Roger Crozier
GP: 310
W: 131
L: 118
SO: 19
GAA: 2.93
SV%: .904
Roger Crozier played in the OHA for my hometown team the St. Catharines Teepees. He played three seasons in St. Catharines from 1959 until 1962. During the Original Six era, goalies typically were on the smaller side and Crozier was no exception standing only 5’8″. During his first full season in the AHL, Crozier won the Harry Holmes Memorial Award when he was part of the AHL’s best Goaltending Duo as well as the Red Garrett Memorial Award as AHL Rookie of the Year.
He also played 15 games with the Detroit Red Wings, but was still considered an NHL rookie the following year. In his first full season in the NHL, Crozier led the league in shutouts (6) and wins (40) with Detroit and won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year. In 1965-66, Crozier led the Red Wings to the Stanley Cup final against the powerful Montreal Canadiens.
Despite losing to Montreal in six games, Crozier was named Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the Stanley Cup MVP. To this day, Crozier is one of only five players to claim this award while on a losing Stanley Cup team. Crozier played parts of seven seasons in Detroit before being traded to Buffalo for first overall Expansion Draft pick Tom Webster of the Boston Bruins.
Crozier played six seasons in Buffalo and three games for Washington before announcing his retirement from the NHL in 1976. He was inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame in 1980-81. Crozier had a career record of 206-194-72 and a GAA of 3.04 and a SV% of .903 in 518 games during a 14 year career in the NHL.