OCTOBER 1996 FINAL TOP TEN

John Santore           35
Mark Benvenga          32
Jonathan Braniff       28
Paul Branchaud         24
Bill Clare             20
Jon Kark               18
Marc Arsenault         17
Greg Weston            17
Izzy                   16
Ravi Ramkissoonsingh   16
Scott Swartzell        16
Mike Taylor            16
  • September 30, 1996:
    TWO-POINT QUESTION: Name the only goaltender to win the Hobey Baker award.
    CORRECT ANSWER: The first (and only) goaltender to capture the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, given to the best player in U.S. collegiate hockey, was Robb Stauber, who has yet to distinguish himself in any N.H.L. capacity.

    THREE-POINT QUESTION: Name the goaltender who allowed, chronologically, the first goal in World Cup round-robin play.
    CORRECT ANSWER: Olaf Kolzig of Team Germany was beaten by Sweden's Niklas Lidstrom with 7:51 remaining in the second period of their game on August 26.

    FIVE-POINT QUESTION: Name the current N.H.L. goaltender was replaced by Manon Rheaume when she made history as the first female goaltender to play major junior hockey.
    CORRECT ANSWER: It was current Montreal goaltender Jocelyn Thibault whom Manon Rheaume replaced in a contest for Q.M.J.H.L.'s Trois-Rivieres.

  • October 7, 1996:
    TWO-POINT QUESTION: Last season, this N.H.L. goaltender suffered a 24-game losing streak, stretching three and one half months in length. Name him.
    CORRECT ANSWER: It was current Toronto Maple Leaf Don Beaupre who set the twenty-four game losing streak last season. The streak dates back to his days as an Ottawa Senator, and is still active. Poor Don - it's a shame the Leafs don't seem to play very well in front of him.

    THREE-POINT QUESTION: Had this goaltender's deal with Champion Spark Plugs not been nixed by the league, his mask would have read "Spark with _____". Name him.
    CORRECT ANSWER: Shortly after his trade to the Detroit Red Wings, it was "Spark with Eddie" Giacomin who was approached by Champion Spark Plugs.

    FIVE-POINT QUESTION: Second only to Mario Lemieux (and leading all N.H.L. goaltenders), this netminder was selected the first star of the game sixteen times. Name him.
    CORRECT ANSWER: Many of you had the right idea in your answers on this one - it obviously had to be a goaltender who sees a lot of shots per game, and whose team doesn't score often. Unfortunately, everyone who used that line of reasoning chose Grant Fuhr of the Blues. In actuality, it was Guy Hebert of the Mighty Ducks who garnered sixteen "first star" points. To the best of my knowledge, Dominik Hasek's fourteen was second. Interestingly enough, Jim Carey's nine shutouts only earned him seven first stars. Curious.

  • October 14, 1996:
    TWO-POINT QUESTION: In what amounted to the highest single-game penalty minute total of last year (for a goaltender), this netminder tallied 29 PiM in a home contest versus the Islanders. This contest was memorable in that he slugged it out with a foe three inches smaller than himself. Name him.
    CORRECT ANSWER: Corey Schwab, then with the New Jersey Devils, beat the living snot out of the Islanders' Tommy Soderstrom, sending him (Schwab) to the showers with 29 penalty minutes.

    THREE-POINT QUESTION: Name the first goaltender in American Hockey League history to shoot and score a goal.
    CORRECT ANSWER: Darcy Wakaluk of the Rochester Americans was the first to shoot and score a goal in American Hockey League history. For the record, Michel Plasse's goal was scored in the Central League.

    FIVE-POINT QUESTION: Amongst active goaltenders, name the career leader (as of the beginning of the current season) in regular-season N.H.L. assists.
    CORRECT ANSWER: Tom Barrasso of the Pens is the active leader in career assists, with 43 to his credit. Grant Fuhr, the most popular answer, was second with 42. The rest of the top ten: Ron Hextall (30), Mike Vernon (30), Patrick Roy (28), John Vanbiesbrouck (28), Andy Moog (23), Bill Ranford (22), Ken Wregget (21), and Kirk McLean (19).

  • October 21, 1996::
    TWO-POINT QUESTION: One man kept New Jersey nfrom having a chance at a second Cup last season; facing 38 Devil shots in a 5-2 road contest and eliminating the Devils from postseason contention on the last day of their regular season. Name him.
    CORRECT ANSWER: It was Damian Rhodes who kept the New Jersey Devils from the playoffs. Since I attend school in Colorado, I'm hoping history doesn't repeat itself, since that would mean the Kings' Stephane Fiset (formerly of the Avalanche; now there would be some irony) doing the deed against the Avs.

    THREE-POINT QUESTION: This goaltender was pulled from a contest seventeen times last season, nearly double that of any other goaltender. Name him.
    CORRECT ANSWER: Grant Fuhr was pulled a total of seventeen times last season. Normally, I'd insert a joke about my least favourite coach, Mike Keenan, right about here, but I'm sure that neither Ed Belfour, Mike Richter, or Dominik Hasek would find it very funny.

    FIVE-POINT QUESTION: This goaltender made the first save against a San Jose Shark player, and later in the game picked up the first victory in a game featuring the Sharks. Name him.
    CORRECT ANSWER: Kirk McLean, my favourite goaltender (or player for that matter) stopped the Sharks in their first N.H.L. game.

  • October 28, 1996:
    TWO-POINT QUESTION: Among "regular" goaltenders, this man saw more shots on goal per game last season (35.3/60 min) than any other, yet still compiled an awesome array of statistics. Name him.
    CORRECT ANSWER: It was Dominik Hasek who saw an average of 35.3 shots per game last year, and he gobbled them all up just like the puck-stopping maniac he is. And to think I missed Saturday night's 0-0 tie because I was grading midterms.

    THREE-POINT QUESTION: This goaltender had an amazing 5-1 record while playing on national television last season, yet his team played him a scant zero minutes during the postseason. Name him.
    CORRECT ANSWER: Stephane Fiset was the man I was looking for; although three people have pointed out that he played 0:40 in the playoffs, which of course rounds up to 1 minute. I had him at 0:28, which rounds the other way. Stephane unfortunately got stuch behind Saint Patrick during the Avs' Cup run; not that I'm complaining - I enjoyed the parade very much thank you.

    FIVE-POINT QUESTION: Over the course of his career, this goaltender has faced more shots (18,465 at the beginning of this season) than any other active goaltender. Name him.
    CORRECT ANSWER: The answer here is Kelly Hrudey, who saw a total of 18,465 shots on goal during his career with the Islanders and Kings. Of course, being the Sharks' goaltender certainly isn't going to endanger his dubious status at the top of this list. Grant Fuhr, the most popular response, is second with 18,190.