Murray Dowey

This is a photo of the Royal Canadian Air Force Flyers hockey team. Backed by goaltender/Aircraftsman 2 Murray Dowey (far left) of Toronto, Ontario, they won the 1948 Olympic gold medal in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

Dowey had a tournament for the record book. He posted 5 shutouts in 8 games (7-0-1 record). The 5 shutouts not only stands as an Olympic record for most shutouts in one Olympic tournament, but in all of Olympic history. No goalie to date - not even the great Vladislav Tretiak with those powerful Soviet hockey teams - has matched the record in their entire career. Dowey did it in a couple of weeks!

Even more amazing is the fact that Dowey was not even supposed to be there.

Dowey, 22 at the time, replaced regular goalie Dick Ball. Ball was ill and unable to travel to Europe. RCAF player George Mara recommended the team pick up Dowey. He was a notable amateur goalie in Toronto and also served as a practice goalie for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Dowey had to make arrangements for someone to drive his city bus while he was away, but he eagerly accepted the challenge of the Olympics!