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Player
Jack Norris
Future NHLer Jack Norris emerged from the hamlet of Donovan, Sask., where his love for the game was ignited on the snow-covered outdoor rink around 1945. Inspired by hockey legend Glenn Hall, Norris ventured into goaltending by taping Eaton's catalogues to his legs for protection, embodying the resourcefulness of small-town Saskatchewan.
Before professional hockey, he was asked to try out for the Saskatoon Jr. Quakers by future SHHOF inductee Doug Bentley but was instead scouted by the Estevan Bruins as a 15-year-old. In his fourth season with Estevan, the team won the provincial championship and later lost to the eventual 1963 Memorial Cup champion Edmonton Oil Kings in the playoffs, with Norris diagnosed mid-series with a concussion and the mumps.
While undrafted, Norris’ talent and resilience led him to the NHL in the 1964-65 season, where he showcased his prowess with the Boston Bruins and again later with the Chicago Black Hawks and Los Angeles Kings. Although his NHL tenure totalled 58 games, his impact was undeniable, earning recognition in one of the best trades involving the Bruins when they acquired Phil Esposito in a six-man exchange in 1967.
Transitioning to the World Hockey Association (WHA), Norris found his stride with the then-new Alberta Oilers when future SHHOF inductee Bill Hunter helped create the franchise in 1972. The goaltender represented the team at the inaugural WHA All-Star Game and started the next season (1973-74) when they were officially renamed the Edmonton Oilers.
Following his retirement from professional hockey in 1976, Norris returned to his farming roots in Saskatchewan while embodying the values of giving back and community involvement. He dedicated subsequent years to coaching and even driving the team bus as an ex-NHLer. Additionally, Norris helped Delisle minor hockey with development projects like a new ice resurfacer for the local rink.
In the Original Six-era of the NHL, Norris defied the odds to become one of six starting goaltenders in the entire league and proudly represented his home province. Norris's accomplishments on the ice instill a sense of pride in rural Saskatchewan and inspire future generations of aspiring goalies.