Don Simmons (ice hockey)

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Donald William "Don" Simmons (born September 13, 1931, in Port Colborne, Ontario) is a retired National Hockey League goaltender.


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[edit] Junior hockey

Don Simmons played junior with the Galt Rockets and St. Catharines Teepees. In 1951-52 he won 18 games as a rookie pro with the Eastern Hockey League's Springfield Indians and led the league with 31 wins for the club the next season. Both years he was named to the EHL second all-star team.

[edit] Professional hockey

In 1956-57 Simmons replaced Terry Sawchuk in the Boston Bruins' goal part way through the season and helped the club reach the Stanley Cup finals that season. He helped the team return to the finals the next season and won a personal high 24 games in 1958-59.

Simmons was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Ed Chadwick on January 31, 1961 and he was a solid back up to Johnny Bower. In 1962 he won a couple of games in the playoffs while helping the club win the Stanley Cup championship. By the mid 1960s however, Simmons found himself in the minors but he responded with 35 wins for the CHL's Tulsa Oilers in 1964-65. He eventually joined the New York Rangers via the Intra-League Draft and led the WHL in wins with the Vancouver Canucks in 1966-67. Simmons played a few games on Manhattan as an injury replacement before retiring in 1969.


[edit] Awards & achievements

[edit] External links