Grant Fuhr (born September 28, 1962), was a goalie in the National Hockey League. In 2003, he became the first African Canadian to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Background and Early Career
Born of bi-racial parents, Fuhr was adopted as a baby and raised in Spruce Grove, Alberta. At the age of seventeen, in 1979, Fuhr joined the Victoria Cougars of the WHL. After two stellar seasons in Victoria, Fuhr was drafted 8th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1981 NHL entry draft. He played for the Oilers for ten seasons, winning five Stanley Cups. In 1987, he won 40 games and made the All-Star game. In 1988, Fuhr won his only Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender.
International Play
Fuhr was named to the 1984 Canada Cup team but saw limited action during the tournament. Grant was again selected to represent Canada for the 1987 Canada Cup. It was here that he cemented his reputation as the best money goaltender in the game. Playing against a tough Soviet Union squad, Fuhr turned away shot after shot during the three-game final.
Post-Edmonton Years
The Oilers wanted to rebuild during the late 1980s and early 1990s, and after trading away Wayne Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings, the Oilers sent Fuhr to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1991. He played there until 1992, when he went to the Buffalo Sabres. In Buffalo he saw action until 1995, when he was dealt to the Kings. At this point of his career, many in the world of hockey began feeling that Fuhr's best days as a player were gone, and he only played fourteen games for the Kings.
Given another chance by the St. Louis Blues, however, Fuhr went on to have some of the best years of his career, including the 1995-96 where he played an astounding 79 games in the and set two notable records, namely the most games played by a goaltender in a season and the most consecutive starts by a goaltender. His season ended during the playoffs when goon Nick Kypreos "accidentally" crashed into the crease and tore Fuhr's knee ligaments. In the 1997-98 season, he posted an average of 2.53 goals allowed per game.
During the 1999-2000 season, playing for the Calgary Flames, Fuhr became only the sixth goalie in NHL history to win 400 or more games. But he only won five games that year, while losing thirteen. Shortly after, he retired.
On July 22, 2004, he was hired by the Phoenix Coyotes as goaltender coach.
Career Summary
He was an All-Star twice, in 1987 and 1992. In addition, he won the Vezina Trophy in 1988 and the William M. Jennings Trophy in 1994. He had a record of 403 wins, 295 losses and 114 ties as a goal keeper, with a 2.92 goals allowed per game career average.
See also
Last updated: 05-13-2005 07:56:04
