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
DiedMay 29, 2009(2009-05-29) (aged 76)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
PositionGoaltender
CaughtLeft
Played forChicago Black Hawks
Pittsburgh Penguins
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career1954–1968

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 seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPWLTMINGASOGAASV%GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
1949–50Calgary BuffaloesWCJHL3011181180011103.70
1950–51Calgary BuffaloesWCJHL378272228017624.63
1950–51Medicine Hat TigersWCJHL10106010010.00
1951–52Calgary BuffaloesWCJHL4221174258013213.073031801304.33
1952–53Calgary BuffaloesWJHL3014133186014504.683031801103.67
1953–54Chatham MaroonsOHA Sr5522303330020523.736243602514.17
1954–55Chicago BlackhawksNHL2149812606303.00
1954–55Buffalo BisonsAHL3713195222012133.27
1955–56Chicago BlackhawksNHL122917204113.42.885
1955–56Buffalo BisonsAHL5326234330020103.655232992004.01
1956–57Calgary StampedersWHL6829354412522353.243121801204.00
1957–58Seattle AmericansWHL6027276360018433.079545572102.26
1958–59Springfield IndiansAHL2913142174010223.52
1959–60Vancouver CanucksWHL7044196422017252.4511926962201.90
1960–61Detroit Red WingsNHL341312921209802.77.894412220902.45.917
1961–62Detroit Red WingsNHL27912616207532.78.902
1961–62Sudbury WolvesEPHL31201801404.67
1961–62Edmonton FlyersWHL94415573003.23
1962–63Detroit Red WingsNHL166559605203.25.897
1962–63Pittsburgh HornetsAHL4015232240013423.35
1963–64Detroit Red WingsNHL101060404.00.882
1963–64Cincinnati WingsCPHL70614203905.57
1963–64Pittsburgh HornetsAHL26915215608213.1510160404.00
1964–65Pittsburgh HornetsAHL5724257343318223.184132401503.75
1965–66Detroit Red WingsNHL113304061702.51.90410154202.22.933
1966–67Detroit Red WingsNHL82403842203.44.898
1966–67Pittsburgh HornetsAHL106315701831.899815411511.66
1967–68Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL25710312996212.86.909
NHL totals156466531875943452.975132741102.41.920

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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