Reds AHL 10 3 7 0 590 51 0 5.19
1961–62 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 9 5 3 1 540 21 1 2.33 .927 3 2 1 166 8 0 2.90 .889
1961–62 Rochester Americans AHL 51 24 22 5 3060 169 0 3.31
1962–63 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 28 15 8 5 1680 69 1 2.47 .904
1962–63 Rochester Americans AHL 9 4 5 0 540 27 1 3.00
1963–64 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 21 9 10 1 1190 63 3 3.18 .894
1964–65 Tulsa Oilers CPHL 69 35 26 8 3540 219 3 3.17 12 6 6 720 38 1 3.17
1965–66 New York Rangers NHL 12 1 7 1 551 40 0 4.36 .867
1965–66 Baltimore Clippers AHL 13 4 6 2 750 42 0 3.36
1966–67 Vancouver Canucks WHL 72 38 32 2 4326 213 7 2.95 3 2 0 140 3 0 1.29
1967–68 New York Rangers NHL 5 2 1 2 300 13 0 2.61 .898
1967–68 Buffalo Bisons AHL 22 9 7 5 1279 74 0 3.47
1968–69 New York Rangers NHL 5 1 2 1 206 8 0 2.34 .921
1968–69 Buffalo Bisons AHL 5 2 3 0 259 14 1 3.24
NHL totals 249 100 102 41 14,541 701 20 2.89 .904

Awards and achievements

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