Blackhawks Hall of Fame goaltender Tony Esposito dies at 78

CHICAGO — Tony Esposito, a Hall of Fame goaltender who played astir his full 16-year vocation with the Chicago Blackhawks, has died pursuing a little conflict with pancreatic cancer, the squad announced connected Tuesday. He was 78.

Esposito debuted with Montreal during the 1968-69 play and appeared successful 13 games. He was past taken by the Blackhawks successful an intraleague draft, rapidly emerging arsenic 1 of the league’s champion goalies.

He won the Calder Trophy successful 1970 arsenic the NHL’s champion rookie arsenic good arsenic the Vezina Trophy fixed to the apical goaltender. He besides won the Vezina successful 1972 and 1974.

Esposito is Chicago’s vocation person with 418 wins and 74 shutouts, including 15 during his rookie season, successful shutouts (74) and wins (418). He was inducted into the Hall of Fame successful 1988 and joined his member Phil, who played 18 seasons successful the NHL.