Don Head

Donald Charles Head (born June 30, 1933) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played 38 games in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins during the 1961–62 season. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1953 to 1971, was spent in the senior Ontario Hockey Association and the Western Hockey League. Head also played for the Canadian national team at the 1960 Winter Olympics, winning a silver medal.

Playing career Amateur career Head, a goaltender, played junior hockey for the Toronto Marlboros where he won the Dave Pinkney Trophy for an outstanding goaltender in the 1952-53 season. He was the goalie for the Canadian ice hockey team at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California, which was expected to take home the gold medals, but settled for silver behind the United States.

Professional career Following the Olympics, Head signed with the expansion Portland Buckaroos of the Western Hockey League. The Buckaroos would go on to win the league championship, and Head was named to the league all-star team and was chosen the league's rookie of the year and outstanding goalkeeper. He was among the very few goalies who did not wear a helmet in a game.

The next year, Head was called up to the NHL Boston Bruins but did not fare as well, winning only 9 of the 38 games he played as the Bruins finished last in the league. He returned to the WHL and won two more outstanding goalkeeper awards with the Buckaroos and was named to two more all-star teams. He also played for the Seattle Totems before ending his career with the Buckaroos in 1975, the same year the franchise folded.

Legacy Head was named to the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.

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% 1950–51 Weston Dukes OHA-B — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 1951–52 Toronto Marlboros OHA 37 — — — 2220 107 4 2.87 — — — — — — — — — 1952–53 Weston Dukes OHA-B — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 1953–54 Stratford Indians OHA Sr 14 — — — 840 53 1 3.79 — — — — — — — — — 1954–55 Stratford Indians OHA Sr 13 — — — 780 49 0 3.77 — — — — — — — — — 1955–56 Stratford Indians OHA Sr 47 — — — 2820 186 3 3.96 — 6 — — 360 25 0 4.17 — 1956–57 Windsor Bulldogs OHA Sr 50 30 17 3 3000 144 6 2.88 — 12 — — 720 50 0 4.17 — 1957–58 Chatham Maroons NOHA 49 — — — 2940 168 3 3.43 — — — — — — — — — 1958–59 Chatham Maroons NOHA 47 — — — 2820 152 6 3.23 — 10 — — 600 27 1 2.70 — 1959–60 Windsor Bulldogs OHA Sr 48 — — — 2860 138 3 2.90 — 17 — — 1020 47 3 2.76 — 1960–61 Portland Buckaroos WHL 70 38 23 9 4290 192 7 2.69 — 14 10 4 846 30 2 2.13 — 1961–62 Boston Bruins NHL 38 9 26 3 2280 158 2 4.16 879 — — — — — — — — 1961–62 Portland Buckaroos WHL 5 3 1 1 300 16 0 3.20 — — — — — — — — — 1962–63 Portland Buckaroos WHL 70 43 21 6 4200 178 4 2.54 — 7 3 4 423 22 0 3.12 — 1963–64 Portland Buckaroos WHL 16 6 9 1 940 57 0 3.64 — — — — — — — — — 1964–65 Portland Buckaroos WHL 51 26 20 4 3055 153 3 3.00 — 9 8 1 554 13 3 1.41 — 1965–66 Portland Buckaroos WHL 36 20 12 3 2154 100 4 2.79 — — — — — — — — — 1966–67 Portland Buckaroos WHL 44 26 13 5 2714 120 3 2.65 — 4 0 3 225 10 0 2.67 — 1967–68 Seattle Totems WHL 46 23 19 4 2717 114 3 2.52 — 9 8 1 556 20 2 2.17 — 1968–69 Seattle Totems WHL 44 22 13 4 2377 120 1 3.03 — 4 0 4 245 19 0 4.65 — 1969–70 Seattle Totems WHL 20 8 10 2 1200 71 0 3.55 — — — — — — — — — 1970–71 Seattle Totems WHL 16 4 7 3 769 45 0 3.51 — — — — — — — — — WHL totals 418 219 148 42 25,083 1166 25 2.79 — 47 29 17 2849 114 7 2.40 — NHL totals 38 9 26 3 2280 158 2 4.16 .879 — — — — — — — —

International Year Team Event GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV% 1960 Canada OLY 7 5 1 0 385 12 2 1.87 — Senior totals 7 5 1 0 385 12 2 1.87 —