Armor-Plated Rookie

The Detroit Red Wings were complacently coasting along on a two-goal lead when the uprising struck last week. Starting from behind as the third period got under way, the Chicago Black Hawks began throwing everything but their skates at Rookie Terry Sawchuk. Four times, square-jawed Goalie Sawchuk coolly turned aside solo sweeps by Black Hawk attackers who were rifling the puck in toward the net at an 80-m.p.h. clip. Six times more, in wild gang melees in front of Detroit's cage, Sawchuk's quick eye and split-second reactions safely smothered the puck.

With that kind of defense work behind them, Detroit's "production line"--Sid Abel, Ted Lindsay and Gordie Howe--moved into high gear, began barraging shots at Chicago's goal, won handily, 6-1. It was the fourth victory in five games against Chicago. It was also a source of considerable satisfaction to the Red Wing management. Operating on the theory that a winning combination should be broken up before it turns stale and complacent, the Wings had given their line-up a thorough overhaul after winning hockey's Stanley Cup last season. Major change: Goalie Sawchuk, untried in the National League, to replace Veteran Harry Lumley (who was sold to Chicago).

Though most goalies on their off nights look as though they could no more stop a pumpkin than a puck, Goalie Sawchuk, a steel-nerved youngster of Ukrainian descent, never seems to get rattled. Says admiring Detroit General Manager Jack Adams: "In all the years we have watched Terry he's never had a bad game. He is always alert and reacting to every player's maneuverings from the minute that man gets the puck."

Detroit has had its eye on stocky (5 ft. 11 in., 195 Ibs.), Winnipeg-born Terry Sawchuk ever since he was a 17-year-old kid in the Red Wing farm system with the Galt Amateurs and Windsor Spitfires. In 1947, he graduated to Omaha of the U.S. League and promptly won rookie-of-the-year honors. The next year, he repeated the award with Indianapolis of the American League. This year, cheering Detroit fans are sure that he is due for a repeat performance.

By this week, with the season half over, Sawchuk's armor-plated defense had kept the scoring count against him to an average of less than two goals per game. With the Red Wings' big line busily pumping the puck home past rival goalies, the National Hockey League race had narrowed down to a backstretch duel between Toronto's front-running Maple Leafs and Detroit's fast-closing Red Wings.

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