HOF goalie Esposito dead at 78
CHICAGO — Tony Esposito, the pioneering Hall of Fame goaltender who played almost his entire 16-year career with the Blackhawks, and the brother of Rangers legend Phil Esposito, died following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer, the team announced Tuesday. He was 78.
Esposito debuted with Montreal during the 1968-69 season and appeared in 13 games. He was then left unprotected with the Canadiens deep in goalies and taken by the Blackhawks in an intraleague draft for $25,000, an investment that paid immediate dividends for a team that finished last in its division.
Esposito helped lead the Blackhawks to first place, showcasing his butterfly style to post a 2.17 goals-against average and 15 shutouts, still a modern record for an NHL goalie. He won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year as well as the Vezina Trophy given to the top goaltender. He also won the Vezina in 1972 and 1974.
“Tony was one of the most important and popular figures in the history of the franchise as we near its 100th anniversary,” Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz said. “Four generations of our family — my grandfather Arthur, my father Bill, my son Danny and I — were blessed by his work ethic as a Hall of Fame goalie, but more importantly, by his mere presence and spirit.”
Esposito, who was from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, just across the St. Mary’s River from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, he helped Michigan Tech to an NCAA championship in 1965. His brother, Phil, was a star in his own right, a Hall of Fame center who played 18 seasons in the NHL, including his final six with the Rangers.
Tony Esposito’s first NHL start was Dec. 5, 1958, against Boston. Phil Esposito scored twice on his younger brother, but Tony made 33 saves and the game ended 2-2.