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Edward Giacomin (born June 6, 1939 in Sudbury, Ontario) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League, as well as the Providence Reds of the American Hockey League.

Giacomin was a crowd favorite while in New York and he was nicknamed "Fast Eddie". His story was a story in courage. He was twice turned down for junior "A" hockey and seemed doomed to a city league career. His brother Rollie, though, knew Eddie had the talent as a goalkeeper and when the Washington Presidents of the Eastern Hockey League needed a goalie, they called Rollie. But Rollie had a job in Sudbury and sent Eddie in his place. The coach of the Presidents, Andy Branigan, got the shock of his life when he saw Eddie, a thin 19 year old. His team needed to make the playoffs and so he got another goaltender. The Presidents lost games and missed the playoffs, and so Branigan had nothing to lose now. He played Eddie in a game, and Eddie played so well that he let Eddie finish the season, and Eddie won all his games. There seemed to be a future for Eddie. But a near tragedy almost wiped out his ambition altogether. A fire broke out at the Giacomin home as a frying pan full of grease exploded in flames. Terrified, Ida, Eddie's sister, awakened Rollie and Eddie and they dashed to put out the fire. Rollie picked up the pan and burned his hands so badly that he dropped the pan, spilling the burning grease on Eddie's legs, and Eddie screamed out in pain. He was taken to a Sudbury hospital where the burned skin was removed. Worse, doctors told Eddie he might need skin grafting. They also told Eddie he would never play hockey again. Eddie lay depressed and sad, but somehow Eddie summoned the determination to overcome his predicament and he showed up for training camp for the Providence Reds of the American Hockey League but he did not make it. He was farmed out to the New York Rovers of the Eastern Hockey League where somehow he posted three shutouts in the 1959-60 season for a ramshackle team. The following year, Eddie again failed to make the Providence Reds, but this time he was lucky. The NHL's Boston Bruins recalled Bruce Gamble and Don Simmons took over the Reds net, but when Simmons gave up 51 goals in 10 games, the Reds had enough and recalled Eddie from the Rovers. Eddie took over as Reds goaltender and played with Providence until 1964-65.

NHL teams became interested in Giacomin, with Detroit and the New York Rangers expressing the most interest. New York won, trading three players and goaltender Marcel Paille to the Reds for Giacomin. Giacomin was impressive in his first month as Rangers goaltender, but soon his inexperience caught up with him and the fans he'd won over turned on him and he was booed by the fans. In his sophomore year, in a game against the Boston Bruins in November, he blew a 3-1 lead in the game's final two minutes and the fans really turned abusive. The fans threw garbage at Eddie and booed him viciously. Eddie was badly shaken, but from there he won games and won back the fans who had turned on him.

Giacomin led the league in shutouts in 1966-67 and 1967-68, and shared the 1971 Vezina Trophy with Gilles Villemure and played a key role in the Rangers' finals appearance in 1972. Typical of Eddie's bravery was in a game in the 1971 playoffs against Chicago when Bobby Hull skated over the back of his hand. Eddie did not leave the game, and when Eddie won the game, even the Black Hawks used the word "guts" to describe his courage. In the 1974 playoffs, he displayed his best goaltending of his career, as the Rangers pushed the Philadelphia Flyers to the seven game limit before losing. Flyers players complimented Eddie on his fine performance.

Eddie's effectiveness was reduced in 1974-75 by injuries. In 1975-76, the Rangers got off to their worst start in ten years and the Rangers started getting rid of their high-salaried veterans. Eddie was one of them. Many fans were angered when he was sent on waivers to the Red Wings on October 31, 1975. Two nights later, he returned with the Red Wings to the Garden and New York fans rooted for him and his new team. The evening was recently voted one of the 50 Greatest Moments in MSG history.

Eddie played for the Red Wings until 1976-77. In 1977-78, the Red Wings decided to go with Jim Rutherford and Ron Low in goal and Eddie's career was over. He retired on January 17, 1978 with a career record of 289-208-97 and a 2.82 GAA.

At one point, Giacomin believed that he would be the next Rangers coach, having been promised the position by Bill Jennings, who was then the club's President. "Stay loose after the season. As far as I'm concerned you'll be the coach." Giacomin related to the New York Times in a story that ran on May 30, 1978. Fred Shero was eventually named coach of the Rangers, and led the team to the Stanley Cup Finals in his first season.

Giacomin spent the 1978-1979 season as a broadcaster for the New York Islanders, who were ironically beaten in the playoffs by the rival Rangers that spring. Ed Westfall succeeded Giacomin the following season.

Giacomin later served two stints with the Rangers as a goaltending coach.

Giacomin holds the New York Rangers career shutout record with 49. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on June 15 1987 along with rivals Jacques Laperriere and Bobby Clarke. His #1 was the second jersey number retired by the Rangers, on March 15, 1989, joining Rod Gilbert. Less than seven months later, Ranger general manager Neil Smith and head coach Roger Neilson elected not to renew his contract, effectively ending his NHL career.

In the late 1980's, Eddie was mugged in broad daylight outside Madison Square Garden.

[edit] Reference

Eddie, A Goalie's Story by Hugh Delano

Preceded by: Tony Esposito

Winner of the Vezina Trophy with Gilles Villemure 1971

Succeeded by: Tony Esposito and Gary Smith