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Roger Crozier

Born:March 16, 1942Draft:Undrafted
Hometown:Bracebridge, ONPosition:Goaltender
Known For:Conn Smythe with losing teamCatches:Right
National Team:Canada

Roger Allan Crozier (March 16, 1942 – January 11, 1996) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals. During his career, Crozier was named to the NHL First All-Star Team once, was a Calder Memorial Trophy winner, and was the first player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy while playing for the losing team in the Stanley Cup Finals. He was the last goaltender in the NHL to start all of his team’s games in the regular season, in 1964–65.

From his junior hockey career until his death, Crozier was plagued by pancreatitis and other health problems. Despite them, he helped his junior team win the Memorial Cup in 1959–60, played in over 500 NHL regular season games and participated in three Stanley Cup Finals. His health problems led to his retirement in 1976–77 and he joined the Capitals’ front office shortly after. Crozier left the Capitals in 1983 to work for MBNA bank. In 2000, MBNA unveiled a new trophy called the Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award which was awarded annually from 1999–2000 to 2006–07 to the goaltender with the best save percentage during the regular season in the NHL. The Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame inducted Crozier in 2009.

crozierRogerDET
Roger Crozier, Detroit Red Wings (THW Library Archives)

Roger Crozier Statistics

Deeper Dive

Achievements

  • Inducted into the Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2009
  • Inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame in 1980
  • Conn Smythe Trophy (1966)
  • Calder Memorial Trophy (1965)
  • NHL First All-Star Team (1965)
  • AHL Second All-Star Team (1964)
  • AHL Rookie of the Year (Red Garrett Memorial Award) (1964)
  • AHL Best Goaltending Duo (Harry Holmes Memorial Award) (1964)
  • AHL Best GAA (1964)
  • Memorial Cup Champion (1960)
  • Last goaltender to play all of his team’s regular season games (1964-65 season)

Sources