Playing career

Amateur career

Head, a goaltender, played junior hockey for the Toronto Marlboros where he won the Dave Pinkney Trophy for outstanding goaltender in the 1952-53 season. He was the goalie for the Canadian ice hockey team at the 1960 Winter Olympics, which was expected to take home gold, but settled for silver behind the United States.

Professional career

Following the Olympics, Head signed with the expansion Portland Buckaroos of the Western Hockey League. The Buckaroos would go on to win the league championship, and Head was named to the league all-star team, and was chosen the league's rookie of the year and outstanding goalkeeper. He was among the very few goalies who did not wear a helmet in a game.

The next year, Head was called up to the NHL Boston Bruins, but did not fare as well, winning only 9 of the 38 games he played as the Bruins finished last in the league. He returned to the WHL and won two more outstanding goalkeeper awards with the Buckaroos and was named to two more all-star teams. He also played for the Seattle Totems before ending his career with the Buckaroos in 1975, the same year the franchise folded.

Legacy

Head was named to the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]