HAL WINKLER
Date of Death: 1956-05-29Date of Birth: 1894-03-20
Date of Induction: 2024
Born on March 20, 1894 in the little village of Gretna, Manitoba, Harold Lang Winkler and his family would make the move to Winnipeg when he was 15.
Known as 'Hal', he would first establish himself in the local college ranks before helping the Selkirk Intermediates win the 1913 Manitoba Intermediate title.
After five seasons in the Manitoba Senior League for three teams including the Winnipeg Ypres who made an appearance in the 1917/18 Allan Cup, Winkler moved west spendingtime with Brandon of the MSL, then Moose Jaw and Saskatoon of the Saskatchewan Senior loop.
The prematurely bald Winkler was known for wearing a toque or ball cap in the nets. Regina's rink had a notorious balcony that hung over opposition nets, making the top of Winkler's head an easy target for candy, marbles and spitballs.
After the 1920/21 season he'd turn pro with the WCHL Edmonton Eskimos where his play would take them to two league titles. Despite Winkler's all-star heroics the team would lose the 1923 Stanley Cup final to the Ottawa Senators.
Traded to Calgary in 1924 for cash, the WCHL disbanded in 1926 and he found himself heading east to join the expansion NHL New York Rangers. On opening night, versus the Montreal Maroons, Winkler became the first goaltender in NHL history to record a shutout in his first game.
After only 8 games which included 2 shutouts, the Rangers would send him to Boston in a cash transaction on January 17, 1927.
In the 1927 play-offs, Winkler's play helped eliminate the Rangers on the way to the 1927 Stanley Cup final where the Bruins would fall short to the Ottawa Senators.
The following season, Winkler would record 15 shutouts in 44 games for the Bruins. Today's NHL season is almost double what it was in 1927/28, and Winkler's record remains tied for 2nd, for most shutouts in a single NHL season.
Hal Winkler's success had come too late in his career. Teams only carried one goalie in that era and despite having played every game in goal for Boston and finishing with the third best wins and goals against average, plus leading the league in shutouts, he found himself in the minor leagues with the Minneapolis Millers for the 1928/29 American Hockey Association season delivering 14 shutouts in just 36 games.
Replaced by a younger talent, he'd miss out on the Bruins 1929 Stanley Cup win.
After 2 more seasons in the minors, he would retire from the game after the 1931 season. He'd return to Winnipeg, operating a mink ranch in Charleswood for many years. Hal Winkler passed away in 1956 at the age of 62.
Two years later, despite having played the entire 1928/29 season in the minors with Minneapolis, Hal Winkler's name was added to the 1929 Boston Bruins roster on the Stanley Cup when it was redone.