b'did youknow? by J. Peter HvidstenThe Legend of John Ross Roach OnApril7,2020,TorontoMapleLeafsstand-inHebeganplayinghockeyforUxbridge,beforegoalie,JackCampbell,eclipsedtherecordforthe PortPerryhadateamofitsown.BythetimehemostconsecutivewinsbyaLeafgoalie,settinganew finishedhighschoolJohnsskillasagoalieinlocalrecordof10winsin10games. hockeycircleshadbecomelegendary. ThepreviousrecordofnineconsecutivewinsThiswasinthedayswhenteamstravelledtowasestablishedduringthe1924-25seasonbynone gamesbyhorsedrawnsleighs,goaltendershadnootherthanPortPerrybornandraised,JohnRoss facemaskandonemanwasexpectedtoplayanRoach. entiregame. Roachsetthenineconsecutivewinsbenchmark In1919heplayedjuniorhockeyfortheTorontoforTorontogoaliesalmostacenturyago,andsince AuraLeeteamandquicklyrosethroughtheranks.thattimethisremarkablefeathasbeenachievedby Thefollowingseasonheplayedintheseniorleagueonlytwoothers,JacquesPlante(1971-72)andFelix withtheTorontoGranitesandthenextseasonhewasPotvin(1993-94). chosentofillthenetsfortheToronto TheTorontoGlobe St.Pats.TheSt.PatswererenamedthedescribedRoachasthegreatestgoalkeeper TorontoMapleLeafsin1926.intheworld InhisfirstseasonwiththeSt.Pats,in,March29,1922,andhishometownnewspaper 1921-22,heledtheteamtodefeatsaid,Roachhasshownthathehas theVancouverMillionairesforthenothingtofearwhencompeting StanleyCup.Hewasthefirstrookieagainstthebestsharp-shootersthat goaltendertorecordaStanleyCupprofessionalhockeyhasproduced. shutout,onMay25,1922,andhe JohnRoachwasoneofthe posteda1.80goals-againstaverage.smallestgoaliesevertoguardaNHL HestayedwiththeSt.Patsthroughcage.Hehadtwogreatnicknames. theirnamechangeandstayedwithHewasdubbedLittleNapoleon, theLeafsuntil1928whenhewasareferencetobothhissizeand tradedtotheNewYorkRangers.temperament.Hewasalsomore HeledtheRangerstotheaffectionatelycalledThePort StanleyCupfinalin1932againstPerryWoodpecker,referringtohis hisoldteam,theTorontoMaplehometown. Leafs.Unfortunately,hisskillshad DuringatourofWesternCanada, deterioratedandheallowedsixgoalsasthegoaliefortheToronto ineachofhisthreeappearancesinSt.Patsthestartofthe1922-23 JOHN ROSS ROACH thenet.Asaresultofhislacklusterseason,aWinnipegnewspaper performance,hewastradedtothecommented,Manyfanswilltellyouthatgoalie DetroitRedWings.RoachwastheentireSt.Patrickteam.RoachgaveAfteronemoreseason,1933-34,hewasdemotedoneofthegreatestexhibitionsofgoaltendingever andspentoneseasonintheminorsbeforeretiringseenonlocalice.Thoughonlyamidget,lessthan fromcompetitivehockey.5ft.6in.inchesheight,helookedtwiceasbigtoHeplayedintheNHLfor14seasonsandformosttheEdmontonsharpshooters.Timeandagainthe ofthosehewastheleadinggoaltender.westernerswouldbeatthedefenceonlytofindaJohnRossRoachdiedinWindsor,Ont.,onJulyveritablestonewallbetweentheposts. 9,1973andwasreturnedhometoPortPerryafew YoungJohnwasbornonasmallfarmnear dayslater,wherehewaslaidtorestatPineGroveSeagravein1900.HeattendedPortPerryHigh Cemetery,PrinceAlbert,Ont.SchoolduringtheyearsofthefirstWorldWar,1914- Note:MapleLeafspuckstopperJackCampbellwenton1918. towinonemoregame,settinganewNHLrecordof11consecutivegameswithoutaloss.50 FOCUS - MAY 2021'