Red Wings Lumley Holds Several NHL Records

At NHL.com, they are declaring this week to be the week of the goaltender, and it’s an often-overlooked Detroit Red Wings netminder who was the selection as the first subject on Monday. Writer Dave Stubbs chose to recognize the unique and likely never-to-be-broken NHL standards set between the pipes by Red Wings goalie Harry Lumley.

Many legendary NHL puckstoppers made cameo appearances in the Red Wings net. Mr. Goalie himself, Glenn Hall, would launch his NHL days in Detroit before going on to fame in Chicago and St. Louis. Other Hall of Famers such as Dominik Hasek, Mike Vernon, Tiny Thompson and Rogie Vachon would suit up as Red Wings in the twilight of their NHL careers.

None, though, could equal the standards set by Lumley. In fact, it’s quite likely that no NHL goalie ever will.

Lumley Was NHL’s Youngest Goalie

On December 19, 1943, the Red Wings were recalling Lumley from the AHL Indianapolis Capitals to fill in for Normie Smith in a game against the New York Rangers. At 17 years, 38 days of age, Lumley was the youngest goalie in NHL history.

On this day in 1943, @DetroitRedWings's Harry Lumley became the youngest goaltender in NHL history when he played his first game for the Red Wings. He was just 17 years old at the time #Hockey365 #LGRW pic.twitter.com/1ZvtppqucW

— Mike Commito (@mikecommito) December 19, 2018

It didn’t matter that the Red Wings were 6-2 losers that night. Or that the Blackhawks put seven pucks past Lumley in the next game. He was, is and for all intents and purposes will always remain the NHL’s youngest puckstopper. Since players must be at least 18 to play in the league today, unless that rules changes, Lumley’s record will never fall.

Lumley was also known for wielding his stick like an axe to protect his goal crease. Then there were his raft of indiosyncracies that oddly enough, only afflicted him on game day.

“I have never seen anyone who was so superstitious,” Gordie Howe explained the book Without Fear. “I would come in late and he would be half dressed. If I would kick his pad a little bit as I went by, he would take everything off and start over.”

Lumley Led Red Wings To Cup Final As Teenager

Taking over as Detroit’s No. 1 goalie for the 1944-45 season, Lumley would rewrite several more NHL records. Beating the Rangers 3-2 on December 7, 1944, Lumley became the youngest goalie to win an NHL game (18 years, 26 days). When he was blanking the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-0 on January 14, 1945, he was the youngest (18 years, 64 days) to post a shutout in an NHL game.

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— Vintage Classic Sports Cards (@3VintageClassic) March 20, 2021

That spring, Lumley was backstopping the Red Wings into the Stanley Cup final. He’d become the first teenaged goalie to appear for an NHL team in a Cup final series. He’d also be the first to post a win and a shutout. In fact, Lumley would post back-to-back shutouts.

How remarkable are Lumley’s marks? Consider that during the 2023-24 NHL season, no goalie younger than 21 appeared in a game. Just six were under the age of 23.