Claude Cyr Was No Jacques Plante

When the Trail Smoke Eaters were selected to represent Canada at the World Hockey Championships in 1961 they accepted a young goalie from Quebec to join the team. The Smokies already had the legendary Seth Martin in net - perhaps the most famous Canadian hockey player in European minds prior Paul Henderson and Phil Esposito - but agree to add Claude Cyr as a back up for the World tourney.

Cyr was a highly regarded goalie. At the time he was considered to be Jacques Plante's understudy and potential one-day replacement for the Montreal Canadiens.

Cyr was not used to the practices Trail coach Bobby Kromm inflicted upon his players. In one 18 game tour of Europe the team was put through intense skating drills on almost every non-game day. At some point Cyr complained.

"Jacques Plante didn't have to skate in the Canadiens practices," he pointed out.

"You ain't Jacques Plante," Kromm fired back.

Here's more on the career of Claude Cyr.