GILLES VILLEMURE
1971-77 CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS / NEW YORK RANGERS GAME WORN COOPER GM12 BLOCKER

Gilles Villemure, born May 20, 1940 in Trois Rivieres, Quebec was signed as a free agent by the New York Rangers in 1962. He played his first ever game in the NHL in the 1963-64 season on November 20, 1963, to replace Jacques Plante who had been injured. He appeared in five games during that first season, recording an 0-2-3 record. He was sent back down to play in the AHL/WHL until the 1967-68 campaign, when Gilles got his next chance to be between the pipes in New York. By 1970-71, Villemure became the undisputed back-up goaltender for Ed Giacomin, sharing the Vezina Trophy with him in the 70-71 campaign. He went on to play a career high 45 games in the 1974-75 season before being traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Doug Jarrett. He played in two more seasons for the Blackhawks before retiring at the end of the 1976-77 campaign.

In his ten seasons in the NHL, Gilles Villemure appeared in 205 regular season games, recording a 100-64-29 record with 13 shutouts and a 0.899% save average. He also appeared in 14 playoff games, recording a 5-5 record with a 2.93GAA and a 0.898% save average. 

Villemure utilized this blocker both with the New York Rangers, as well as with the Chicago Blackhawks in a recent photomatching revelation!

​Acquired from: Mike Hogan of Ice Violence, previously listed on Classic Auctions and Game Worn Auctions.

Dates of game use: Uncertain due to era

Photomatched: Yes