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Jack Norris – The 1st Edmonton Oilers Goaltender



Includes rare video footage from the 1974-75 WHA season.

John Wayne “Jack” Norris (born August 5, 1942) is a former professional ice hockey goaltender. Norris played parts of four seasons in the NHL, along with another four seasons in the WHA.

Norris broke into the NHL with the Boston Bruins in the 1964–65 season, playing 23 games as the backup to Eddie Johnston, but lost his spot the following season to Gerry Cheevers. Norris was subsequently dealt to the Chicago Black Hawks, where he played ten games over two seasons. Norris spent significant time in the minor leagues before eventually joining the Los Angeles Kings as the backup to Denis DeJordy.

After spending the 1971–72 season in the minor leagues, Norris joined the Alberta Oilers for the WHA’s inaugural 1972–73 season. He spent two seasons as the starter with the Oilers (renamed Edmonton Oilers in 1973–74 season) and two more with the Phoenix Roadrunners before retiring in 1976.

Jack appeared into WHA All Star Games (1973, 1974).

Produced by Mark Willand

HOCKEYDB. https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=3996

Pro Hockey Alumni: ProHockeyAlumni.org

16 Comments

  1. paulnorrisarchitect

    First! What a great video of my dad! Thanks so much for making that. I’ve seen most of the pictures you used but had never heard the audio. Thanks again! You did a great job!

  9. Aberama Gold

    Jack Norris' hockey career ended when I was 13 so I don't remember him but thanks to this extremely well made video I not only know that he exists (yes it's harsh but I couldn't think of another way to say it) but that he is/was something almost every kid in Canadian dreams of becoming…

    an NHL player.

    Sure his NHL career wasn't long but he did have a lengthy professional career which is something to be proud of especially considering it was only a 6 team league at the time and almost impossible to break into unless you were a phenom.

    A friend of my dads played a hand full of games for the Leafs from 1948 to 1950 and he told me that, politics aside, it's pretty much only the top 1% of players who even have a shot at making a career as an NHL player.

    Btw he was guessing at the 1%, but I bet he was close, and it wasn't like I was interviewing him we were sitting at the dinner table half cut after eating.

    Because I have too much time on my hands I googled Jack Norris and I noticed one non-hocker related thing more than a few people said and that was how nice a guy he is, which as I get a little older is something I'm finding I would rather be remembered for than anything I accomplished.
    Obviously this doesn't include my family as they're the most important.

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