Murray Bannerman (born April 27, 1957) is a Canadian former ice hockey goaltender. He spent the majority of his career with the Chicago Blackhawks, though also briefly played for the Vancouver Canucks, who selected him in the 1977 NHL amateur draft.

Playing career

Bannerman in action for Chicago Blackhawks in 1981

Bannerman was born in Fort Frances, Ontario. As a youth, he played in the 1969 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Winnipeg.

His NHL career started with the Vancouver Canucks in the 1977 season, where he played one period for the team without allowing a goal making him the only goalie in Canucks history to not allow a goal. He spent most of his career with the Chicago Blackhawks. In 1983, he was a part of the Campbell Conference's roster at the 35th National Hockey League All-Star Game. Tony Esposito's backup for the early portion of his career, Bannerman finally got a chance to shine in the first round of the 1982 playoffs. He won his first two games-on the road-and powered his Chicago team to a series victory over the Minnesota North Stars. His career ended after the 1988 season.

He became the number one goaltender in Chicago the next season, with Esposito acting as his backup, and eventually tended goal twice in the NHL All-Star game for his yeoman work in the Chicago net. Bannerman was the 'player to be named later' when he came to Chicago in 1978. Pit Martin, once traded for Phil Esposito, was dealt by Chicago to Vancouver in 1977.

Bannerman sits fifth on the Blackhawks' all-time goaltender list with 116 wins and 288 games played. He finished with 3.83 goals against average and over 16,000 minutes played in a Chicago jersey. Bannerman is also fourth on the all-time Blackhawks' goaltender playoff statistics list with 20 wins and 40 games played.

Post-playing career

Bannerman resides and works in the . He still follows the Hawks and has many great memories of his time wearing the Indianhead. He fondly recalls the intensity of the fans back at the old Chicago Stadium. He also does periodic work for the Blackhawk Alumni Association.

As of 2019[update], Bannerman is the vice president of US sales for Traffic Tech, Inc. a Montreal-based transportation and logistics provider.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPWLTMinGASOGAASV%GPWLTMinGASOGAASV%
1972–73St. James CanadiansMJHL31177810413.51
1973–74St. James CanadiansMJHL179306904.45.895
1973–74Winnipeg ClubsWCHL62582906.74.793
1974–75Winnipeg ClubsWCHL283125135111305.02.847
1975–76Assiniboine Park MonarchsMJHL84802212.75.904
1975–76Victoria CougarsWCHL4423153245017814.36.860157538785003.42
1976–77Victoria CougarsWCHL67389326224.04.89342342005.13.861
1977–78Fort Wayne KometsIHL44243513313.2863352604.66
1977–78Vancouver CanucksNHL100020000.001.000
1978–79New Brunswick HawksAHL4722145255715203.57.8813111221004.92
1979–80New Brunswick HawksAHL6132205336118633.32.8741710610495102.92
1980–81Chicago Black HawksNHL1521028636204.31.866
1981–82Chicago Black HawksNHL2911124166711614.18.86710545553503.79.886
1982–83Chicago Black HawksNHL4124125245712743.10.9018444803204.01.866
1983–84Chicago Black HawksNHL5623294332618823.39.8875232991703.41.900
1984–85Chicago Black HawksNHL6027254336421503.84.88315969037204.79.868
1985–86Chicago Black HawksNHL4820196268020114.50.86920182906.65.775
1986–87Chicago BlackhawksNHL399188205314204.15.873
1987–88Baltimore SkipjacksAHL416215201415404.59.865
1987–88Saginaw HawksIHL30201401506.43
NHL totals2891161253316,427105183.84.880402018231916504.27.873

Awards and achievements

  • MJHL Second All-Star Team (1973)
  • MJHL top goaltender (1973)

External links

  • Biographical information and career statistics from , or , or , or