Legendary NHL goaltender Glenn Hall was laid to rest on January 19, 2026, in Stony Plain, Alberta, following his death at age 94 on January 7. The ceremony honored his remarkable career, particularly his connections to the historic Montreal Forum. Reflections highlighted his endurance and rivalries with Montreal Canadiens stars.
Glenn Hall, known as "Mr. Goalie" for his ironman streak of 502 consecutive regular-season starts, passed away in Stony Plain, Alberta, where he had lived since 1965. His funeral took place on January 19, 2026, in the small town 25 miles from Edmonton, drawing remembrances of a Hall of Fame career spanning the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Black Hawks, and St. Louis Blues.
Hall's legacy intertwined deeply with the Montreal Forum, site of his NHL debut on December 27, 1952, as an emergency call-up for the injured Terry Sawchuk. Wearing borrowed equipment, he backstopped Detroit to a 2-2 tie, allowing goals to Doug Harvey and Bernie "Boom-Boom" Geoffrion. His final Forum appearance came on December 3, 1970, a 6-3 loss with the Blues.
Over 80 regular-season games at the venue, Hall posted a 14-49 record with 17 ties, a 3.48 goals-against average, and one shutout. In playoffs, he went 3-18 with a 3.60 GAA. Key moments included surrendering Maurice Richard's 500th NHL goal on October 19, 1957, tying Georges Vezina's consecutive-games record on January 24, 1960, and delivering back-to-back shutouts in the 1961 Stanley Cup semifinals to eliminate Montreal, helping Chicago win the Cup.
Despite often facing defeat against the Canadiens, Hall earned the 1968 Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, even in a Finals sweep at the Forum. He shared the 1968-69 Vezina Trophy with Jacques Plante, presented on Forum ice. Hall admired opponents like Jean Beliveau, who scored 40 regular-season goals against him there, and Henri Richard.
"Jean Beliveau was such a great player. And later, Henri Richard was so good, so quietly," Hall once said. "They were two guys who'd score without the puck being on their stick very long."
Personal anecdotes colored memories, from meals at Bens Delicatessen to a 1969 train prank involving a lost shoe before a rare 5-0 Forum shutout. The Forum, now a multiscreen theater and historic site, stood as a poignant backdrop for reflections on Hall's life, linking Stony Plain's church to hockey's past.
