Title: Jacques Plante-hockey goaltender
Place: Shawinigan Falls, Quebec.
Date: 1944 - 1945
PHOTOGRAPHER: Unknown
National Archives of Canada, negative no. PA - 164700

Joseph Jacques Omer Plante was born on January 17, 1929, in Mont Carmel, near Shawinigan, Quebec. Jacques liked drawing, embroidery and knitting. In fact, he was well-known for his famous tuques, which he knitted himself and was fond of wearing, much to the displeasure of the Canadiens' coach.

Baseball, softball, lacrosse, table tennis and swimming were a few of his favourites. However, hockey was the sport that he preferred to all others, and the one he played best. His position was goaltender. After playing for various junior and senior hockey teams in Quebec, he turned professional in 1953. He began his career with the Montreal Canadiens, and played with them for ten consecutive years, during which time the team won the Stanley Cup six times. Plante was in great company, playing with the likes of Maurice Richard, Jean Béliveau, Bernard Geoffrion and Dickie Moore. He went on to play for other NHL and AHL teams.

In 1963, he was traded to the New York Rangers. Two years later he retired, but he came back in 1968 to play with the St. Louis Blues. After that he played with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Boston Bruins and, finally, the Edmonton Oilers. Jacques also took part in many all-star series. He retired from goal-tending for good in 1975, and worked as a goal tending coach and adviser for different teams. He also wrote a few books.

Jacques Plante demonstrated outstanding talent. Bouts of asthma and injuries, some of them serious, caused setbacks to his career, but this unparalleled goalie is best remembered for his feats in front of the net. Jacques had an enormous influence on the style and role of goaltenders.

Jacques had to fight a fierce battle with the managers of the Canadiens and against public opinion, because he wished to wear a protective mask during games. He was criticised for being afraid of the puck, and it was claimed that a mask limited his field of vision. It was only when Jacques almost had his nose torn off by a puck one night that Coach Toe Blake allowed him to wear a mask for the rest of the game. Jacques never came back on the ice without his mask. Subsequently, with the help of his advice and the efforts of specialists, and after some experimenting, suppliers managed to make a mask that was comfortable for the wearer, and protected him without limiting his field of vision. Jacques Plante's prowess was evidence that with a mask he played better than ever.

In 1956, he won the Vézina Trophy for the first time, for the lowest regular season goals-against average. Jacques was awarded this trophy again six times between 1957 and 1969, sharing it the last time with Glenn Hall. He also won the Hart Trophy for most valuable player in 1962. In 1978, Jacques Plante was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

He was one of the best goaltenders the NHL has ever known. Jacques Plante died on February 27, 1986, in Sierre, Switzerland, where he had been living with his wife for a number of years.