Caught Right Height 1.73 m Role Ice hockey player Career end 1974 | Name Roy Edwards Career start 1959 Playing career Weight 75 kg | |
Born March 12, 1937Haldimand, ON, CAN ( 1937-03-12 ) Played for NHLDetroit Red WingsPittsburgh PenguinsAHLBuffalo BisonsPittsburgh HornetsCHLFort Worth Wings Died August 16, 1999, Buffalo, New York, United States | ||
Allan Roy Edwards (March 12, 1937 – August 16, 1999) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played 206 games in the National Hockey League. He was born in Haldimand, Ontario. On June 6, 1967 Pittsburgh Penguins selected him in the expanstion draft, but traded Edwards to the Detroit Red Wings the next day. Roy Edwards spent six seasons with the Detroit Red Wings (1967–68) to (1973–74). During the (1971–72) he played for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
In 1958 at age 21, Edwards backstopped the Whitby Dunlops, Canada's representative, to the World Hockey Championship at Oslo, Norway, posting a perfect 7–0 record with three shutouts and an 0.86 goals-against average. The Dunlops captain was future Boston Bruins General Manager Harry Sinden.
In 1960 he became property of the Chicago Black Hawks. His name was engraved on the Stanley Cup in 1961, despite never having played a single game for Chicago. In fact Edwards did not play his first NHL game until 1967-68 season for Detroit, 7 season after being engraved on the Stanley Cup.
Edwards' road to the NHL was a long, windy one. In nine years, he played for seven teams in four leagues. Then in 1967–68, Roger Crozier stunned the Red Wings by announcing his retirement due to illness. The 30-year-old made much of his opportunity, leading the team in games and wins for four consecutive seasons.
A collision in 1970 with an opposing forward and the goalpost caused a hairline fracture in Edwards' skull, headaches and dizzy spells. His health caused him to retire, but only briefly. After a one-season comeback with the Penguins, he returned to the Wings. His 1972–73 season was his finest: winning 27 games and posting an NHL-leading six shutouts. The following season, he lost his first three decisions and retired, permanently.
Edwards was uncle to Don Edwards, another NHL goalie noted for his longevity.