Andy Aitkenhead

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| image = Aitken headshot.jpg

| image_size = 230px

| position = Goaltender

| catches = Left

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 8

| weight_lb = 150

| played_for = New York Rangers

| birth_date = {{birth date|1904|3|6|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland

| death_date = {{death date and age|1968|10|21|1904|3|6|mf=y}}

| death_place = Multnomah County, Oregon, U.S.

| career_start = 1926

| career_end = 1940

}}

Andrew Aitkenhead (March 6, 1904 — October 21, 1968) was a Scottish-born Canadian ice hockey goaltender for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League between 1932 and 1934. Born in Glasgow, Aitkenhead came to Canada as a young child with his family, and grew up in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.

Playing career

Andy Aitkenkead played ten years in various minor leagues in Western Canada, most notably appearing in the 1923 Memorial Cup with the Saskatoon Quakers.{{cite web|title=Andy Aitkenhead, The best goalie you've never heard of.|url=http://nitzyshockeyden.blogspot.com/2010/10/andy-aitkenhead-best-goalie-youve-never.html|publisher=Nitzy's Hockey Den|accessdate=14 February 2011|date=October 12, 2010}} After turning pro, Aitkenhead took two teams to the Allan Cup finals, the Saskatoon Nationals and the Saskatoon Empires, in 1924 and 1926 respectively.{{cite web|title=Andy Aitkenhead|url=http://rangers.nhl.com/club/atrplayer.htm?id=8449787|work=All Time Roster|publisher=New York Rangers|accessdate=14 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714180522/http://rangers.nhl.com/club/atrplayer.htm?id=8449787|archive-date=2011-07-14|url-status=dead}}

Originally taken by the Rangers in the Inter-league draft from the Saskatoon Shieks in 1928, his rights were sent back and forth between the Rangers and the Portland Buckaroos of the PCHL,{{cite web|title=Andy Aitkenhead|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/a/aitkean01.html|publisher=Hockey Reference.com|accessdate=14 February 2011}} until he finally signed with the Rangers as a free agent in 1931. He made his debut for the Rangers on November 10, 1932, at the Montreal Forum against the Montreal Maroons. He won the job as starting goaltender for the Rangers from John Ross Roach, who had twice led the team to the Stanley Cup Finals.{{cite web|title=John Ross Roach |url=http://rangers.nhl.com/club/atrplayer.htm?id=8450103 |work=All Time Roster |publisher=New York Rangers |accessdate=14 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714180527/http://rangers.nhl.com/club/atrplayer.htm?id=8450103 |archivedate=14 July 2011 }} In his first two seasons in New York, Aitkenhead played in every single game for the Rangers, and he put up solid numbers. In his first season in New York, Aitkenhead was fourth in the league in goals against average, as well as fourth in wins.{{cite web|title=1932-33 NHL Season Leaders|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1933_leaders.html|publisher=Hockey Reference.com|accessdate=14 February 2011}} In that rookie season, he led the Rangers to the Stanley Cup, their second, in 1933.{{cite web|title=Andy Aitkenhead|url=http://nyrangerslegends.blogspot.com/2008/04/andy-aitkenhead.html|publisher=Joe Pelletier's Greatest Hockey Legends.com|accessdate=14 February 2011}} He posted a shutout in the clinching game, in overtime, against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The following season, Aitkenhead finished fifth overall in goals against, yet second in wins, and third in shutouts,{{cite web|title=1933-34 NHL Season Leaders|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1934_leaders.html|publisher=Hockey Reference.com|accessdate=14 February 2011}} however the Rangers were eliminated by the Maroons in the opening round of the playoffs.{{cite web|title=1933-34 NHL Season Summary|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1934.html|publisher=Hockey Reference.com|accessdate=14 February 2011}} In 1935 Aitkenhead struggled, and eventually lost the starting job to Dave Kerr. He played only 10 games that season. Kerr later said that Aitkenhead's obsession with his game were what got to him, and led to his departure from the NHL. After 1935 Andy Aitkenhead was returned to the minor leagues. Aitkenhead spent 6 seasons with the Portland Buckaroos of the PCHL before retiring from hockey in 1941.

Legacy

In the 2009 book 100 Ranger Greats, the authors ranked Aitkenhead at No. 97 all-time of the 901 New York Rangers who had played during the team's first 82 seasons.{{cite book|url= https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6860998-100-ranger-greats#bookDetails |title=100 Ranger Greats: Superstars, Unsung Heroes and Colorful Characters |first1=Russ |last1=Cohen |first2=John |last2=Halligan |first3=Adam |last3=Raider |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn= 978-0470736197 |date=2009 |access-date=February 3, 2020|page=18}}

Aitkenhead was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.{{cite web|title=Andy Aitkenhead - Hockey |url=http://www.oregonsportshall.org/andy_aitkenhead.html |publisher=Oregon Sports Hall of Fame |accessdate=15 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727152800/http://www.oregonsportshall.org/andy_aitkenhead.html |archivedate=27 July 2011 }}

Career statistics

=Regular season and playoffs=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:90%; text-align:center;"
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" \| ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" \| ! colspan="8" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" \| Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" \| ! colspan="8" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" \| Playoffs
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! W !! L !! T !! Min !! GA !! SO !! GAA ! GP !! W !! L !! T !! Min !! GA !! SO !! GAA
1921–22 \| Yorkton Terriers \| SIHA \| 6	3	3	0	480	19	0	2.38 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1922–23 \| Saskatoon St. George \| SCJHL \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	— \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1922–23 \| Saskatoon Quakers \| M-Cup \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	— \| 2	1	0	1	120	3	0	1.50
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1923–24 \| Saskatoon Nationals \| N-SSHL \| 5	4	0	1	350	5	1	0.86 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1923–24 \| Saskatoon Nationals \| Al-Cup \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	— \| 2	1	1	0	120	7	0	3.50
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1925–26 \| Saskatoon Empires \| N-SSHL \| 4	4	0	0	240	12	1	3.00 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1925–26 \| Saskatoon Empires \| Al-Cup \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	— \| 2	0	1	1	140	9	0	3.86
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1926–27 \| Saskatoon Sheiks \| PHL \| 32	14	15	3	1902	94	7	2.97 \| 4	1	3	0	240	7	0	1.75
1927–28 \| Saskatoon Sheiks \| PHL \| 28	18	5	5	1733	41	7	1.42 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1928–29 \| Springfield Indians \| Can-Am \| 40	13	14	13	2550	58	6	1.36 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1929–30 \| Portland Buckaroos \| PCHL \| 36	20	10	6	2160	34	16	0.94 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1929–30 \| Springfield Indians \| Can-Am \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	— \| 4	1	3	0	240	8	0	2.00
1930–31 \| Portland Buckaroos \| PCHL \| 35	12	15	8	2100	61	6	1.74 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1931–32 \| Bronx Tigers \| Can-Am \| 33	16	13	4	2040	74	4	2.18 \| 4	0	1	1	130	5	0	2.31
1932-33 \| New York Rangers \| NHL \| 48	23	17	8	2970	107	3	2.16 \| 8	6	1	1	488	13	2	1.60
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1933-34 \| New York Rangers \| NHL \| 48	21	19	8	2990	113	7	2.27 \| 2	0	1	1	120	2	1	1.00
1934-35 \| New York Rangers \| NHL \| 10	3	7	0	610	37	1	3.64 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1934–35 \| Philadelphia Arrows \| Can-Am \| 1	1	0	0	60	2	0	2.00 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1934–35 \| Portland Buckaroos \| NWHL \| 21	11	4	6	1260	40	5	1.90 \| 3	1	2	0	180	4	1	1.33
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1935–36 \| Portland Buckaroos \| NWHL \| 40	18	14	8	2520	68	5	1.62 \| 3	1	2	0	190	5	0	1.58
1936–37 \| Spokane Clippers \| PCHL \| 1	1	0	0	60	0	1	0.00 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1936–37 \| Portland Buckaroos \| PCHL \| 40	22	13	5	2400	72	7	1.80 \| 3	3	0	0	180	3	0	1.00
1937–38 \| Portland Buckaroos \| PCHL \| 42	16	18	8	2620	85	5	1.95 \| 2	1	1	0	120	4	0	2.00
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1938–39 \| Seattle Seahawks \| PCHL \| 1	—	—	—	60	3	0	3.00 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1938–39 \| Portland Buckaroos \| PCHL \| 48	31	9	8	2880	114	9	2.38 \| 5	4	1	0	300	10	1	2.00
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1939–40 \| Portland Buckaroos \| PCHL \| 40	17	18	5	2400	98	4	2.45 \| 5	1	4	0	300	17	0	3.40
1940–41 \| Portland Buckaroos \| PCHL \| 1	1	0	0	60	2	0	2.00 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" \| NHL totals ! 106 !! 47 !! 43 !! 16 !! 6570 !! 257 !! 11 !! 2.35 ! 10 !! 6 !! 2 !! 2 !! 608 !! 15 !! 3 !! 1.48