Ed Belfour: Sports Section Oldie but Goodie

This time I am inducting Ed Belfour into the Sports Section's Oldies But Goodies Hall of Fame. He is 42 and one of the oldest active NHL goalies.

Ed "The Eagle" Belfour, born on April 2, 1965, is an NHL goalie for the Florida Panthers. In his 18-career season Belfour has played for 5 teams, which include the Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks and the Chicago Blackhawks.

Born in Carman, Manitoba, Canada he grew up playing hockey. Before playing college hockey for the University of North Dakota and winning the 1986-87 NCAA championship, he played junior hockey with the Winkler Flyers. After college he signed with Chicago Blackhawks, alternating time between them and the Saginaw Hawks of the International Hockey League.

In the 1989-90 season, Belfour began with the Canadian national men's hockey team, but was recalled by the Blackhawks for their postseason and went 4-2 with a 2.49 GAA. The next season, Belfour became the starting goalie, and turned into what many consider to be one of the best rookie seasons in NHL history. He had and finished a 2.47 GAA and 4 shutouts. For his success, he received the Calder Memorial Trophy for outstanding play by a rookie, the Vezina Trophy for best goaltender and the William M. Jennings Trophy for fewest team goals-against. He went on to win the Vezina Trophy again in 1993 and the Jennings Trophy in 1993, 1995, and 1999. Before being traded to the San Jose Sharks Belfour managed to be ranked third among Blackhawk goalies with 415 games played winning 201 of them. He also ranked fourth in shutouts, 30, and second in assists, 17. And without a doubt he ranks No. 1 in penatly minutes with, 242.

Considering a half season with the Sharks Belfour signed with the Dallas Stars. During his first season, Belfour played 61 games and had an incrediable 1.88 GAA as his team won the Presidents' Trophy. The next season Ed and the Stars won the Stanley Cup against the Buffalo Sabres in six. The following season him and the Stars again made it to the Satnley Cup finals but, only to lose to the New Jersey Devils in double overtime.

On July 2, 2002, Ed signed as a free agent with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In his first season Belfour set a franchise-record 37 games. On April 1, he earned his 400th career win in a match against the Devils and in the playoffs, Ed posted a 2.71 GAA and a .915 Save% in seven games in an opening-round loss to the Flyers. Also in this season Ed won the gold medal with the Canadian team in Salt Lake City. In 2003-04, he posted a 34-19-6 record in 59 games and had a 2.13 GAA and a .918 save percentage along with ten shutouts. On November 28, 2005, Belfour won his 447th career NHL game, moving him into a tie with Terry Sawchuk for 2nd place in career wins.

After a poor 05-06 season the Maple Leaf let Belfour go. He picked up by the Florida Panthers on July 1, 2006. On February 13, 2007, Belfour tied Hall of Famer Tony Esposito for eighth place on the career shutout list with 76. He proved many wrong that season by posting a 2.79 GAA, .902 save percentage, and 1 shutout in 57 games.