World War II had ended and by the 1946-47 season, the NHL had returned to a state of pre-war normalcy. Many stars returned, including Boston Bruins goaltender Frankie Brimsek, who was profiled in this early magazine feature.
World War II had ended and by the 1946-47 season, the National Hockey League had returned to a state of pre-war normalcy. Former stars who had enlisted in the Canadian and American armed forces had returned to the game they loved. Some retired and others returned to the fray.
One of them was a product of Eveleth, Minnesota, who had joined the U.S.Coast Guard and now returned to his job as goaltender for the Boston Bruins. Frankie Brimsek earned the nickname "Mister Zero" after leading the Beantowners to Stanley Cups in 1939 and 1941.
Back in his NHL crease, Brimsek caught the attention of editors at Look magazine which -- in the postwar years -- was must-reading for many Americans such as me. I was in the midst of putting my 1946-47 hockey scrapbook together when I came across the Look magazine feature which you see here.
The headline -- ONE-MAN BLOCKADE -- arrested my attention as well as the sub-head: THAT'S WHAT A BIG-LEAGUE HOCKEY GOALKEEPER LIKE THE BRUINS' FRANK BRIMSEK HAS TO BE.
As a monthly magazine, Look boosted circulation with top-grade photography, embellished with a minimum of text, The pictures here speak for themselves but with extra added attractions.
Two panels, especially, are eye-catchers, because they zero in on Mr. Zero's equipment. One of the sidebars is headlined with HE WEARS 30 3/4 POUNDS OF EQUIPMENT INTO A GAME. The photo segment features pix of pants, stockings and other adornments.
The second sidebar features Mister Zero in zero clothing except for tight-fitting underpants. However, the caption is very fitting: WELL-KNIT BRIMSEK STANDS 5 FEET 9 AND WEIGHS 170. His sweater, pads, skates, stick and belly pad all are depicted in a manner I never had seen in a publication up until that time.
And that helps explain why I was so enamored over Look magazine and gave the Brimsek feature four big pages in my scrapbook. A keen check of the photos gives a good idea of goaltending in another era.
A stand-up goalie, as all were in those days, Brimsek went horizontal to the ice when the spirit -- and the flow of play -- moved him. Despite being rusty from wartime service, Frankie guided Boston to the 1946 Stanley Cup Final against the Montreal Canadiens. Although the Bruins lost in five games -- three contests went into overtime -- Mister Zero was the Beantowners star.
He eventually completed his big-league career with the Chicago Black Hawks, then one of the weaker teams. Brimsek had lost his edge and became what some critics called "puck shy."
According to one tale, while a member of the Black Hawks, Frankie was walking along Boston streets with a teammate. Boston's fire department had placed alarm boxes on many streets in those days.
Atop each alarm box was a big red light, not unlike those used at hockey games.
No matter where a fire might be, if there was an alarm anywhere in Boston, the red light on all fire boxes would flash.
As it happened, as Brimsek and teammate reached a crossing, the adjoining fire box's red light began flashing. Frankie grabbed his pal by the arm and shouted;
"GOAL! GOAL! GET ME OUTA HERE!"
At the end of that season, Mister Zero retired from goalkeeping and became a steam locomotive railroad engineer.
After a few years, Frankie Brimsek was inducted into the Hall of Fame and later the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.
This wonderful Look Magazine spread helped explain why!
