| Born: | September 26, 1892 | Draft: | Undrafted |
| Hometown: | Ottawa, ON | Position: | Goaltender |
| Known For: | Nicknamed “Praying Benny” | Catches: | Left |
| National Team: | Canada |
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.
Clint Benedict Statistics
Deeper Dive
Achievements
- Stanley Cup Champion (1920, 1921, 1923, 1926)
- Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1965
- Named all-star goalie for the time period 1893–1926 by NHL historian Charles Coleman (1966)
- Inducted into Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame (1966)
- Ranked number 77 on The Hockey News’ list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players