Will the Boston Bruins Retire Numbers 1 and 30?
Will Boston ever retire either number?
The Boston Bruins were just the second franchise in professional sports history to retire a number, honoring Lionel Hitchman after his last NHL game on February 22, 1934, by retiring his number 3 jersey. Since then, the Bruins have retired a total of 12 numbers for historic forwards and defensemen, most recently number 16 for Rick Middleton in 2018, and number 22 for Willie O’Ree in 2022.
When you look at the Bruins' retired numbers, you will notice there is a glaring omission. The organization has never retired the number of any goaltender in their history. Every other Original Six franchise has retired at least one of their past goalie’s numbers. The Bruins have multiple record-holding, Hall of Fame goaltenders among their alumni, so why haven’t any of them been properly celebrated?
There are specifically two numbers that come to mind when thinking back at Bruins goalies that should be in the rafters, the numbers 1 and 30. The netminders that have made a historical impact on the franchise while wearing these numbers are Cecil ‘Tiny’ Thompson and Frank Brimsek representing the number 1, with Gerry Cheevers and Tim Thomas representing the number 30. All four of these goaltenders had a hand in winning each of the six Bruins Stanley Cups, each holds NHL and team records, and three of the four are in the Hockey Hall of Fame. There are many reasons 1 and 30 should be retired, so why aren’t they?
Number 1: Thompson & Brimsek
Tiny Thompson had his first NHL start on November 15, 1928, kicking off his career with a 1-0 shutout victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The result would be a good indicator of how the rest of his Bruins career would play out, as he finished his rookie season with 12 shutouts and he now holds the franchise record for most career shutouts (74). Thompson also finished his rookie campaign with a 1.15 GAA, which is still the Bruins team record for lowest GAA in a season. Boston went on to win their first-ever Stanley Cup that season, going 5-0 on their road to the Cup, with a 0.60 GAA, which is tied with Alec Connell for the NHL record of lowest GAA in a playoff year.
The next season, the Bruins set the NHL record for best winning percentage in a season (87.5%) when they went 38-5-1 with Thompson in net. The 1929-30 Bruins still hold that record. Thompson went on to win his first Vezina Trophy that season, and also set the NHL record for the longest win streak in a season (14 games), which has been tied three times since he set it (Tom Barrasso, Jonas Hiller, Sergei Bobrovsky). Over his 10 seasons with the Bruins, Thompson won the Vezina four times (1930, 1933, 1936, 1938) and was a four-time All-Star. Along with the records already listed, Thompson also recorded the first intentional goalie assist in the 1935-36 season and holds the Bruins franchise records for lowest career GAA (1.99) and lowest playoff career GAA (1.72). Thompson was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1959.
After his Vezina-winning season in 1937-38, Thompson was injured in an exhibition game before the 1938-39 season. His injury made way for Frank Brimsek to be called up from the Bruins minor-league affiliate, the Providence Reds, to start in his place. Bruins coach and general manager, Art Ross, was so impressed that he traded Thompson to the Detroit Red Wings on November 16, 1938, making Brimsek the new starting goaltender for Boston.
After Thompson was traded, Brimsek went on to post six shutouts over seven games. Brimsek holds the Bruins record for the longest shutout sequence over this time (231 minutes, 54 seconds), which earned him the lasting nickname, ‘Mr. Zero’. Brimsek won the Vezina and Calder Trophies at the end of his rookie season, and the Bruins went on to win their second Stanley Cup. Just two years later, Brimsek backstopped the Bruins to the franchise’s third Stanley Cup victory, when they swept the Red Wings, 4-0. In 1941-42, Mr. Zero led the league in GAA (2.35) and won his second Vezina.
Following the 1942-43 season, Brimsek suspended his NHL career to join the United States Coast Guard during World War II. When he returned, he helped lead the Bruins to the 1946 Stanley Cup Final, which they lost to the Montreal Canadiens in five games.
The Bruins didn’t make it to the Cup Final again with Brimsek in net, but he ended up being the runner-up for the Hart Trophy in 1948. Brimsek was an eight-time All-Star and still holds the Bruins record for longest point streak in a season (23 games in 1940-41). He was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks on September 8, 1949, ending his 9 seasons with Boston. Brimsek was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1966, the first American-born goalie to be inducted, and in 1973 he was an inaugural inductee into the US Hockey Hall of Fame.
Number 30: Cheevers & Thomas
Gerry Cheevers did not have the instantaneous success of Thompson & Brimsek, as he was drafted to the Bruins in 1965, right in the thick of the worst era in franchise history. Just a few years later, though, Cheevers would hit his stride and become one of the most popular and successful goaltenders in Bruins history. Along with being the man to begin the tradition of customizing goalie masks, he helped the Bruins bring home two Stanley Cups (1970, 1972), holds multiple franchise records and holds the NHL record for longest undefeated streak (32 games), that no goaltender has come close to breaking since 1983 (Pete Peeters - 31 games)
After the 1972 Stanley Cup season, Cheevers left the NHL for the newly formed WHA. He played on the Cleveland Crusaders for three and a half seasons before a financial dispute with general manager Jack Vivian led him to retire from the WHA and return to the NHL, re-signing with the Bruins for his second stint with the franchise in 1976. Cheevers retired from his playing career after the 1980 season to become head coach of the Bruins. Over his two stints with Boston, spanning 12 seasons, Cheevers finished his Bruins career with a 226-103-76 record, a .901 SV%, and a 2.89 GAA.
Cheevers holds the franchise record for most playoff seasons (10) with a 53-34 record over that time, a .902 SV%, and a 2.70 GAA with a franchise record of 8 shutouts. Cheevers also holds the franchise record for longest playoff win streak (10 games), and was selected to the 1969 NHL All-Star game. Cheevers was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985.
It took Tim Thomas even more time than the aforementioned goalies to settle into the NHL. Thomas was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in 1994, finished his time at the University of Vermont, then spent time in the ECHL, the IHL twice, Finland three times, the AHL, and Sweden, before signing with the Bruins in August 2002. Thomas started four games in the 2002-2003 season, spending the rest of his time in Providence before the 2004-2005 NHL lockout season when he went back to Finland for the fourth time. Once the lockout ended the next season, he returned to Providence and before long, he was back in Boston.
Thomas spent the next couple of seasons proving himself as the starting goaltender in Boston, leading to a full revival of the Bruins organization. In 2009, Thomas won his first Vezina Trophy and took home the Jennings Trophy alongside his partner Manny Fernandez, after lighting up the league with a 36-11-7 record, a .933 SV%, and a 2.10 GAA with five shutouts. The 2010-2011 season was Thomas’s career year. He went 35-11-9 with a .938 SV% and a 2.00 GAA with nine shutouts. His .938 SV% is tied for the Bruins record of highest save percentage in a season.
Thomas won his second Vezina this season and led the Bruins to their first Stanley Cup victory since 1972, when he had one of the single greatest postseasons in Bruins history, defeating the Vancouver Canucks in seven games. Thomas went 16-9 with a .940 SV% and a 1.98 GAA with four shutouts in the playoffs, earning him the Conn Smythe Trophy, and becoming the first American born-goaltender to win the award.
Thomas holds multiple NHL records from his historic postseason performance, including most saves in a playoff year (798), most saves in a Stanley Cup Final series (238), and most game 7 wins in a playoff year (3). He also holds the Bruins franchise record for most shutouts in a playoff year (4), and most wins in a playoff year (16).
Thomas had another great regular season in 2011-2012, going 35-19-1 with a .920 SV% and a 2.36 GAA with five shutouts. In the summer of 2012, Thomas announced on his Facebook page that he would be sitting out the 2012-13 season to focus on his personal life, which led him to be traded to the New York Islanders on February 7, 2013. Thomas was a four-time All-Star and currently holds the NHL record for highest playoff career save percentage (.933%). He was inducted into the US Hockey Hall of Fame in 2019.
Why won't the Bruins retire 1 & 30?
All four goaltenders have incredible resumes and are more than qualified to represent their respective number in the rafters of the Garden. When going over all the records, stats, and accomplishments, it’s hard to think of a concrete explanation for why the Bruins organization has never retired 1 or 30 for any of these players. There are a handful of reasons that could be brought up as to why the franchise has had cold feet retiring the two numbers, but all the reasons are easily refuted.
They are traditional goalie numbers
The numbers 1 and 30 are considered as hockey’s traditional goaltender digits. Since the beginning of the numbering system, goalies were handed the number 1. Number 30 gained popularity once the NHL implemented the rule that teams must dress two goaltenders for each game in 1965. It became a staple just as the number 1 before long.
So maybe the Bruins don’t want to get rid of the option for their goalies to wear the traditional numbers for their position, even Jeremy Swayman is donning the 1 currently. However, goalies have moved away from only sporting traditional numbers. 1 and 30 are still among the top 5 most common numbers being worn by goalies this season (with 31, 35, and 40 being the three others) but net minders are wearing a variety of numbers in 2024. The other problem with this is that 12 teams have already retired 1 or 30, with the New York Rangers having retired both. So it would not be hockey blasphemy for the Bruins to retire traditional numbers 1 and 30.
Cheevers & the WHA
After the Bruins won the Stanley Cup in 1972, Cheevers decided to leave the team to join the Cleveland Crusaders of the WHA. The Bruins brought him, along with Derek Sanderson, to court in an attempt to block the players from jumping leagues, which ultimately failed on the Bruins' part. So maybe the Bruins don’t want to honor Cheevers over a soured relationship from the move?
That might make sense if this was the end of their relationship with Cheevers, but that is not the case. Cheevers came back to the Bruins three and a half years later after a financial dispute with Crusaders general manager Jack Vivian, and the Bruins welcomed him back with open arms. Bruins general manager Harry Sinden said the organization had been scouting Cheevers since he left. Cheevers finished his playing career with the B’s a few years later and took over as head coach until 1985.
Thomas's length of service
One of the main arguments made against Thomas’s number being retired is that he didn’t play long enough or that he only had ‘one or two good seasons’. While it is true that he was only the starting goalie for a relatively short period, what he accomplished in his time was significant and he is an integral part of Bruins history. Thomas holds multiple NHL and Bruins records, a slew of awards and trophies, and brought the Cup back to Boston for the first time since 1972.
It is unlikely the Bruins will retire number 1 as both Thompson and Brimsek have passed, and the most opportune time to have done it would have been during a centennial season ceremony. Jeremy Swayman is also currently wearing 1, so it is not exactly ideal timing to retire it. It remains to be seen whether or not they decide to retire 30 for Cheevers, Thomas, or both. There is still time, certainly for Thomas, as there will undoubtedly be a few of his teammates from the 2011 Stanley Cup team being honored in the future, and number 30 could join in on the celebrations.
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