The Masked Maverick: Glenn Hall's Bizarre Ejection and the Birth of a Goaltending Rule

Legendary reporter Stan Fischler's weekly scrapbook for NHL.com offers a glimpse into the sport's rich history, and this week's installment is no exception. Fischler, affectionately known as "The Hockey Maven," recounts a bizarre incident involving Hall of Fame goaltender Glenn Hall, whose decision to don a mask for the first time in his career led to a rare and remarkable sequence of events.

Unmasking a Legendary Goaltender's Tantrum

The Reluctant Mask Wearer

Glenn Hall, a 1975 inductee into the Hockey Hall of Fame, was renowned for his unorthodox pregame ritual of vomiting to calm his nerves. However, on November 13, 1968, it was more than just his stomach that was unsettled. Facing the New York Rangers at Madison Garden, Hall was making his debut in a goaltender's mask, a decision that had not come easily.According to author-historian Alan Greenberg, who attended the game, Hall was "irritable before the game had started, because he was wearing a mask for the first time in his career and felt uncomfortable with it." Hall's teammate, Red Berenson, had finally convinced the veteran netminder to make the switch, but the transition was not a smooth one.

A Mask-Induced Meltdown

Shortly after the opening face-off, the Rangers' Vic Hadfield beat Hall with a long, unscreened shot that dipped and curved. Frustrated and unnerved by the unfamiliar equipment, the legendary "Mr. Goalie" soon lost his temper when referee Vern Buffey called a delay of game penalty against the Blues."Hall left his crease to argue the call," wrote author Tom Adrahtas in Hall's authorized biography. "When Buffey rebuffed the masked man, Hall responded with a poke of his catching glove to the referee's chest. That cost Glenn a game misconduct penalty. It was the first and only game misconduct of his career."

A Goaltending Crisis Averted

The ejection of Hall created a logistical nightmare for Blues coach Scotty Bowman, who had been alternating Hall and Jacques Plante in net. With no other experienced goaltenders dressed, Bowman was forced to turn to the inexperienced Robbie Irons as a third-string option."Scotty had to figure out a way to have Irons in there for as little time as possible so that Plante could get dressed and take over from Hall," Greenberg recalled. Bowman's solution was to have defenseman Doug Harvey "pretend" to be injured, allowing Irons to only play for three minutes before Plante could take over.

The Birth of a Rule

The Irons episode, which saw the rookie goaltender play a mere three minutes, sparked outrage from Rangers president William M. Jennings and general manager Emile Francis. Their protests led to the implementation of what became known as the "Robbie Irons Rule," which required that the two goaltenders dressed for a game had to finish the contest or be replaced by a defenseman."It turned out to be a significant three minutes for Irons and the NHL," Greenberg said, as the league moved to prevent such a scenario from occurring again.

A Masked Man's Redemption

Despite the bizarre circumstances surrounding his ejection, Hall eventually embraced the mask, realizing the importance of protecting himself from further injury. Just three days after the Irons incident, Hall recorded a 7-0 shutout victory over the Oakland Seals, the 74th of his illustrious career."I've had more than 250 stitches in my head and face," Hall told Adrahtas. "I don't want to have my paycheck mailed to me at Good Samaritan Hospital. Or, for that matter, the cemetery!"The masked maverick had learned his lesson, and his decision to don the protective gear would ultimately extend his career and cement his legacy as one of the greatest goaltenders in NHL history.