Tony Esposito, a Hall of Fame goaltender who rose to fame with Chicago, has died at 78.
The team announced on Twitter that Esposito died Tuesday after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Esposito, from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., came to prominence in Chicago after being claimed off waivers from the Montreal Canadiens in 1969.
We are heartbroken to have lost a legend in Tony Esposito, who passed away today after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.<a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/TonyO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#TonyO</a> ❤️
—@NHLBlackhawks
He posted a 38-17-9 record with 15 shutouts and a 2.17 goals-against average in the 1969-70 season, winning the first of his three Vezina trophies as the NHL’s top goaltender as well as the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie.
He went on to play 15 seasons in Chicago before retiring in 1984.
A six-time all-star, Esposito had a career record of 423-306-151 with a 2.92 GAA, .906 save percentage and 76 shutouts.
He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988, four years after his brother, Boston Bruins legend Phil Esposito.
More Stories
Fair share: the right office solution can take finding the right partner
Ontario faces crew shortages, aircraft issues in fight against wildfires | Globalnews.ca
Refugee attends open house at Downtown Eastside affordable housing facility – BC | Globalnews.ca