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{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player (1916–1972)}}

'''William Ronald (Bill) Durnan''' (born [[January 22]], [[1916]] in [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]] - [[October 31]], [[1972]]) was a [[Canada|Canadian]] [[professional]] [[ice hockey]] [[goaltender]] who played for the [[Montreal Canadiens]] in the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL). Durnan was an [[ambidexterity|ambidextrous]] goalie, equally adept at using his right or left hand (he wore special gloves that permitted him to catch with either hand while still holding his [[Hockey stick|stick]]). He was also the last goalie to be a [[Captain (hockey)|captain]] in the National Hockey League, and one of only three ever with [[Chuck Gardiner]] and [[George Hainsworth]].

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Bill Durnan

| halloffame = 1964

| image = Bill Durnan2.jpg

| image_size = 230px

| caption = Durnan with the [[Montreal Canadiens]] in 1944

| birth_date = {{birth date|1916|1|22|mf=y}}

| birth_place = [[Toronto]], Ontario, Canada

| death_date = {{death date and age|mf=yes|1972|10|31|1916|1|22}}

| death_place = [[North York]], Ontario, Canada

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 0

| weight_lb = 190

| position = [[Goaltender]]

| catches = Right/Left

| played_for = [[Montreal Canadiens]]

| career_start = 1943

| career_end = 1950

}}

'''William Ronald Durnan''' (January 22, 1916 – October 31, 1972) was a Canadian professional [[ice hockey]] [[goaltender]] who played with the [[Montreal Canadiens]] in the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL) between 1943 and 1950. He was one of the best goaltenders in his time, winning the [[Vezina Trophy]] for fewest goals allowed six times, being named [[NHL All-Star team|First All-Star team]] as best goaltender six times, and helping the Canadiens win the [[Stanley Cup]] twice. Suffering from a nervous condition throughout his career, Durnan retired in 1950, citing the stress of playing professional hockey. He served as the [[captain (ice hockey)|captain]] of the Canadiens in 1948, the last goaltender to be allowed to do so. In 1964 Durnan was inducted into the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]], and in 2017 he was named one of the '[[100 Greatest NHL Players]]' in history.

==Playing career==

Durnan only played seven seasons in the [[NHL]], but accomplished much in his short career. Durnan was the recipient of the [[Vezina Trophy]] as top [[goaltender]] in each of his first four seasons, from [[1943-44 NHL season|1944]] to [[1946-47 NHL season|1947]], becoming the first to capture the award in four successive seasons. A poor season by the [[Montreal Canadiens]] in [[1947-48 NHL season|1948]] allowed [[Turk Broda]] of the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] to end Durnan's streak. However, Durnan returned to prominence the next season, capturing his fifth and sixth [[Vezina Trophy|Vezina Trophies]] in [[1948-49 NHL season|1949]] and [[1949-50 NHL season|1950]]. Following the [[1949-50 NHL season]], Durnan abruptly retired, no longer able to stand the stress of playing professional hockey. He later went into coaching, most notably with the Ottawa Senators of the [[Quebec Senior Hockey League|QSHL]] in 1950-51, and the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen of the OHA in 1958-59.

Durnan entered the [[National Hockey League]] at the age of 27 and played only seven seasons, but accomplished much in his short NHL career. He won the [[Vezina Trophy]] for allowing the fewest goals against in each of his first four seasons, from [[1943–44 NHL season|1943–44]] to [[1946–47 NHL season|1946–47]], becoming the first to capture the award in four consecutive seasons. The [[Montreal Canadiens]] fared poorly in [[1947–48 NHL season|1947–48]] and [[Turk Broda]] of the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] won it that year instead. Durnan and the Canadiens, however, returned to form the next two seasons, and he won the [[Vezina Trophy|Vezina]] twice more, in [[1948–49 NHL season|1948–49]] and [[1949–50 NHL season|1949–50]]. He was also selected to the First All-Star Team six times during his career, including four consecutive selections from 1944 to 1947.

During the [[1947–48 NHL season|1947–48 season]], Durnan served as the Canadiens' captain. However, he left the crease so often to argue calls that other teams claimed he was giving the Canadiens unscheduled timeouts. After the season, the NHL passed a rule barring goaltenders from performing as captain, known as the "Durnan Rule."<ref name="captain">{{cite web | url = http://ingoalmag.com/general/case-goaltender-captaincy/ | title = MAKING THE CASE FOR GOALTENDER CAPTAINCY IN NHL | publisher = In Goal Magazine | author = Greg Balloch | date = September 11, 2014}}</ref><ref>While [[Roberto Luongo]] was named "captain" of the [[Vancouver Canucks]] in 2008, Luongo had no on-ice rights as such, and did not wear the "C" denoting captaincy on his jersey.</ref>

Durnan set a long-standing modern [[NHL]] record between [[February 26]] and [[March 6]], [[1948-49 NHL season|1949]], when he amassed four consecutive [[shutout]]s, not allowing a goal over a span of 321 minutes, 21 seconds. This record was not surpassed until [[2003-04 NHL Season|2004]], when [[Brian Boucher]], then of the [[Phoenix Coyotes]], broke it.

Durnan set a long-standing modern NHL record between February 26 and March 6, 1949, when he registered four consecutive [[shutout]]s and did not allow a goal over a span of 309 minutes, 21 seconds. This record stood until [[2003–04 NHL season|2004]], when [[Brian Boucher]] of the [[Phoenix Coyotes]] recorded five straight shutouts and 332 minutes, 1 second without being scored upon.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/boucher-s-shutout-streak-snapped-1.502660 | title = Boucher's shutout streak snapped | publisher = CBC Sports | date = January 14, 2004}}</ref> Durnan was ranked 5th all-time in career wins, shutouts and [[Goals against average|GAA]].

He was inducted into the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]] in [[1964]]. In 383 regular-season games, Durnan had 208 wins, and 112 losses, with 34 shutouts and a 2.36 goals-against average. He had 27 wins, and 12 losses, with 2 shutouts and a 2.07 average in 45 playoff games.

Durnan retired following the [[1949–50 NHL season]] at the age of 34, being no longer able to stand the stress of playing professional hockey. He went into coaching, most notably with the [[Ottawa Senators (senior hockey)|Ottawa Senators]] of the [[Quebec Senior Hockey League|QSHL]] in 1950–51, and the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen of the OHA in 1958–59.

Durnan also won the 1940 [[Allan Cup]] with the Kirkland Lake Blue Devils.

Durnan was inducted into the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]] in 1964. 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 he entered the NHL he won the 1940 [[Allan Cup]] with the Kirkland Lake Blue Devils.<ref name="EyePrize">{{cite web | url = https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/2007/11/bill-durnan-1943-1950.html | title = Bill Durnan 1943 - 1950 | publisher = Eye on the Prize | date = November 7, 2007 | access-date = November 7, 2017 | archive-date = December 3, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211203122517/https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/2007/11/bill-durnan-1943-1950.html | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Durnan died of kidney failure on October 31, 1972. He suffered from diabetes in his last years and his health had been failing steadily.

==Playing Awards style==

Durnan was an [[ambidexterity|ambidextrous]] goalie, equally adept at catching and stickhandling with either hand; he wore gloves designed to let him switch hands instantly. He was a very good stand-up goaltender due to his relatively tall stature for his time.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.nhl.com/news/bill-durnan-100-greatest-nhl-hockey-players/c-283864416 | title = Bill Durnan: 100 Greatest NHL Players | publisher = NHL.com | date = January 1, 2017}}</ref>

First All-Star Team goalie in 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950.<br>

Won the [[Vezina Trophy]] in 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950.<br>

Played in [[NHL All-Star Game]] in 1947, 1948, 1949

==Personal life==

In spite of the relative brevity of his career, in [[1998]], he was ranked number 34 on ''[[The Hockey News]]''' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.

Durnan was born and raised in Toronto. He was married to Mandy Durnan, originally Mandy Kant (born 1915).

Durnan died of [[kidney failure]] on October 31, 1972. He suffered from [[Diabetes mellitus|diabetes]] in his last years and his health had been failing steadily.<ref name=EyePrize/>

The Aréna Bill-Durnan, a community ice rink, is located in the [[Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce]] borough of Montreal.

==Awards==

*[[Allan Cup]] champion in 1940.

*[[NHL first All-Star team]] goalie in [[1943–44 NHL season|1944]], [[1944–45 NHL season|1945]], [[1945–46 NHL season|1946]], [[1946–47 NHL season|1947]], [[1948–49 NHL season|1949]], [[1949–50 NHL season|1950]].

*Won the [[Vezina Trophy]] in 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950.

*Played in [[NHL All-Star Game]] in [[1947 NHL All-Star Game|1947]], [[1948 NHL All-Star Game|1948]], [[1949 NHL All-Star Game|1949]].

*[[Stanley Cup]] champion in [[1944 Stanley Cup Finals|1944]], [[1946 Stanley Cup Finals|1946]].

*Inducted into the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]] in 1964.

*In 1998, he was ranked number 34 on ''[[The Hockey News]]''' [[List of 100 greatest NHL players by The Hockey News|list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players]].

* In January, 2017, Durnan was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history.<ref>{{cite web|title=100 Greatest NHL Players|url=https://www.nhl.com/fans/nhl-centennial/100-greatest-nhl-players| website = NHL.com|accessdate=January 1, 2017|date=January 1, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=NHL|title=Bill Durnan was a six-time Vezina Trophy winner|date=2017-03-22|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1flPVfGM3Lk&index=19&list=PL1NbHSfosBuHEp2Bphcgz16OKz0kjnCH6 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/1flPVfGM3Lk |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|accessdate=2017-04-24}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Regular season and playoffs===

{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:75%; text-align:center;"

|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="8" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | [[Regular season]]

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="8" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | [[Playoffs]]

|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! [[Season (sports)|Season]]

! Team

! League

! GP !! W !! L !! T !! Min !! GA !! [[Shutout|SO]] !! [[Goals against average|GAA]]

! GP !! W !! L !! T !! Min !! GA !! SO !! GAA

|-

| 1931–32

| North Toronto Juniors

| TJHL

| 8 || — || — || — || 480 || 17 || 1 || 2.12

| 4 || — || — || — || 240 || 10 || 1 || 2.50

|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1932–33

| [[Sudbury Wolves]]

| [[Northern Ontario Hockey Association|NOHA]]

| 6 || — || — || — || 360 || 6 || 2 || 1.00

| 2 || — || — || — || 120 || 4 || 0 || 2.00

|-

| 1933–34

| Toronto Torontos

| TIHL

| 11 || — || — || — || 660 || 21 || 4 || 1.91

| 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 60 || 5 || 0 || 5.00

|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1933–34

| Toronto British Consol

| TMHL

| 15 || 12 || 2 || 1 || 910 || 31 || 1 || 2.04

| 5 || 0 || 2 || 3 || 350 || 21 || 0 || 3.60

|-

| 1933–34

| Toronto All-Stars

| TIHL

| 2 || — || — || — || 120 || 9 || 0 || 4.50

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1934–35

| Toronto McColl

| TMHL

| 15 || — || — || — || 900 || 62 || 0 || 4.13

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|-

| 1935–36

| Toronto Dominions

| TMHL

| 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 60 || 6 || 0 || 6.00

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1936–37

| Kirkland Lake Blue Devils

| NOHA

| 4 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 240 || 5 || 0 || 1.25

| 4 || 1 || 0 || 3 || 240 || 8 || 1 || 2.00

|-

| 1937–38

| Kirkland Lake Blue Devils

| NOHA

| 11 || 8 || 1 || 1 || 610 || 27 || 1 || 2.66

| 2 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 120 || 2 || 1 || 1.00

|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| [[1938 Allan Cup|1937–38]]

| Kirkland Lake Blue Devils

| [[Allan Cup|Al-Cup]]

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

| 2 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 120 || 11 || 0 || 3.50

|-

| 1938–39

| Kirkland Lake Blue Devils

| NOHA

| 7 || 7 || 0 || 0 || 420 || 7 || 3 || 1.00

| 2 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 120 || 3 || 1 || 1.50

|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| [[1939 Allan Cup|1938–39]]

| Kirkland Lake Blue Devils

| Al-Cup

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

| 5 || 3 || 2 || 0 || 299 || 12 || 2 || 2.41

|-

| 1939–40

| Kirkland Lake Blue Devils

| [[Exhibition game|Exhib.]]

| 6 || — || — || — || 360 || 12 || 1 || 2.00

| 2 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 120 || 3 || 1 || 1.50

|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| [[1940 Allan Cup|1939–40]]

| Kirkland Lake Blue Devils

| Al-Cup

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

| 17 || 14 || 1 || 2 || 1040 || 35 || 1 || 2.02

|-

| 1940–41

| [[Royal Montreal Hockey Club|Montreal Royals]]

| [[Quebec Senior Hockey League|QSHL]]

| 34 || — || — || — || 2000 || 100 || 1 || 3.00

| 8 || 8 || 0 || 0 || 480 || 24 || 1 || 3.00

|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| [[1941 Allan Cup|1940–41]]

| Montreal Royals

| Al-Cup

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

| 14 || 8 || 5 || 1 || 850 || 49 || 1 || 3.46

|-

| 1941–42

| Montreal Royals

| QSHL

| 39 || — || — || — || 2340 || 143 || 0 || 3.67

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1942–43

| Montreal Royals

| QSHL

| 31 || — || — || — || 1860 || 130 || 0 || 4.19

| 4 || — || — || — || 240 || 11 || 0 || 2.75

|-

| [[1943–44 NHL season|1943–44]]

| [[Montreal Canadiens]]

| [[National Hockey League|NHL]]

| 50 || 38 || 5 || 7 || 3000 || 109 || 2 || 2.18

| 9 || 8 || 1 || — || 549 || 14 || 1 || 1.53

|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| [[1944–45 NHL season|1944–45]]

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 50 || 38 || 8 || 4 || 3000 || 121 || 1 || 2.42

| 6 || 2 || 4 || — || 373 || 15 || 0 || 2.41

|-

| [[1945–46 NHL season|1945–46]]

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 40 || 24 || 11 || 5 || 2400 || 104 || 4 || 2.60

| 9 || 8 || 1 || — || 581 || 20 || 0 || 2.07

|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| [[1946–47 NHL season|1946–47]]

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 60 || 34 || 16 || 10 || 3600 || 138 || 4 || 2.30

| 11 || 6 || 5 || — || 720 || 23 || 1 || 1.92

|-

| [[1947–48 NHL season|1947–48]]

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 59 || 20 || 28 || 10 || 3505 || 162 || 5 || 2.77

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| [[1948–49 NHL season|1948–49]]

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 60 || 28 || 23 || 9 || 3600 || 126 || 10 || 2.10

| 7 || 3 || 4 || — || 468 || 17 || 0 || 2.18

|-

| [[1949–50 NHL season|1949–50]]

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 64 || 26 || 21 || 17 || 3840 || 141 || 8 || 2.20

| 3 || 0 || 3 || — || 180 || 10 || 0 || 3.33

|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" | NHL totals

! 383 !! 208 !! 112 !! 62 !! 22,945 !! 901 !! 34 !! 2.36

! 45 !! 27 !! 18 !! — !! 2871 !! 99 !! 2 !! 2.07

|}

==See also==

*[[List of members of the Hockey Hall of Fame]]

*[[List of NHL seasons]]

*[[Stanley Cup]]

*[[Goaltender]]

==References==

{{start box}}

{{reflist}}

{{succession box | before = [[Toe Blake]] | title = [[Montreal Canadiens#Team captains|Montreal Canadiens Captains]]| years = [[1947-48 NHL season|1948]]| after = [[Emile Bouchard]]}}

{{succession box | before = [[Johnny Mowers]] | title = Winner of the [[Vezina Trophy]] | years = [[1943-44 NHL season|1944]], [[1944-45 NHL season|1945]], [[1945-46 NHL season|1946]], [[1946-47 NHL season|1947]]| after = [[Turk Broda]]}}

==External links==

{{succession box | before = [[Turk Broda]] | title = Winner of the [[Vezina Trophy]] | years = [[1948-49 NHL season|1949]], [[1949-50 NHL season|1950]]| after = [[Al Rollins]]}}

* {{icehockeystats|legendsm=P196402}}

{{end box}}

{{S-start}}

[[Category:1916 births|Durnan, Bill]]

{{succession box | before = [[Toe Blake]] | title = [[Montreal Canadiens#Team captains|Montreal Canadiens captain]]| years = [[1947–48 NHL season|1948]]| after = [[Émile Bouchard|Emile Bouchard]]}}

[[Category:1972 deaths|Durnan, Bill]]

{{succession box | before = [[Johnny Mowers]] | title = Winner of the [[Vezina Trophy]] | years = [[1943–44 NHL season|1944]], [[1944–45 NHL season|1945]], [[1945–46 NHL season|1946]], [[1946–47 NHL season|1947]]| after = [[Turk Broda]]}}

[[Category:Canadian ice hockey players|Durnan, Bill]]

{{succession box | before = [[Turk Broda]] | title = Winner of the [[Vezina Trophy]] | years = [[1948–49 NHL season|1949]], [[1949–50 NHL season|1950]]| after = [[Al Rollins]]}}

[[Category:Montreal Canadiens players|Durnan, Bill]]

{{S-end}}

[[Category:Hockey Hall of Fame|Durnan, Bill]]

[[Category:Vezina Trophy winners|Durnan, Bill]]

[[Category:Ontario sportspeople|Durnan, Bill]]

[[Category:People from Toronto|Durnan, Bill]]

[[Category:Stanley Cup champions|Durnan, Bill]]

[[Category:Canada's Sports Hall of Fame|Durnan, Bill]]

[[de{{DEFAULTSORT:Bill Durnan]], Bill}}

[[Category:1916 births]]

[[Category:1972 deaths]]

[[Category:Canadian ice hockey coaches]]

[[Category:Canadian ice hockey goaltenders]]

[[Category:Deaths from kidney failure in Canada]]

[[Category:Hockey Hall of Fame inductees]]

[[Category:Montreal Canadiens players]]

[[Category:Montreal Royals (QSHL) players]]

[[Category:National Hockey League goaltender captains]]

[[Category:Ice hockey people from Toronto]]

[[Category:Stanley Cup champions]]

[[Category:Vezina Trophy winners]]

[[Category:20th-century Canadian sportsmen]]