Flat Walsh

Biography

Walsh was kept by the Montreal Maroons as a spare for Clint Benedict in case of injury, playing one game in 1926–27 and one in 1927–28. In 1928–29, Roy Worters was suspended by NHL president Frank Calder for not reporting to the Pittsburgh Pirates; Worters was sold to the New York Americans, but the Pirates failed to inform Calder, who refused to lift the suspension. The Americans borrowed Walsh for a few games, and he performed well. After Benedict broke his nose on a Howie Morenz shot in 1929–30, Walsh became the Maroons' regular goaltender. The following year, James Strachan felt Walsh could not handle goaltending alone, so Walsh shared duties with Dave Kerr. In 1931–32, he shared goaltending with Normie Smith, and in 1932–33 with Kerr again. Walsh then contracted influenza, suffered for two weeks, and retired, saddening Montreal fans. After retiring, he served as assistant coach with the Maroons in 1934–35 and competed in curling in the 1940s. Walsh died in December 1959, survived by his wife and two children.