Description
Joseph Gilles Camille “Gil” Mayer (August 24, 1929 – September 29, 2015) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. Mayer stood 5’6″ tall, and weighed 128 lbs.
Mayer made his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Detroit Red Wings on December 1, 1949, after being called up from the Hornets. Toronto’s regular goalie, Turk Broda, was suspended for weighing 197 pounds. He had a weight limit of 190 pounds. Broda, 35, was the oldest active NHL goalie at the time.
Mayer had a natural weight of 128 pounds but tipped the scales at 166 pounds wearing all of his equipment. The 38 pounds of steel, wood, leather and wool costs $300 and required 30 minutes for dressing and removal.
On October 21, 1954, Mayer was brought up from Pittsburgh to substitute for injured Toronto goalie Harry Lumley. As a replacement Mayer was all that could be asked and he was given practically faultless support by his fast-skating mates. The Leafs surprised a Montreal crowd of 14,004 by defeating the Montreal Canadiens, 3-1, in a game which Harry Watson scored his 200th career goal.
During a Toronto losing streak Mayer conceded a late first-period goal to Ed Litzenberger of the Chicago Black Hawks on February 5, 1956. The shot from along the boards hit Mayer’s pads and dribbled into the far corner of the net. It proved to be the winning tally in a 3-2 victory and the fourth loss in a row for the Maple Leafs.
Mayer’s last season of professional hockey came during the 1962-63 season, playing in the American Hockey League for the Providence Reds.
Mayer died at the age of 86 on September 29, 2015.
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