Jacques Plante was born on January 17, 1929 in Shawinigan Falls, Québec, Canada as Joseph Jacques Plante. He was married to Jacqueline Gagne. He died on February 27, 1986 in Sierre, Switzerland.
Plante was the first goalie to skate in behind the net to stop the puck for his defensemen. He also was the first to raise his arm on an icing call to let his defensemen know what was happening on the ice, and he perfected a stand-up style of goaltending that emphasized positional play, cutting down the angles and staying square to the shooter.
Plante won the starting goalie job with the NHL expansion Oakland Seals in 1967, but became involved in a contract dispute and left the team before the season opener.
After 11 years with Montreal, the Canadiens in June 1963 traded Plante, Don Marshall and Phil Goyette to the New York Rangers for Gump Worsley, Dave Balon, Leon Rochefort and Len Ronson.
Plante's NHL record was 434-247-146 in the regular season and 71-37 in the playoffs.
Was an all-star in his rookie year in the Quebec Junior A League, allowing just 101 goals in 48 games.
Plante played all 70 games in 1961-1962, the last Montreal goaltender to play every game in a season.
Each year, the top goaltender in the Quebec Major Hockey League receives the Jacques Plante Trophy.
During a game versus the New York Rangers, Plante was hit in the face by a shot. He went off to the dressing room for stitches and when he returned he was wearing a mask. His coach, Toe Blake was livid, but he had no other goalie to call upon and Plante refused to return to the goal unless he kept the mask. Blake agreed on condition that Plante discard the mask when the cut had healed. In the ensuing days Plante refused, and as his team, the Montreal Canadiens, continued to win, Blake became less obstinate. The Montreal record stretched into an 18-game unbeaten streak with Plante protected and the mask was in the NHL for good. Plante didn't wear the mask, at Blake's request, against Detroit on 8 March 1960. The Canadiens lost 3-0, and the mask returned for good the next night. Plante designed his own mask and masks for other goalies. Hall of Famer Bernie Parent was among those who wore Plante's masks. [November 1959]
First All-Star Team Goalie (1956, 1959, 1962). Hart Memorial Trophy (1962). Second All-Star Team Goalie (1957, 1958, 1960, 1971). Vezina Trophy (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1969).
In 1962 he was the last goalie to win the Hart Trophy before Dominik Hasek in 1997.
Played for the Montreal Canadians (1952-1963), New York Rangers (1963-1965), St. Louis Blues (1968-1970), Toronto Maple Leafs (1970-1973), Boston Bruins (1973), Quebec Nordiques (WHA) (1973-1974) and Edmonton Oilers (WHA) (1974-1975).
Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, 1978.
Took up knitting as a hobby and a way to relax.
Father of Michel Plante.
On the day he died, February 27, 1986, every flag in the City of Montreal flew at half staff.
Inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1981.