Bill Durnan

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Durnan entered the NHL at age 27 and played only seven seasons. He won the Vezina Trophy in each of his first four seasons (1943–44 to 1946–47), becoming the first to capture the award in four consecutive years. He won the Vezina again in 1948–49 and 1949–50. He was selected to the First All-Star Team six times, including four consecutive selections from 1944 to 1947. During the 1947–48 season, Durnan served as Canadiens captain, but left the crease so often to argue calls that other teams claimed he was giving unscheduled timeouts; after the season, the NHL passed a rule barring goaltenders from performing as captain, known as the 'Durnan Rule.' He set a modern NHL record between February 26 and March 6, 1949, with four consecutive shutouts and 309 minutes, 21 seconds without allowing a goal, a record that stood until 2004. Durnan retired following the 1949–50 season at age 34 due to injuries (severe scalp laceration and infection that turned into a staph infection, a shot in the eye in preseason, a severe knee injury that still hampered him 20 years later, and various other minor injuries) and being no longer able to stand the stress of playing professional hockey. He went into coaching, most notably with the Ottawa Senators of the QSHL in 1950–51 and the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen of the OHA in 1958–59. In 383 regular-season games, he recorded 208 wins, 112 losses, 34 shutouts and a 2.36 goals-against average. In 45 playoff games he had 27 wins, 12 losses, two shutouts and a 2.07 average. Before the NHL he won the 1940 Allan Cup with the Kirkland Lake Blue Devils.

In Their Own Story

The 1947–48 season marked a pivotal turning point for Durnan and the league. Serving as the Canadiens' captain, his aggressive communication style clashed with officials so severely that other teams accused him of manipulating game flow through unauthorized delays. Following this tumultuous year, the NHL passed the 'Durnan Rule,' permanently barring goaltenders from acting as captains. That same season, Durnan suffered a severe laceration to his scalp. Though sidelined for only 12 days, he returned heroically for the playoffs. However, with the series all but lost after falling 0–3 to the Rangers, he stepped away from the game entirely shortly thereafter. His physical toll continued into retirement; a preseason shot in the eye and a severe knee injury from the previous season lingered for decades. He retired at age 34 after the 1949–50 season, citing an inability to withstand the stress of professional hockey, compounded by infections that developed from his scalp wound.

Reader's Guide

Durnan was an ambidextrous goalie, equally adept at catching and stickhandling with either hand; he wore gloves designed to let him switch hands instantly. He was a stand-up goaltender due to his relatively tall stature for his time.

Did You Know?

• Durnan was the last goaltender to serve as an NHL captain, after which the 'Durnan Rule' barred goaltenders from being captain.
• He set a record of 309 minutes, 21 seconds without allowing a goal in 1949, which stood until 2004.
• Durnan won the Vezina Trophy in his first four NHL seasons, a feat no other goaltender had achieved before.
• He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1964 and named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in 2017.