Mickey Walsh

2 NHL Games

March 24, 1971 Chicago Blackhawks vs Boston Bruins. 2-1 win.
March 27, 1971 Chicago Blackhawks vs Philadelphia Flyers. 3-1 win.

   The 1970/71 Chicago Blackhawks had goalies Tony Esposito and Gerry Desjardins between the pipes for most of the season. Desjardins missed the final part of the year when he broke his left forearm. To replace him, the Hawks recalled their top goalie prospect in Gilles Meloche from the International League. When Meloche was recalled he left a hole on the Flint Generals roster, Chicago's secondary farm team. The Hawks assigned Mickey Walsh from the Green Bay Bobcats of the USHL to his old team, the Flint Generals, to become their backup goalie. League rules in the IHL prohibited Walsh from dressing in any games unless Flint's #1 goalie, Bob Perani, got injured. Perani remained healthy while Meloche was in the NHL so Mickey Walsh was left to watch from the stands. After a short stint with the Blackhawks, Gilles Meloche was returned to the Flint Generals. The Hawks didn't want to keep him in the NHL for long because they wanted Meloche to retain his amateur status, which would allow Chicago to protect his rights for another season. 

   March 23, 1971 Mickey Walsh was recalled from the Flint Generals to the Chicago Blackhawks to replace Gilles Meloche. Walsh joined Chicago as their backup goalie for two NHL games, dressing behind future Hockey Hall of Famer Tony Esposito. The Blackhawks had little faith in Walsh and after a few days on the NHL roster, they decided to recall a more experienced and proven goalie in Ken Brown. Brown was recalled from Chicago's primary farm team, the Dallas Blackhawks of the Central League. Walsh packed his bags again and joined his fourth team in this great goalie shuffle. Walsh was needed as a backup to Jim Shaw of the Dallas Blackhawks. Walsh only appeared between the pipes for the Green Bay Bobcats that season but in reality he was a member of four different teams in as many leagues. It was his final year of pro hockey. 

   Mickey Walsh played junior hockey in Manitoba and starred for the St. Boniface Saints. He represented the team at the 1968/69 MJHL All-Star game. Walsh's St. Boniface Saints made it all the way to the Turnbull Cup, the MJHL Championship, but fell to the Dauphin Kings. The Kings were awarded with a series against Saskatchewan's top junior team, the SJHL's Regina Pats, in the 1969 Western Memorial Cup Final. The Kings added Walsh to their roster for the series. He dressed as their backup goalie to future NHLer Ron Low. Walsh only played one game of the seven game series and it was a loss for the Kings, who were ultimately defeated by the Pats. The Pats made it all the way to the Memorial Cup Championship but fell to the Montreal Jr. Canadiens. 

   Mickey Walsh was signed by the Hawks in 1969. He spent the 1969/70 season playing for the Flint Generals, Chicago's secondary farm team. The following season Walsh was loaned to the Green Bay Bobcats of the USHL. He retired at the end of the 1970/71 season. 

Career stats from hockeydb.com
Born Feb 10 1949 -- Detroit, MI 

Height 5.07 -- Weight 165

RS Scoring			RS Goalie Stats										PO Scoring
Season	Team	Lge	GP	A	PIM	Min	GA	EN	SO	GAA	W	L	T	Svs	Pct	GP	A	PIM
1967-68	Winnipeg Jets	WCJHL	9	0	0		50	0	0	5.56				277	0.847
1968-69	St. Boniface Saints	MJHL	0	0	0
1968-69	Dauphin Kings	MJHL	0	0	0
1969-70	Flint Generals	IHL	28	1	0											-	-	-
1970-71	Green Bay Bobcats	USHL	19	0	0