Jumping Jacques

October 30, 1961

Since it's the puck in the net, not the man, that counts, Montreal Canadien Goalie Jacques Plante is not hopping mad here. Rather he is showing the New York Rangers' Ken Schinkel a little mercy—a rare quality in the National Hockey League. As the new season got under way, Plante displayed his compassion when Schinkel, driving for the goal, suddenly lost control of both the puck and his footing and began a perilous slide into the net. To make Schinkel's trip a little smoother by retracting his surgical-sharp skates from the glide path, Jacques, just as nimble as he was quick, jumped over Ken and his hockey stick.