Robbie Moore (ice hockey)

Robert David Moore (May 3, 1954 – January 7, 2022) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He played 6 games in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals during the 1978–79 and 1982–83 seasons. He played his college hockey at the University of Michigan and the University of Western Ontario. Author John U. Bacon claims that Moore was one of the first goalies in either college or professional hockey to not only come out of his net and handle the puck like a defenseman, but "actually shoot it as well as the forwards."[2] As a minor league goaltender, Moore won the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award in 1978–79, 1979–80 and 1980–81, sharing the award with a different teammate each time.[3]

Robbie Moore
Moore from 1976 Michiganensian
Born (1954-05-03)May 3, 1954
Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
Died January 7, 2022(2022-01-07) (aged 67)[1]
Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
Weight 155 lb (70 kg; 11 st 1 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for Philadelphia Flyers
Washington Capitals
NHL draft Undrafted
WHA draft 187th overall, 1974
New England Whalers
Playing career 1978–1984

Biography

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Moore played for the University of Michigan from 1972 to 1976.[4][5][6] He was an NCAA West first-team All-American in 1974, and a second-team WCHA All Star in 1976.[6] As of 2001, Moore held the Michigan Wolverines hockey record for most saves by a goaltender with 4,434.[2] He played for the University of Western Ontario for the 1976-77 season.[4][5] Moore was drafted by the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association in the 11th round of the 1974 WHA Amateur Draft but he did not sign with the Whalers.[4] Although undrafted by the National Hockey League (NHL), he signed as a free agent with the NHL Philadelphia Flyers on November 7, 1978.[5]

 
Moore in the net for Michigan, 1974

Moore spent most of his first three professional hockey seasons with the Flyers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Maine Mariners.[4][5] In 1978–79, Moore shared the Mariners' goalie job with Pete Peeters and Rick St. Croix, posting a 3.38 goals against average in 26 games as the Mariners won the Calder Cup as the AHL champions.[4][5][7][8][9] The Mariners led the AHL in goals against average for the season, and Moore and Peeters shared the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award, awarded to the goalies who play at least 25 games for the team that leads the AHL with the lowest goals against average.[3][4][6] Moore also played five regular season games for the Flyers that season after Hall of Fame goalie Bernie Parent suffered a career-ending eye injury.[4][5][10] His NHL debut came on March 6, 1979 against the Colorado Rockies, and Moore registered a 5–0 shutout in his debut.[5][10] In his five NHL regular season games, Moore had a 1.77 goals against average and also earned one assist.[4][5] He ended up with two shutouts in his five NHL games, placing him in the top 10 for NHL shutouts that season, in a tie for 9th overall.[5][11]

Moore was also on the Flyers' roster for the 1979 playoffs. He played five games in the playoffs as well, more than any other Flyers' goalie that season.[12] He had a 4.03 goals against average in the playoffs and one assist, as the Flyers won their first round playoff series against the Vancouver Canucks but lost to the New York Rangers in the second round.[5][12]

Moore spent the entire 1979-80 season with the Maine Mariners, sharing the goaltending duties primarily with St. Croix.[4][5][13] Moore played 32 games with a 3.51 goals against average.[4] The Mariners again led the AHL in goals against average and Moore again earned the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award, sharing it with St. Croix this time.[3][4][6] In 1980-81 Moore again played the entire season with the Mariners, playing 25 games with a 3.86 goals against average while sharing the goaltending job with Pelle Lindbergh and Sam St. Laurent.[4][5][14] The Mariners led the AHL in goals against average once again, and Moore earned his third consecutive Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award, this time sharing the award with Lindbergh.[3][4][6]

After the 1980–81 season, Moore was signed as a free agent by the Minnesota North Stars.[15] Moore played the entire 1981–82 season for the Nashville South Stars of the Central Hockey League.[4][5] After the 1981–1982 season, Moore was traded with a draft choice to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Wes Jarvis and Rollie Boutin.[5] Moore spent most of the 1982–83 season with Washington's AHL affiliate Hershey Bears, but did play in one game for the Capitals that season.[4][5] Moore spent the 1983–84 season, his last as a professional, with the Milwaukee Admirals of the International Hockey League.[4][5]

Moore died in Sarnia on January 7, 2022, at the age of 67.[16][17]

Awards and honors

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Award Year
AHCA West All-American 1973–74 [18]
All-WCHA Second Team 1975–76 [19]

Career statistics

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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%
1971–72 Sarnia Bees SOJHL 18 1069 64 1 3.59
1972–73 University of Michigan WCHA 31 1853 176 0 5.74 .877
1973–74 University of Michigan WCHA 34 2010 144 0 4.32 .893
1974–75 University of Michigan WCHA 24 1410 94 0 3.97 .897
1975–76 University of Michigan WCHA 36 2141 157 1 4.31 .881
1976–77 University of Western Ontario CIAU 30 770 52 4.05
1978–79 Maine Mariners AHL 26 12 6 6 1489 84 1 3.38 .888 4 1 2 163 9 0 3.31
1978–79 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 5 3 0 1 237 7 2 1.77 .927 5 3 2 266 18 0 4.06 .854
1979–80 Maine Mariners AHL 32 14 11 4 1829 107 1 3.51 .884 7 5 2 448 21 1 2.81
1980–81 Maine Mariners AHL 25 11 11 2 1431 92 1 3.86 .868 4 0 3 139 14 0 6.04
1981–82 Nashville South Stars CHL 39 18 17 1 2204 159 0 4.33 .863
1982–83 Washington Capitals NHL 1 0 1 0 20 1 0 3.04 .857
1982–83 Hershey Bears AHL 35 15 14 1 1798 115 1 3.84 .876 1 0 1 87 3 0 2.07
1983–84 Milwaukee Admirals IHL 49 26 17 4 2789 195 0 4.20 .866 4 0 206 13 0 3.79
NHL totals 6 3 1 1 257 8 2 1.87 .922 5 3 2 266 18 0 4.06 .854

References

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  1. ^ "Flyers statement on the passing of Robbie Moore". nhl.com. January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Bacon, J. (2001). Blue Ice: The Story of Michigan Hockey. University of Michigan Press. pp. 193, 199. ISBN 978-0-472-06781-7.
  3. ^ a b c d "Harry (Hap) Holmes Memorial Award (AHL)". hockeydb.com. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Robbie Moore". hockeydb.com. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Robbie Moore". Hockey Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Robbie David Moore". legendsofhockey.net. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  7. ^ "1978-79 Maine Mariners". hockeydb.com. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  8. ^ "1978-79 AHL". hockeydb.com. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
  9. ^ "Calder Cup Champions". theahl.com. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
  10. ^ a b Sherman, D. (2003). Philadelphia Flyers Encyclopedia. Sports Publishing, LLC. p. 81. ISBN 978-1-58261-577-6.
  11. ^ "1978-79 NHL season leaders". Hockey Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
  12. ^ a b "1978-79 Philadelphia Flyers Roster and Statistics". Hockey Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  13. ^ "1979-80 Maine Mariners". hockeydb.com. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  14. ^ "1980-81 Maine Mariners". hockeydb.com. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  15. ^ "Sports Briefs". UPI. June 30, 1981. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  16. ^ "Robert Moore". Sarnia Observer. January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  17. ^ Robert Moore
  18. ^ "Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  19. ^ "WCHA All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
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