By: Camryn Meece | Follow me on Twitter / X @MeeceCamryn
The Boston Bruins have a long history of great goaltenders. Gerry Cheevers became one of the most recognizable players in franchise history, while Tuukka Rask eventually became Boston’s most winningest goaltender. But decades before either player made his mark in the Bruins’ crease, Tiny Thompson was building a reputation as one of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) best.
Before coming to Boston, Thompson had spent several years playing in the minor leagues. He eventually caught the attention of Bruins general manager Art Ross, who brought the 25-year-old goaltender to Boston for the 1928-29 season. For Thompson, it was his first opportunity to play in the NHL.
Thompson had plenty to prove when he arrived in Boston. He had never played an NHL game and was stepping into the crease for a Bruins team that was still establishing itself in the league. But it didn’t take long for Thompson to prove he could compete at the NHL level. He took over as Boston’s starting goaltender and quickly became one of the league’s best at the position. In his rookie season, he recorded 26 wins and 12 shutouts while posting a 1.15 goals-against average (GAA). His GAA remains the Bruins’ single-season record and was the fourth-lowest mark in NHL history at the time.
His performance helped push Boston to the top of the league. The Bruins finished first in the American Division and earned a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. For Thompson, his first NHL season had already exceeded expectations, but the biggest test was still ahead.
The Bruins entered the 1929 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a chance to win the first championship in franchise history. After defeating the Montreal Canadiens in the semifinal, Boston advanced to the Stanley Cup Final to face the New York Rangers. The series posed an unusual challenge for Thompson. His brother, Paul Thompson, was playing for the Rangers, putting the two brothers on opposite sides of the Stanley Cup Final.
Tiny and the Bruins came out on top. Boston shut out New York 2-0 in the first game before winning 2-1 in the second, securing the first Stanley Cup in franchise history. Thompson allowed just three goals in five playoff games. His first season in the NHL could hardly have gone better.
Thompson’s rookie season was only the start. In the 1929-30 season, he followed up his Stanley Cup championship by winning 38 games, setting an NHL record at the time, and earning his first Vezina Trophy. The Bruins went 38-5-1 that season before falling to Montreal in the Stanley Cup Final.
Thompson remained one of Boston’s most reliable players throughout the 1930s. He won his second Vezina Trophy in 1933 after recording 11 shutouts and a 1.76 goals-against average. He added another in 1936, finishing that season with a league-best 1.68 goals-against average and 10 shutouts.
By 1938, Thompson had won his fourth Vezina Trophy, tying Montreal’s George Hainsworth for the most in NHL history at the time. After a decade in Boston, he had become one of the league’s most accomplished goaltenders, finishing his Bruins career with 252 wins and 74 shutouts.
Those numbers remained in the Bruins record book long after Thompson left Boston. His 252 wins stood as the franchise record until Tuukka Rask passed him in 2020, while his 74 shutouts remain a Bruins record today.
Thompson’s time in Boston came to an end during the 1938-39 season after he suffered an injury during training camp. Thompson had previously suggested that the Bruins use a backup goaltender, both to give him occasional rest and to give his eventual replacement some experience. With Thompson unable to play, rookie Frank Brimsek stepped into the crease for the Bruins’ first two games and won both. Brimsek’s strong start caught Art Ross’ attention, and Thompson was eventually traded to the Detroit Red Wings for $15,000, the highest price ever paid for a goaltender at the time.
Thompson was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1959, more than 20 years after his final season in Boston. His career helped set the stage for Boston’s long history of great goaltending. Frank Brimsek followed Thompson and won two Stanley Cups, while Gerry Cheevers became a key part of two championship teams. Decades later, Tim Thomas backstopped the Bruins to the 2011 Stanley Cup, and Tuukka Rask became the franchise’s all-time leader in wins. Thompson helped start a tradition of great goaltending that would continue for generations in Boston.
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