Henry "Hank, Red" Bassen (December 6, 1932 – May 29, 2009) was a Canadian ice hockey goaltender. He played in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins between 1954 and 1968. He was the father of Bob Bassen, who played 765 regular-season games in the NHL.

Hank Bassen
Born (1932-12-06)December 6, 1932
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Died May 29, 2009(2009-05-29) (aged 76)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for Chicago Black Hawks
Pittsburgh Penguins
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career 1954–1968

Playing career

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Bassen began his NHL career in 1954 with the Chicago Black Hawks where he spent two seasons as the backup to Al Rollins. Bassen went on to have starting roles in the Western Hockey League for the Calgary Stampeders, Seattle Americans and the Vancouver Canucks before moving to the Detroit Red Wings where over three seasons he would serve as the backup to Terry Sawchuk between 1960 and 1963.

During the 1963–64 season, Bassen played seven games with the Indianapolis Capitals/Cincinnati Wings in the CPHL and 26 games with the Pittsburgh Hornets in the AHL.[1]

After spending most of the season with the Pittsburgh Hornets, Bassen returned to the Red Wings roster to serve as a backup once more, this time to Roger Crozier during the 1963–64 NHL season. He played one final year with the Pittsburgh Penguins, backing up Les Binkley before retiring in 1968.

After retiring Bassen managed the junior Calgary Wranglers from 1984 to 1986, and had two sons go on to play professional hockey.

Bassen died on May 29, 2009, of heart failure at age 76.[2]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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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%
1949–50 Calgary Buffaloes WCJHL 30 11 18 1 1800 111 0 3.70
1950–51 Calgary Buffaloes WCJHL 37 8 27 2 2280 176 2 4.63
1950–51 Medicine Hat Tigers WCJHL 1 0 1 0 60 10 0 10.00
1951–52 Calgary Buffaloes WCJHL 42 21 17 4 2580 132 1 3.07 3 0 3 180 13 0 4.33
1952–53 Calgary Buffaloes WJHL 30 14 13 3 1860 145 0 4.68 3 0 3 180 11 0 3.67
1953–54 Chatham Maroons OHA Sr 55 22 30 3 3300 205 2 3.73 6 2 4 360 25 1 4.17
1954–55 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 21 4 9 8 1260 63 0 3.00
1954–55 Buffalo Bisons AHL 37 13 19 5 2220 121 3 3.27
1955–56 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 12 2 9 1 720 41 1 3.42 .885
1955–56 Buffalo Bisons AHL 53 26 23 4 3300 201 0 3.65 5 2 3 299 20 0 4.01
1956–57 Calgary Stampeders WHL 68 29 35 4 4125 223 5 3.24 3 1 2 180 12 0 4.00
1957–58 Seattle Americans WHL 60 27 27 6 3600 184 3 3.07 9 5 4 557 21 0 2.26
1958–59 Springfield Indians AHL 29 13 14 2 1740 102 2 3.52
1959–60 Vancouver Canucks WHL 70 44 19 6 4220 172 5 2.45 11 9 2 696 22 0 1.90
1960–61 Detroit Red Wings NHL 34 13 12 9 2120 98 0 2.77 .894 4 1 2 220 9 0 2.45 .917
1961–62 Detroit Red Wings NHL 27 9 12 6 1620 75 3 2.78 .902
1961–62 Sudbury Wolves EPHL 3 1 2 0 180 14 0 4.67
1961–62 Edmonton Flyers WHL 9 4 4 1 557 30 0 3.23
1962–63 Detroit Red Wings NHL 16 6 5 5 960 52 0 3.25 .897
1962–63 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 40 15 23 2 2400 134 2 3.35
1963–64 Detroit Red Wings NHL 1 0 1 0 60 4 0 4.00 .882
1963–64 Cincinnati Wings CPHL 7 0 6 1 420 39 0 5.57
1963–64 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 26 9 15 2 1560 82 1 3.15 1 0 1 60 4 0 4.00
1964–65 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 57 24 25 7 3433 182 2 3.18 4 1 3 240 15 0 3.75
1965–66 Detroit Red Wings NHL 11 3 3 0 406 17 0 2.51 .904 1 0 1 54 2 0 2.22 .933
1966–67 Detroit Red Wings NHL 8 2 4 0 384 22 0 3.44 .898
1966–67 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 10 6 3 1 570 18 3 1.89 9 8 1 541 15 1 1.66
1967–68 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 25 7 10 3 1299 62 1 2.86 .909
NHL totals 156 46 65 31 8759 434 5 2.97 5 1 3 274 11 0 2.41 .920

Awards and achievements

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  • WCJHL Second All-Star Team (1950)
  • WCJHL First All-Star Team (1952)
  • OHA Sr First All-Star Team (1954)
  • WHL First All-Star Team (1960)
  • Outstanding Goaltender Award (fewest goals against - WHL) (1960)
  • Leader Cup (MVP - WHL) (co-winner - Guyle Fielder) (1960)

References

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  1. ^ "Hank Bassen Stats and Profile". hockeydb.com.
  2. ^ "Ex-NHL goalie Hank Bassen dies at 76". NHL.com. May 30, 2009.
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