Ernie Wakely

Who is Ernie Wakely?

Ernest Alfred Linton Wakely is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Wakely was a goaltender in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens and St. Louis Blues. Wakely also played for the Winnipeg Jets, the San Diego Mariners, the Cincinnati Stingers, the Houston Aeros, and the Birmingham Bulls of the World Hockey Association. Wakely was goaltender for the 1958–59 Memorial Cup winning Winnipeg Braves of the MJHL.

In the 1969–70 NHL season Wakely took over in St. Louis for the legendary goalie Glenn Hall. Wakely appeared in 30 games, won 12, and recorded a goals against average of 2.11 in leading the Blues to the Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins. Boston swept the Blues in four straight games to win the Stanley Cup. The following season, Wakely played in 51 games, won 20, and posted a 2.79 GAA. Two years later, he jumped to the fledgling World Hockey Association to play with the Winnipeg Jets and former Chicago Black Hawks star Bobby Hull. No other goalie played more games in the WHA and his 16 shutouts are also a WHA career record.