Robert Richard Irons (born November 19, 1946) is a Canadian former ice hockey goaltender. He played one game in the National Hockey League with the St. Louis Blues during the 1968–69 season. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1967 to 1981, was mainly spent in the International Hockey League.

Robbie Irons
Born (1946-11-19) November 19, 1946 (age 78)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight 150 lb (68 kg; 10 st 10 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for St. Louis Blues
Playing career 1967–1981

Playing career

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He was born in Toronto, Ontario. He played for two minutes and 59 seconds of one game in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues during the 1968–69 season. This occurred only because the Blues' starting goaltender, Glenn Hall, was ejected from a game before his replacement, Jacques Plante, was prepared to enter. Irons tended the net until Plante was able to take over.[1]

Irons shared with Christian Soucy the NHL record for the fewest career minutes by a goaltender.[2] He was surpassed on December 31, 2016 when Jorge Alves played 7.6 seconds in his only NHL game.

Irons played 11 seasons in the IHL with the Fort Wayne Komets, earning six selections to the All-Star team. His jersey number 30 is retired by the team.[1]

Broadcasting career

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After he retired as an active player, Irons went on to a long-time career as an analyst with the Komets' legendary play-by-play announcer, Bob Chase. Chase and Irons were a team that stayed together for 33 years before Chase's death in 2016.[3]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
1964–65 Etobicoke Indians MetJBHL
1965–66 Etobicoke Indians MetJBHL
1966–67 Kitchener Rangers OHA 33 1940 95 3 2.94 13 780 49 0 3.77
1967–68 Fort Wayne Komets IHL 43 2398 134 1 3.35 5 1 3 262 19 0 4.35
1968–69 St. Louis Blues NHL 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 0.00 1.000
1968–69 Kansas City Blues CHL 24 1309 83 0 3.80
1969–70 Kansas City Blues CHL 30 10 16 4 1800 104 2 3.47
1970–71 Kansas City Blues CHL 6 360 23 0 3.83
1970–71 Fort Wayne Komets IHL 31 1811 80 1 2.25 4 0 4 240 22 0 5.50
1971–72 Fort Wayne Komets IHL 21 1251 83 1 4.00
1972–73 Fort Wayne Komets IHL 46 2737 132 2 2.89 1 1 0 60 0 1 0.00
1973–74 Fort Wayne Komets IHL 47 2701 148 2 3.29
1974–75 Fort Wayne Komets IHL 46 2713 146 2 3.27
1975–76 Fort Wayne Komets IHL 63 3321 199 1 3.60 9 5 4 530 39 0 5.44
1976–77 Fort Wayne Komets IHL 41 2248 141 1 3.70
1977–78 Fort Wayne Komets IHL 39 2152 129 0 3.60 7 319 20 0 3.76
1978–79 Fort Wayne Komets IHL 54 2490 193 1 3.90 13 7 6 780 56 0 4.29
1979–80 Fort Wayne Komets IHL 41 2188 147 1 4.03 14 806 44 1 3.28
1980–81 Fort Wayne Komets IHL 51 2719 168 0 3.71 11 633 47 0 4.45
NHL totals 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 0.00 1.000

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Robbie Irons @ hockeygoalies.org
  2. ^ Weekes, Don (2003). The Unofficial Guide to Hockey's Most Unusual Records. Canada: Greystone Publishing. pp. 240. ISBN 9781550549423.
  3. ^ Deitsch, Richard (8 June 2015). "Bob Chase, Doc Emrick's inspiration, still calling games at 89 and loving it". Sports Illustrated.
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