Don Simmons

Who was Don Simmons?

Donald William "Dippy" Simmons was a National Hockey League goaltender. He was called up by the Boston Bruins from the Springfield Indians of the AHL in order to replace an ailing Terry Sawchuk who had left the Bruins in mid-season of 1957. He then spent 3 seasons partnering with veteran Harry Lumley as an effective netminding duo in Boston. Simmons was the first goaltender to adopt the face mask after Jacques Plante introduced it in 1959. Later, Simmons would back up Johnny Bower in Toronto in the early 1960s and was instrumental in the Leafs winning the Stanley Cup in 1962. He finished his career playing with the New York Rangers. Don Simmons was the founder of Don Simmons Sports, a successful Ontario franchise specializing in goalie equipment.