Grant Fuhr

Lore & Background

Fuhr was born on September 28, 1962, in Spruce Grove, Alberta, west of Edmonton to a Black Canadian and a First Nation-Canadian from the Enoch Cree Nation; he never knew his birth parents. Less than three weeks after he was born, he was adopted by Betty Wheeler and Robert Fuhr and he grew up in Spruce Grove. In the mid-1970s, Fuhr played for the Enoch Tomahawks hockey team. Fuhr's mother came from Enoch Cree Nation. In 1979, at the age of 16, Fuhr joined the Victoria Cougars of the Western Hockey League (WHL). After two outstanding seasons in Victoria, which included the league championship and a trip to the Memorial Cup in 1981, Fuhr was drafted eighth overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1981 NHL entry draft, on June 10, 1981.

Reader's Guide

Fuhr played ten seasons for the Oilers, where he teamed up first with Andy Moog from 1981 through 1987, then Bill Ranford from 1988 through 1991 to form one of the most formidable goaltending tandems in history, winning the Stanley Cup four times in five seasons (1983–84 through 1987–88). He won his only Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender in the 1987–88 season. Fuhr holds select NHL and franchise records among goaltenders; he ranks as the leader in most games played by a goaltender in a single season (79) and most assists and points by a goaltender in regular season and playoffs combined (61).

His rookie season saw him go on an undefeated streak of 23 straight games without a loss. Injuries limited Fuhr in the 1989–90 season to where he missed the entire playoff run that saw the Oilers win the Cup for the fifth time. Amidst personal issues, Fuhr was traded in 1991 to the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he spent the following two seasons before being traded to the Buffalo Sabres midway through the 1992–93 season. He shared the William M. Jennings Trophy for allowing the fewest number of goals in the 1993–94 season.

He spent the following six seasons with three further teams, most notably with the St. Louis Blues, where he played a record 79 games as goaltender in the 1995–96 season. He concluded his career in the 1999–2000 season with the Calgary Flames, where he became the sixth goaltender to win 400 games. Fuhr had only three seasons where he posted more losses than wins.

Dynastic Dominance with Edmonton

Fuhr spent ten seasons anchoring the net for the Edmonton Oilers, forming a legendary tandem first with Andy Moog (1981–1987) and later Bill Ranford (1988–1991). His rookie campaign was historic, featuring a 23-game unbeaten streak that included a debut loss followed by 23 straight wins or ties. In the 1986 playoffs, he suffered a heartbreaking moment in Game 7 against Calgary when teammate Steve Smith's pass bounced off his skate for an own goal, ending their title defense. Conversely, in 1984, after Fuhr collided with Pat LaFontaine and got injured in the Final, Moog stepped in to secure the win; however, it was Fuhr who became the first Black player to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup that year. He played in six All-Star Games during his Oiler tenure: 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, and 1989.

International Glory and Historic Firsts

He won the Canada Cup twice with Team Canada: first as a backup in 1984 and as the starting goaltender who played all nine games in the victorious 1987 squad. He also finished second at the World Championships in 1989. Beyond these titles, he made history as the first Black ice hockey player to win the Stanley Cup. His trailblazing status was further cemented when he became the first Black player inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003. In February 1987, he played for the NHL All-Stars in both games of the Rendez-Vous '87 series against the Soviet National Team. The league later recognized his impact by naming him one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in 2017.

Record-Breaking Durability and Longevity

He holds the record for most games played by a goaltender in a single season (79), achieved with the St. Louis Blues in 1995–96. He also leads all goaltenders in combined assists and points, totaling 61 across regular seasons and playoffs. His durability was notable; over 19 seasons, he had only three years where he recorded more losses than wins. Even after leaving Edmonton, he continued to achieve accolades, sharing the William M. Jennings Trophy with the Buffalo Sabres in 1993–94. He finished his career with the Calgary Flames in 2000 as just the sixth goaltender in history to win 400 games.

Early Roots and Post-Playing Career

Born on September 28, 1962, in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Fuhr was born to a Black Canadian mother from the Enoch Cree Nation and never knew his birth parents. He was adopted less than three weeks after birth by Betty Wheeler and Robert Fuhr. His early hockey experience included playing for the Enoch Tomahawks in the mid-1970s before joining the Victoria Cougars of the WHL at age 16 in 1979. After two outstanding seasons, including a Memorial Cup trip in 1981, he was drafted eighth overall by the Edmonton Oilers on June 10, 1981. Following his retirement, Fuhr served as a goaltending coach for the Calgary Flames (2000–2002) and the Arizona Coyotes (2004–2010).