Stony Plain mourns loss of hometown hockey hero Glenn Hall

The hockey world is in mourning after one of the sport’s most foundational figures, Glenn Hall, also known as Mr. Goalie, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 94.

In his hometown of Stony Plain, there’s an arena in his name decorated with a 50-foot-wide mural, highlighting just a few moments from his life and legacy that’s being felt in this town and across the hockey world.

“Growing up here as a hockey kid, you want to get somewhere like Glenn did. That’s what you aspired to,” said Jesse Weitzel, a goalie in Stony Plain.

Weitzel says it’s hard to overstate how influential Hall is in the sport of hockey.

“The games and all the records he had, that’s what you aspired to be. So to hear it late last night, this morning it was devastating to hear a local legend go,” said Weitzel.

Hall transformed the fundamental skills it takes to be in net, with his signature butterfly style, which was considered odd at the time.

“It’s probably like the most foundational move. Like, if you can’t do the butterfly, good luck goaltending. It’s everything that you build on in goaltending. You go from there if you’re skating your butterfly and go on upwards,” said Weitzel.

It’s not just his approach to the game that’s immortalized him in hockey history; it’s his unwavering durability. In most games, he didn’t wear a mask.

His ironman record of starting 502 consecutive games by a goalie between 1955 and 1962 is considered unbreakable. The next closest goalie has 257 games straight.

Here’s Mr. Goalie in 2018, talking about his iconic streak: “I knew after a few years that I’d played a lot of games in a row, and I was proud of it. I used to say when I played, play me if I’m playing well. Don’t play me if I’m playing poorly.”

Off the ice, the town he calls home remembers his kindness that extended to everyone.

Stony Plain Mayor William Choy calls Hall a friend, saying he could often be found at local hockey games signing autographs and taking pictures with kids.

“Doesn’t matter where I see him, if it’s at the grocery store, bank, or a restaurant, he takes the opportunity to spend a couple of minutes to check on you, see how you’re doing, and motivate you and get you on your way,” said Choy.

Weitzel says, “It’s going to be a big hole in the community. He’s such a big part. Very active in the community, in hockey especially. It’s going to be felt by everyone.”

After Hall retired in 1971, having played for the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, and St. Louis Blues, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975, cementing him as one of hockey’s greatest heroes.