Back in the 1950s, the New York Rangers employed a short, stout goaltender named Lorne “Gump” Worsley, aka “The Gumper.” Following his nine-year tenure in New York, Worsley also enjoyed lengthy stops in Montreal and Minnesota. While his physical attributes always made him a fun player to watch, it was Worsley’s unique sense of humour that cemented his reputation as a fan favourite—both at home and on the road.
From the New York Times: “Gump’s not in shape,” Phil Watson, a volatile Ranger coach, once said. “He’s got a beer belly.”
When that remark was relayed to the pudgy little goaltender, Gump Worsley was insulted: “Beer belly!” he snapped. “I don’t drink beer. You tell Watson that I only drink V.O.”
Worsley also had a different take on the famous “win one for the Gipper” phrase (from the 1940s Knute Rockne movie). He loved tweaking that iconic line to fit his own nickname, routinely urging teammates to “win one for the Gumper” before each game.
It’s unlikely that Worsley would ever have played in today’s game, given his diminutive 5’7” height. In his era, goaltenders were required to always stand up when facing shots from all distances and angles. In today’s all-butterfly-all-the-time era, it’s unlikely Worsley’s legs would stretch from post to post if he dropped to his knees. That might explain why he was never a big fan of his position, once stating, “The only thing worse is being a javelin catcher at a track meet.”
But the one quip Worsley will be most remembered for dates back to his Rangers days. Coming off a game in which he faced a constant barrage of pucks, he was asked which NHL team gave him the most trouble.
“The Rangers,” Worsley quickly retorted.
