Riley Hern
First professional goaltender on a Stanley Cup-winning team.
William Milton "Riley" Hern was a Canadian goaltender in professional ice hockey, born December 5, 1878, and passing away on June 24, 1929. He holds the distinction of being the first professional netminder to win the Stanley Cup.
Hern took up hockey early, suiting up for school teams in St. Marys and Stratford, where he played both in goal and as a forward. From 1898 to 1901, he played for the Stratford Legionnaires.
His professional debut came with the Pittsburgh Keystones in the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League (WPHL) during the 1901–02 season. That year, he topped the league in wins with nine in 14 games, earning a spot on the WPHL All-Star Team. The following season, however, he led the league in losses, dropping 10 of 11 contests.
Hern spent three seasons with the Portage Lakes Hockey Club of the International Professional Hockey League (IPHL), starting in 1904–05. In 1906–07, he joined the Montreal Wanderers of the Eastern Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (ECAHA). His first season with the Wanderers saw a perfect 10–0 regular-season record. The club captured the Stanley Cup four times—three straight years from 1906 to 1908, and again in 1910. Over that stretch, the Wanderers successfully defended the Cup in six of seven challenges; the lone loss came against the Kenora Thistles in January 1907, but the Wanderers reclaimed the trophy two months later in their own challenge.
Hern retired from professional hockey in 1911 at age 30. He then became a successful businessman, running a haberdashery in Montreal. He also helped organize hockey leagues, printed schedules, and worked as an NHL referee and goal judge.
He died at Ross Memorial Pavilion on June 24, 1929, after a six-week battle with a heart ailment. In 1963, Hern was posthumously inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. His grandson, Allan F. Nicholls, portrayed Charlestown Chiefs captain Johnny Upton in the 1977 film *Slap Shot*.
Some consider Hern among the best goaltenders ever. In the 2002 book *Without Fear: Hockey's 50 Greatest Goaltenders*, writers Kevin Allen and Bob Duff ranked him 25th overall.
Quick Facts
- Position
- Goaltender
- Catches
- Left
- Height Ft
- 5
- Height In
- 9
- Weight Lb
- 170
- Played For
- Pittsburgh Keystones (WPHL) / Portage Lakes (IPHL) / Montreal Wanderers (ECAHA/NHA)
- Birth Date
- 1878-12-05
- Birth Place
- St. Marys, Ontario, Canada
- Death Date
- 1929-06-24
- Death Place
- Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Career Start
- 1898
- Career End
- 1911
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Hern began playing ice hockey at an early age, playing for school teams in St. Marys and Stratford as both a goaltender and a forward. He played for the Stratford Legionnaires from 1898 to 1901. His professional career started with the Pittsburgh Keystones of the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League (WPHL) in the 1901–02 season, where he led the league in wins with nine in 14 games and was named to the WPHL All-Star Team. The following season, he led the league in losses, losing 10 out of 11 games.
From 1904 to 1907, Hern played three seasons with the Portage Lakes Hockey Club of the International Professional Hockey League (IPHL). In the 1906–07 season, he joined the Montreal Wanderers of the Eastern Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (ECAHA), posting a 10–0 regular season record in his first season. The Wanderers won the Stanley Cup four times: three straight seasons from 1906 to 1908, and again in 1910. They successfully defended the Cup in six out of seven challenges, losing only to the Kenora Thistles in January 1907 before reclaiming it two months later.
Hern retired from professional hockey in 1911 at age 30. He became a successful businessman, owning a haberdashery in Montreal, and was involved in organizing hockey leagues and printing schedules. He also served as an NHL referee and a goal judge. Hern died of a heart ailment on June 24, 1929, and was inducted posthumously into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1963.
Reader's Guide
Riley Hern's significance lies in being the first professional goaltender to play on a Stanley Cup-winning team, a milestone that bridges the amateur and early professional eras of hockey. His career with the Montreal Wanderers produced four Stanley Cup championships (1906–1908 and 1910), with the team successfully defending the Cup in six of seven challenges. Hern's 10–0 regular season record in his first season with the Wanderers underscores his impact. After retiring, he remained involved in hockey as an organizer, referee, and goal judge, contributing to the sport's development. His posthumous induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1963 recognizes his place in hockey history. Veteran hockey writers Kevin Allen and Bob Duff ranked him 25th among the 50 greatest goaltenders of all time in their 2002 book Without Fear: Hockey's 50 Greatest Goaltenders, indicating his lasting reputation. Hern's legacy also includes a family connection to popular culture: his grandson, Allan F. Nicholls, played the role of Charlestown Chiefs captain Johnny Upton in the 1977 film Slap Shot.
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