Durnan was born in Toronto, Ontario in 1916 and began his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey Association. He played for the Toronto Marlboros and the Oshawa Generals before joining the Montreal Canadiens in 1943.
Durnan was an immediate success in Montreal, leading the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup Finals in his first season. He was named to the NHL All-Star Team in each of his first six seasons and won the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender in 1944-45 and 1947-48. He also led the league in shutouts in four of his seven seasons.
Durnan was known for his quick reflexes and his ability to make difficult saves. He was also an innovator, introducing the "butterfly" style of goaltending to the NHL. This style, which involves dropping to the ice to block shots, is still used by goaltenders today.
Durnan retired in 1950 due to a heart condition, but his legacy lives on. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1964 and his number 1 jersey was retired by the Montreal Canadiens in 2007. He is remembered as one of the greatest goaltenders in NHL history and his influence on the game is still felt today.
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