Jacques Marcotte, So Close to the Show until Tragedy Struck
Just this last month I received a comment on that article from the daughter of one of those fine goaltenders, Jacques Marcotte. She mentioned that her father had indeed made it to the NHL, contrasting the information I had found. Well, her father did indeed get the call up to the big time and got just about as close as one could get to playing in the NHL before tragedy struck.
The 1957/58 Toronto Maple Leafs were a poor squad and would finish the season sixth and last place with a record of 21-38-11. By February 23, 1958 in fifth place and six points shy of a playoff spot, the Leafs attempted to change their luck with a change in the nets. Ed Chadwick had played every game in net for the Leafs when Jacques Marcotte was obtained from New York Rangers that day. The Leafs gave up $5,000, the rights to ex-Toronto Marlboro star Bill Kennedy and a player to be named later. 22 year-old Marcotte had been named Rookie of the Year and 2nd Team All-Star the previous season with the Trois-Rivieres Lions of the QHL.
Coach Billy Reay planned to insert Marcotte on Feb. 27 in Montreal against the Canadiens. During his very first practice with Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens on Feb 25, Jacques Marcotte was hit under the right eye by a puck shot by rookie Frank Mahovlich, and his start was given back to Chadwick who would play as usual, losing to Les Habitants 4-1. Chadwick and the Leafs lost their final 8 games of the schedule to solidify their last place finish.
By the end of April , 1958 it was reported in a Quebec newspaper that Marcotte had regained only 40% of his eyesight and even he admitted his playing career may be over. He was quoted, "Hockey has been my life and everything looked promising until the accident." Indeed, his career had been promising prior to the accident. What would have happened if young Marcotte had played and performed well down the stretch for Toronto? On June 3, 1958, just over three months after aquiring Marcotte, the Leafs would claim Johnny Bower from Cleveland Barons of the AHL, a player 10 years Marcotte's senior.
After two years away from the game, with his eyesight improved enough to play, Marcotte joined coach Fred Shero with the St.Paul Saints of the IHL. He posted a 2.97 goals against average in 69 games and led the Saints to the Turner Cup championship. Marcotte played three additional seasons in the International League before retiring after the 1963/64 season.
Jacques Marcotte would return to Grand-Mere, Quebec with his Minnesota born wife and ran a successful Pepsi-Cola franchise until his death due to a brain tumor in June 1994 at age 59.
Comments
Thanks for the info
There was a wild game in Minneapolis with the much hated Minneapolis Millers. A wild affair that found The Cat ejected from the game. A teammate told me years later that he was so incensed, he had to be locked in the lockerroom! In those days, they only had one goalie and recruited a teenage kid from the stands to fill in. The true blue Saints fans stood and sang the team song When The Saints Go Marching In. They almost pulled off but the Saints lost by 1.
Jacque was worth the price of admission alone! Rest in Peace my friend.
I did get to enjoy going (he and I) in June 1993 to see the Canadiens win the Stanley Cup.
is on the nameplate even tho they didnt have nameplates then. Im very proud of that and get looks around St Paul from other old Saints fans today. I still wonder how he would of placed himself "if" he would have made it to the NHL. I in my heart think he would be right up there competing against Plante, Sawchuk, Hall, Worsely !!!! A A The Vezina Trophy with Jacques Marcottes name engraved on it. Very pssible!
Jacques, Thanks for the Memories. Charley Brandt