Ross Brooks

Donald Ross Brooks (born October 17, 1937) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played three seasons with the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1972 and 1975. His NHL debut at the age of 36 made him one of the oldest rookies in professional hockey history.

Playing career Brooks had a long minor league career which included seven seasons for the Providence Reds of the American Hockey League (AHL), and shared the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award for lowest goals-against average in the AHL with teammate Dan Bouchard in 1972. In the 1972–73 NHL season, the Bruins, who owned his rights, lost several goaltenders: top prospect Bouchard to expansion, star Gerry Cheevers to the World Hockey Association and veteran Eddie Johnston to trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs. This opened the door for Brooks' recall as the backup goaltender. He excelled swiftly, matching an NHL record set by Bruins' goaltender Tiny Thompson in the 1920s for the longest consecutive winning streak by a goaltender, He was inducted into the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame in 2025.

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% 1954–55 Barrie Flyers OHA 11 — — — 660 69 0 6.27 — — — — — — — — — 1955–56 Lakeshore Bruins MJAHL — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 1956–57 Barrie Flyers OHA 43 11 31 1 2580 182 4 4.23 — 2 0 2 120 9 0 4.50 — 1957–58 Barrie Flyers OHA 23 — — — 1380 110 1 4.78 — 3 1 2 180 16 0 5.33 — 1958–59 North Bay Trappers OHA Sr 12 — — — 720 63 0 5.25 — — — — — — — — — 1958–59 Washington Presidents EHL 26 — — — 1560 118 1 4.54 — — — — — — — — — 1959–60 Philadelphia Ramblers EHL — — — — — — — — — 2 1 1 120 5 0 2.50 — 1960–61 Jersey Larks EHL 1 1 0 0 60 3 0 3.00 — — — — — — — — — 1960–61 Providence Reds AHL 2 — — — 20 3 0 9.00 — — — — — — — — — 1960–61 Philadelphia Ramblers EHL 64 32 28 4 3840 278 0 4.34 — 3 0 3 180 13 0 4.33 — 1961–62 Philadelphia Ramblers EHL 68 28 38 2 4080 337 0 4.96 — 3 — — 180 12 0 4.00 — 1961–62 Long Island Ducks EHL 1 0 1 0 60 7 0 7.00 — — — — — — — — — 1961–62 Johnstown Jets EHL 2 0 2 0 120 16 0 8.00 — 3 0 3 180 12 0 4.00 — 1962–63 Philadelphia Ramblers EHL 63 27 33 3 3780 272 3 4.32 — 3 0 3 180 13 0 4.33 — 1963–64 Roving Goaltender EHL 16 — — — 960 68 1 4.25 — — — — — — — — — 1963–64 Providence Reds AHL 3 2 1 0 180 6 0 2.00 — — — — — — — — — 1964–65 Providence Reds AHL 12 1 10 0 725 70 1 5.79 — — — — — — — — — 1965–66 Providence Reds AHL 13 3 9 1 770 66 0 5.14 — — — — — — — — — 1966–67 Providence Reds AHL 32 9 16 6 1849 137 0 4.45 — — — — — — — — — 1967–68 Providence Reds AHL 19 7 10 1 1120 82 0 4.39 — 1 0 0 20 1 0 3.00 — 1968–69 Providence Reds AHL 22 7 10 0 1097 80 0 4.38 — — — — — — — — — 1969–70 Providence Reds AHL 13 — — — 612 43 0 4.22 — — — — — — — — — 1970–71 Oklahoma City Blazers CHL 9 — — — 530 44 0 4.99 — 1 0 1 20 5 0 15.00 — 1970–71 Phoenix Roadrunners WHL 1 0 1 0 60 5 0 5.00 — — — — — — — — — 1970–71 Providence Reds AHL 12 1 7 3 657 40 1 3.65 — — — — — — — — — 1971–72 Boston Braves AHL 30 14 8 7 1639 65 1 2.38 — 5 2 2 248 12 0 2.90 — 1972–73 Boston Bruins NHL 16 11 1 3 910 40 1 2.64 .904 1 0 0 20 3 0 9.00 .727 1972–73 Boston Braves AHL 7 — — — 379 16 0 2.52 — — — — — — — — — 1973–74 Boston Bruins NHL 21 16 3 0 1170 46 3 2.36 .917 — — — — — — — — 1973–74 Boston Braves AHL 5 3 0 1 280 15 0 3.21 — — — — — — — — — 1974–75 Boston Bruins NHL 17 10 3 3 966 48 0 2.98 .884 — — — — — — — — 1975–76 Rochester Americans AHL 34 20 12 2 2056 103 2 3.00 — 4 2 2 239 17 0 4.27 — NHL totals 54 37 7 6 3045 134 4 2.64 .903 1 0 0 20 3 0 9.00 .727