Bill Durnan
A goaltending genius whose six Vezina Trophies in seven seasons defined Montreal's wartime dynasty, undone by his own nerves.
1916–1972 (age 56)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: January 22·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Bill Durnan's NHL career was a meteor—blindingly brilliant and shockingly brief. He arrived in Montreal at 27, an unusually old rookie, and immediately dominated. A natural athlete who was ambidextrous, he famously wore gloves that allowed him to catch with either hand, confounding shooters. For seven seasons, he was the league's immovable object, backstopping the Canadiens to two Stanley Cups and collecting individual honors almost as a matter of routine. Yet the very perfectionism that made him great also tormented him; the pressure of being the last line of defense for a hockey-mad city became unbearable. After a courageous return from a severe head injury, he retired at the peak of his powers, citing the stress, leaving behind a legacy as one of the sport's most dominant and psychologically complex figures.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Bill was born in 1916, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bill Was Born
The biggest hits of 1916
#1 Movie
Intolerance
Bill's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1916Born
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Started school
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1929Became a teenager
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1932Could drive
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1934Could vote
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1937Turned 21
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1946Turned 30
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1956Turned 40
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1966Turned 50
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1972Died at 56
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
Key Achievements
- Won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender six times in his seven-season career.
- Named to the NHL First All-Star Team six consecutive times (1944–1950).
- Backstopped the Montreal Canadiens to Stanley Cup championships in 1944 and 1946.
- Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1964.
Did You Know?
He was ambidextrous and used specially designed gloves to catch with either hand.
He won the Vezina Trophy in his first NHL season (1943-44).
He served as the captain of the Canadiens for a period in 1948, a rarity for a goaltender at the time.
Before his NHL career, he was a standout softball and basketball player.
“A goaltender must be a puzzle to the men shooting at him.”
