Claude Pronovost

Joseph Georges Claude Pronovost (July 22, 1935 – September 1, 2022) was a Canadian ice hockey goaltender who played three games in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens between 1956 and 1959, serving as an emergency goalie each time. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1952 to 1963, was spent in various minor leagues, mainly the Quebec Hockey League. He died on September 1. 2022 in Quebec, at the age of 87.

Playing career Pronovost was with the Montreal Canadiens as a practice goaltender in the 1955–56 season when he played his first NHL game. On January 14, 1956, the Boston Bruins arrived to play in Montreal. The Bruins were without regular starter Terry Sawchuk and were unable to use their backup John Henderson because of equipment problems. The Canadiens loaned Pronovost to the Bruins for the game, and he recorded a shutout against his own team.

Pronovost's hockey career lasted from 1952 to 1963. He spent most of his time playing in various semi-professional leagues, including the Quebec Hockey League and the Eastern Professional Hockey League. The only other time Pronovost played in the NHL was during the 1958–59 season, when he played two games for Montreal.

Claude's brothers Marcel Pronovost and Jean Pronovost also played in the NHL.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV% 1952–53 Shawinigan Falls Cataractes QHL 2 0 2 0 120 5 0 2.50 — — — — — — — — — 1953–54 Montreal Junior Royals QJHL 21 — — — 1260 80 1 3.81 — — — — — — — — — 1953–54 Kitchener Greenshirts OHA Sr 33 — — — 1980 122 2 3.70 — — — — — — — — — 1954–55 Montreal Junior Canadiens QJHL 46 24 21 1 2760 143 2 3.10 — 5 1 4 315 23 0 4.38 — 1954–55 Chicoutimi Sagueneens QHL 3 1 2 0 180 10 0 3.33 — — — — — — — — — 1955–56 Boston Bruins NHL 1 1 0 0 60 0 1 0.00 1.000 — — — — — — — — 1955–56 Chicoutimi Sagueneens QHL 2 0 2 0 108 7 0 3.89 — — — — — — — — — 1955–56 Montreal Royals QHL 9 4 5 0 540 31 0 3.44 — — — — — — — — — 1956–57 Chicoutimi Sagueneens QHL 1 1 0 0 60 1 0 1.00 — — — — — — — — — 1956–57 Montreal Royals QHL 9 2 6 1 554 36 0 3.90 — — — — — — — — — 1956–57 Shawinigan Falls Cataractes QHL 11 4 7 0 662 37 1 3.35 — — — — — — — — — 1956–57 Edmonton Flyers WHL 3 1 2 0 190 10 0 3.16 — — — — — — — — — 1957–58 Montreal Royals QHL 16 6 9 1 960 66 1 4.13 — 1 1 0 46 1 0 1.30 — 1957–58 Shawinigan Falls Cataractes QHL 1 0 1 0 60 5 0 5.00 — — — — — — — — — 1958–59 Montreal Canadiens NHL 2 0 1 0 60 7 0 7.00 .774 — — — — — — — — 1958–59 Montreal Royals QHL 37 18 14 5 2220 91 2 2.46 — 6 3 3 364 15 1 2.47 — 1959–60 Calgary Stampeders WHL 37 15 21 1 2220 125 0 3.37 — — — — — — — — — 1960–61 Montreal Royals EPHL 27 — — — 1620 85 1 3.15 — — — — — — — — — 1961–62 North Bay Trappers EPHL 4 1 3 0 240 16 0 4.00 — — — — — — — — — 1962–63 Hull-Ottawa Canadiens EPHL 1 0 1 0 60 5 0 5.00 — — — — — — — — — NHL totals 3 1 1 0 120 7 0 3.50 .887 — — — — — — — —