Jan. 16, 1964 - Jacques Plante, the injury-prone and illness-prone New York Ranger goalie, is sidelined again. He stepped on a nail after a game in Toronto last night and may miss the game against the Chicago Black Hawks in New York Saturday night. The Rangers also learned that Earl Ingarfield, a center, may miss several games. He suffered a concussion earlier in the season and missed eight games. He has been wearing a plastic helmet. He complained of dizziness during the 5-4 victory over the Maple Leafs at Toronto and has been ordered to rest.
Plante’s injury stunned general manager Muzz Patrick and coach Red Sullivan, who nothing about it until Plante arrived in Chicago today by train. The Rangers immediately called up Gilles Villemure from Baltimore of the American Hockey League as standby goalie. Plante played well in Toronto. Then, in the shower room, he stepped on a nail and his right foot became infected. The foot began to swell when Plante reached Chicago. Myron Tremaine, the Black Hawks’ physician, gave him tetanus and antibiotic injections and put him in Henrotin Hospital.
This is the third time this season Villemure has been called up to relieve Plante. The first time he was called up, Plante was out with asthma attacks. The second time, Plante had a bruised shoulder. Before he signed with the Rangers, Plante told club officials he must spend a minimum amount of time in Toronto because he is prone to asthma attacks there. “Jacques doesn’t even stay in the same hotel with the rest of the players when we’re in Toronto,” a club officials said. “It’s ironic that he stepped on a nail at Maple Leaf Gardens. It’s the cleanest and best-kept indoor arena in North America,” the official said.
Comments